Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
27 October In Berkeley, a Brewer's Sparrow was seen at a feeder that is not visible from the street. Kay Loughman18 October In Berkeley, a "Red" Fox Sparrow [the Eastern subspecies, possibly to be split as a separate species in the future] was in a backyard. Kay Loughman
17 October In Oakland, an adult male Yellow-headed Blackbird was near Arrowhead Marsh in the Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline. It perched on a metal sculpture near the boardwalk, and later flew into the marsh. An Osprey was fishing near the boardwalk. Tim Molter
12 October Near Byron, a Brandt's Cormorant flew from Clifton Court Forebay south into Alameda County. Steve Glover
10 October In Fremont, a White-throated Sparrow was on the east side of the driveway, just east of the Visitor Center at Coyote Hills Regional Park. Three American Bitterns were in the south marsh. Bob Reiling
2 October In Alviso [Santa Clara County], a Bar-tailed Godwit was found at the confluence of Coyote & Alviso Sloughs, across Alviso Slough from the corner of Salt Pond A9. The group of birds flushed and flew to the other side of Coyote Slough, which is in Alameda County. Steve Rottenborn [To reach this area, park at the Alviso Marina at the end of Gold St in Alviso, and walk the Alviso Slough Trail around the salt ponds to the confluence of the sloughs. This is a very long walk - well over 3 miles each way. Adam Winer]
1 October In Alameda, two White-faced Ibis flew over the pond on Harbor Bay Pkwy, and another flew north over Arrowhead Marsh at Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline in Oakland. Jean Richmond
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
19 October In Richmond, a Sabine's Gull (3rd county record) flew by Point Isabel. A Clay-colored Sparrow was at the west end of Marina Bay Pkwy, off Hwy 580. Go west to the bay, and park at Shimada Friendship Park. Walk the trail to the left to a lawn area with a small clump of willows, fennel, and pampas grass. The sparrow was in this vegetation. Steve Glover16 October Near Clayton, a probable first-fall male Mourning Warbler was in Mitchell Canyon, on the north side of Mount Diablo. From the parking lot, walk up the roadway for 0.3 mile. Look for a large oak on the right side with a broken-off limb that leans from the ground across a low fork in the tree. The bird was in the brush along the stream from this tree for 150 yards upstream of the oak. Several Varied Thrushes were also in this area. Richard Irvin [Mourning Warbler is a California Bird Record Committee review species. Please submit documentation to the committee secretary.]
12 October Near Byron, a Brandt's Cormorant was seen at the Clifton Court Forebay. A scope is necessary to bird this area, and morning overcast or afternoon clear skies are best. The bird flew off to the south, entering Alameda County. Steve Glover
11 October In Richmond, a Clay-colored Sparrow was near the parking lot at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. Bo Soderstrom
8 October Near Orinda, a Red-naped Sapsucker was found in Briones Regional Park, at the intersection of Bear Creek Trail and Homestead Valley Trail. It was in a fruit tree [well-marked with sapsucker holes] next to restrooms at an enclosed campsite, just before the archery range. Alan Kaplan