Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Calvin Lou.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
16 March In Oakland, a hybrid Hooded Merganser X goldeneye was at the south end of Lake Merritt, near the Courthouse and concrete dam. The bird looks like a Hooded Merganser with a bigger bill. The Cattle Egret was at the duck ponds, while the Tufted Duck was at the north end of the lake toward the Embarcadero. Rich Stallcup
11 March At the southeast corner of the North Basin at the Berkeley Marina, there were a male and 2 female Blue-winged Teal, plus a hybrid male Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal. Take University Ave west from Hwy 80, turn right (north) on Marina Blvd, and continue until you reach the North Basin on your right. Park and walk east on the paved trail (road) to the southeast corner of the basin. Rich Stallcup
6 March In Oakland in Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline's Arrowhead Marsh, the Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow continues to be seen at high tides over 6 feet. The bird was seen on a triangular-shaped island with concrete rubble to the west of the boardwalk. A Peregrine Falcon and a Burrowing Owl were also seen in the new mitigation marsh. Bruce Mast
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
18 March Near Byron at Clifton Court Forebay, the Snow Bunting continues. Bob Dunn
15 and 17 March In Walnut Creek, a Common Poorwill was seen about two-thirds mile (or 600 yards) up the Briones to Mt Diablo Regional Trail at Shell Ridge Open Space at the end of Marshall Rd, going straight ahead and to the left, near the "Bob Tolly" (?) Bench. Two more Common Poorwills were seen on March 15 about 150 yards from the road near Marshall Rd. Tom Castro
10 March Near Byron at Clifton Court Forebay, the Snow Bunting was feeding near the big lake near the water's edge. Also present were Red-breasted Mergansers, Peregrine Falcon, and Violet-green Swallows. Steve Hampton
9 March Just east of Martinez at McNabney Marsh [Waterbird Regional Preserve], 9 or 10 Great-tailed Grackles (2 females, 7 or 8 males) were by the food concession vehicle on the dirt area of the Waterfront area on Waterbird Way.. Jean Richmond
9 March Near Byron at Clifton Court Forebay, the Snow Bunting continues along the levee to the left of the parking lot.. The bird was foraging just above the waterline on the bay side of the first big bend on the outer levee. Kevin Guse, Jean Richmond
6 March Near Byron at Clifton Court Forebay, the Snow Bunting continues along the levee to the left of the parking lot.. Calvin Lou
4 March In Walnut Creek at the north end of Heather Farms Park, a white-striped White-throated Sparrow was seen again. The park is off Ygnacio Valley Rd. Drive north through the park on San Carlos Dr. Park at the north end of the baseball fields in the parking lot where San Carlos makes a lefthand turn. There is a paved bicycle/walkway that splits around a small grove of oaks and bushes, where the bird was seen. Also in the area were White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, a Song Sparrow, and Lincoln Sparrows, plus a Spotted Towhee. A Wilson's Snipe was found by the nearby drainage ditch. Hugh Harvey
4 March Near Byron at Clifton Court Forebay, the Snow Bunting continues along the levee to the left of the parking lot.. Will Wilson
1 March Near Byron, the Snow Bunting continues at Clifton Court Forebay near the parking lot. This morning the bird was seen just past the parking area, lefthand side or east side as the two levees bend, on the outer side of the levee near the water. Directions. Bob Hirt, Chris Spooner