Date: 10/24/26 6:24 pm From: Ryan L. via groups.io <ryanbirding...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Field Notes: SCVBA trip to Hayward Regional Shoreline
This morning nine birders left the South Bay and Santa Clara County to go birding at the Hayward Regional Shoreline with the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance. We saw three other large birding groups at this location. Everyone we met asked if we saw any longspurs. We didn’t. Neither did they. We still had a great time.
We started at the Winton Avenue entrance. Along Shoreline Trail a juvenile White-tailed Kite perched close to the trail, presumably waiting for it to warm up a bit, giving us an auspicious start to the trip. Along the trail to the Bay the group was able to practice sparrows and finches: White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, House Finch and Lesser Goldfinch.
As we approached the bay we found a Merlin flying past. On the edge of the bay we practiced our shorebirds. We observed Black Turnstone (rarity code 6 in SCC!), Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Least Sandpiper, and one Dunlin. On the island the Willets were most abundant but we counted four Black Oystercatchers. A Black Skimmer flew north along the shore. Overhead we spotted a large bird flying south with a long neck. It flew between us and the sun so we couldn’t get great views at the time. Another group of birders identified it as a Tundra Swan and it appears the photos support that observation.
We continued south between the bay and the marsh. Out in the bay we observed Forster’s Terns diving, a number of Double-crested Cormorants, and at least two Clark’s Grebes further out.
We climbed the hill to the southwest corner of the landfill. We diligently scanned the fields for anything unexpected. We found Western Meadowlarks and American Pipits in high numbers. In addition, our party identified three Horned Larks in the group. Also on the landfill was a flock of Canada Geese and Wild Turkeys. We saw one Northern Flicker in the southeast corner.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
