Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
27 June In Hayward, the Arctic Tern and pair of Black Skimmers were still near Johnson's Landing in Hayward Regional Shoreline. Both were roosting on the southwesternmost island inside the chain-link fence, though the skimmers were on the back side of the island, and therefore were much harder to find. Mike Feighner26 June In Hayward, the Arctic Tern and pair of Black Skimmers were still near Johnson's Landing in Hayward Regional Shoreline. Both were roosting on the southwesternmost island inside the chain-link fence, though the skimmers were much harder to find. Kevin Hintsa
22 June In Hayward, the Arctic Tern was still at the same location in Hayward Regional Shoreline. An alternate-plumaged Black Tern was seen flying north past Johnson's Landing. A nesting pair of Caspian Terns with a youngster was also inside the chain-link fence. Steve Glover
19 June In Berkeley at César Chávez Park at the Berkeley Marina, a singing male American Redstart was along Spinnaker Way north of the Marina. From Hwy 80, take University Ave toward the bay, turn right toward the park at Marina Blvd, then left on Spinnaker at the end of Marina, and the bird was in a pine tree after 3 street lights on the left. David Jaffe
17 June in Hayward, the summering Arctic Tern returned to Hayward Regional Shoreline. It was seen harrassing Forster's Terns and sitting by itself on the southwesternmost island inside the chain-link fence just south of Johnson's Landing. Two Black Skimmers also have been present in this hare, though they weren't seen today. Kevin Hintsa
14 & 15 June Southeast of Livermore, the Bald Eagles were still at Del Valle Regional Park, though they have not nested this year. The birds are most often seen across the lake from the Hetch Hetchy campground. Phil Gordon
8 & 9 June In Oakland, an adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak has visited the feeders at 393 Gravatt Dr, on the hill behind the Claremont Hotel. Kay Loughman
7 June Near Sunol, 2 Grasshopper Sparrows were at Welch Creek Rd, on the border of Sunol Regional Park, past milepost 3.70 on the left side of the road (when driving east), below a house with a large windmill tower. Two Rufous-crowned Sparrows also were in the area. Mike Feighner
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
24 June In Richmond, the resident pair of Harlequin Ducks were seen again at Brooks Island, along with an Oldsquaw. At the Caspian Tern colony on Brooks Island were 650 early Elegant Terns, probably by far the largest number ever seen in the county. A Pelagic Cormorant nest was at Point San Pablo (take the last exit before the San Rafael Bridge and go as far north as you can). Fifteen early Heermann's Gulls flew past the point, and 3 Lawrence's Goldfinches flew overhead, for one of the few (only?) records at this location. Steve Glover20 June In the Berkeley Hills, a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was near the south end of the boardwalk on the trail from the Tilden Regional Park Nature Area Environmental Education Center toward Jewel Lake. Steve Glover
15 June In the Berkeley Hills, a highly unseasonal female or immature Varied Thrush was in bed 211 at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Regional Park. It was last seen flying downhill toward the stream. Tom Condit