Date: 5/21/26 1:30 pm From: Alan Krakauer via groups.io <Alan.krakauer...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Swainson's Hawk, Wildcat Canyon
Just back from a GGBA Field Trip walk in northwest Wildcat Canyon. We got good looks at a light morph Swainson's Hawk circling in the area of the Belgum sanitarium and then heading more or less up the canyon towards Tilden/Berkeley. This was around noon today. I believe this is the first time I have seen one in the East Bay hills. Second new bird in as many weeks, the first being the Northern Parula in Alvarado Park last week.
Our walk followed a loop from the Alvarado Staging Area parking lot up Wildcat Creek Trail, up the Belgum Trail to the top of the ridge and back towards Monte Cresta/Bonita Trail and back down to the parking lot.
Other highlights included at least 5 singing Grasshopper Sparrows, at least a half-dozen singing Lazuli Buntings, several calling Ash-throated Flycatchers, and a few Hooded Orioles. Near the top of the ridge we had a meadowlark and flyover flicker which seemed borderline late to me although I haven't checked the bar charts in eBird. We also had all 5 common swallows together along the ridge near the Monte Cresta water tanks.
