Date: 9/18/26 12:09 pm From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Mt. Diablo, nutcrackers, etc.
Hi all,
The listservs are sort of dead, but long form content posted to these was the greatest resource to me as a newer birder. It helped me learn so much from the very knowledgeable community about what was showing up (not just the rare things!) and bird status and distribution, and all else. So, in the spirit of keeping it going, even if I am the last dinosaur...
I spent a few hours running around upper Mt. Diablo (above the Junction of North and South Gate roads) this morning, hoping to run into the "montane invasion." As many of us have noticed, the Red-breasted Nuthatches are moving en masse this year, and to our south in coastal Southern California they are seeing hundreds of nutcrackers and smaller numbers of Pinyon Jays. It was a clear day, somewhat chilly with a north wind of 8-10 mph at the summit.
Some highlights, montane invasion related and otherwise:
-"Intergrade" Flicker: one at Grapevine Ridge--between Juniper Campground and Green Ranch Rd.--was my first of fall. -Nuttall's Woodpecker: at least in spring and winter, this species is rare much above the junction, so one off Summit Rd. west of Devil's Pulpit was unusual. -CLARK'S NUTCRACKER: three+ vic. summit. See end of email for more. -PURPLE MARTIN: one female-type flew north over the summit, trailing a small flock of Violet-green Swallows. -R-C. Kinglet: my first of season were two--one at the Summit, and one at Juniper CG. -Red-breasted Nuthatch: everywhere! I had 50+, including close to 20 around the summit. -Rock Wren: one calling at Grapevine Ridge Hermit Thrush: ~5 total. -Pine Siskin: an irruption is in evidence... small flocks seen throughout my morning. -Fox Sparrow: very large numbers of these on the day--50+-- including several "Thick-billed" Fox Sparrows. One Th-Billed at Grapevine Ridge was not far from where they are regular in the winter, but one at Juniper Campground and one at the summit were not in wintering locations. -White-crowned Sparrow: This species is rare on the upper mountain in winter, these are migrants and will not stay here. The handful (~10-12) I saw today scattered were all apparently pugetensis. -CASSIN'S FINCH: One female type, photographed, sat calling for a long time this morning on summit rd. just east of Juniper CG. Off the top of my head, I believe this is the earliest fall record for Contra Costa County. -Audubon's Warbler: two at the summit.
More re. NUTCRACKERS: I was standing around the Everest Radio Tower around 8:30, which is just north of the summit overflow parking lot, when from far below towards Deer Flat I distantly heard what I thought was a nutcracker. I looked down and saw a Stellar's Jay way down there... thought, oh shoot, I messed it up... and then 1-2 minutes later I heard it again! I pulled out a speaker and played some nutcracker calls (sorry, but what else do you do when you hear a nutcracker calling at the bottom of a cliff you are standing on top of) and a nutcracker emerged from Deer Flat and began to fly upslope towards me! I unpacked the camera and began to take photos as it settled into a gray pine along Summit Rd. After taking photos for a while, I looked away from the camera and saw that in the sky above it were two Nutcrackers flying south! I took photos of the birds in flight. I spent the next 40 minutes in the overflow summit lot, where there were several (meaning >1) nutcrackers that would occasionally appear, catching the wind blowing over the summit and doing big loopdeloops in the gusts. Eventually, two dropped into the parking lot, where one hopped around and inspected the vault toilet. One sat distantly more towards Deer Flat in a gray pine and called occasionally. A very cool experience, hopefully more nutcrackers (and Pinyon Jays?!) to come!
For reference, in 2003 there was a large Pinyon Jay irruption, and they were found during this time in the Oakland Hills, in the area around Redwood Park/Sibley. So, this is probably a good location to look for this species and nutcrackers, as well as the other places birders think off--Diablo, Vollmer Peak, etc.
