| EBB-Sightings |
| Received |
From |
Subject |
| 10/15/26 3:49 pm |
Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Nutcracker (again) |
| 10/14/26 1:40 pm |
JENNIFER FURY via groups.io <jennyfuzzy...> |
[EBB-Sightings] 10/14, RE: Still there. Red Cross-bills at the Tilden Botanical Garden |
| 10/13/26 5:39 pm |
Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Red Cross-bills at the Tilden Botanical Garden |
| 10/12/26 2:36 pm |
lswaim via groups.io <lswaim...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Common Murre, Arrowhead Marsh |
| 10/10/26 8:35 pm |
Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Today misc. |
| 10/3/26 10:48 am |
Greg Wilson via groups.io <Fallingwater...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Yellow Rumped warblers |
| 10/1/26 1:56 pm |
Kathy Robertson via groups.io <KatBirdCA...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Red Knot at Elsie Roemer, Alameda |
| 9/27/26 7:52 pm |
Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Community meeting: Plans for Golden Gate Fields Race Track site in Albany/Berkeley |
| 9/27/26 2:32 pm |
Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> |
[EBB-Sightings] 2nd hand Williamsons Sapsucker |
| 9/24/26 7:38 pm |
Bob Toleno via groups.io <bob...> |
Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
| 9/24/26 3:23 pm |
BA EC via groups.io <bae.crofts92...> |
Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
| 9/24/26 3:12 pm |
Edward Vine via groups.io <elvine...> |
Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
| 9/24/26 11:38 am |
Dawn Lemoine via groups.io <lemonbirder...> |
Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
| 9/24/26 11:33 am |
Chris Ortega via groups.io <chrisorte9a...> |
Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
| 9/24/26 11:29 am |
Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
| 9/21/26 4:42 pm |
Jane Chinn via groups.io <janechinn...> |
[EBB-Sightings] FOS Sparrows |
| 9/19/26 9:16 pm |
Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Western Gull vs a Rock Crab |
| 9/19/26 1:12 pm |
Alan Krakauer via groups.io <Alan.krakauer...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Western Tanagers, Gyuto Monastery (Richmond) |
| 9/19/26 1:02 pm |
Alan Krakauer via groups.io <Alan.krakauer...> |
Re: [EBB-Sightings] Mt. Diablo, nutcrackers, etc. |
| 9/18/26 10:50 pm |
Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga...> |
Re: [EBB-Sightings] Nutcrackers |
| 9/18/26 12:09 pm |
Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Mt. Diablo, nutcrackers, etc. |
| 9/18/26 9:07 am |
Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> |
[EBB-Sightings] Nutcrackers |
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Date: 10/14/26 1:40 pm
From: JENNIFER FURY via groups.io <jennyfuzzy...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] 10/14, RE: Still there. Red Cross-bills at the Tilden Botanical Garden |
Good sized flock , 15 or so, still there this morning, inside the BG fence boundary. South end.Also a good pile O' Townsends and Kinglets at the very north end... With a coyote to boot.Cheers,Jennifer Fury Saltwater is the cure for everything, sweat, tears, or the sea 🌊Â
-------- Original message --------From: "Claude Lyneis via groups.io" <cmlyneis...> Date: 10/13/26 5:39 PM (GMT-08:00) To: EBB Sightings <EBB-Sightings...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Red Cross-bills at the Tilden Botanical Garden I walked from the Lake Anza Swimming Area to the Botanical Garden hoping to see an Evening Grosbeak, as recently reported. Â But when I got to the Botanical Garden, several birders were watching for a small flock of Red Crossbills.After about 1/2 hour at least 20 flew into the trees. Â It was the first time I have seen them in the Bay Area and as has been reported they may be part of a montane irruption.The lighting was challenging but the photos leave now doubt they were Red Crossbills.Red-Crossbill Botanical Gardenflic.krÂ
Claude <Lyneiscmlyneis...>://www.youtube.com/bhsvideodadFlickr Photos at https://flic.kr/ps/36it5P
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Date: 10/13/26 5:39 pm
From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Red Cross-bills at the Tilden Botanical Garden |
I walked from the Lake Anza Swimming Area to the Botanical Garden hoping to see an Evening Grosbeak, as recently reported. But when I got to the Botanical Garden, several birders were watching for a small flock of Red Crossbills.
After about 1/2 hour at least 20 flew into the trees. It was the first time I have seen them in the Bay Area and as has been reported they may be part of a montane irruption.
The lighting was challenging but the photos leave now doubt they were Red Crossbills.
https://flic.kr/p/2sG3jnT
Red-Crossbill Botanical Garden
flic.kr
Claude Lyneis
<cmlyneis...>
https://www.youtube.com/bhsvideodad
Flickr Photos at https://flic.kr/ps/36it5P
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Date: 10/12/26 2:36 pm
From: lswaim via groups.io <lswaim...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Common Murre, Arrowhead Marsh |
Greetings,
This morning I observed a Common Murre land in the marsh channel near
the observation platform/boardwalk at Arrowhead Marsh. It swam slowly
out toward the bay. It was a first sighting for me at this location.
Louis Swaim
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Date: 10/10/26 8:35 pm
From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Today misc. |
I spent yet another fruitless morning looking for Pinyon Jays, this time along Morgan Territory Road. The only sign of the montane irruption was a Cassin’s Finch at the Diablo Bowmen archery range, otherwise all normal. I then spent the afternoon in the delta. At Clifton the winds were 30+ mph, but two Sabines Gulls were acrobatically foraging in them. Afterwards, Holland Tract was completely windless. I turned up 3 Gray-headed Orange-crowns and 3 Cranes, and watched a drone (that makes peregrine falcon sounds) chase a flock of a few thousand blackbirds around the rice fields. Most were Red-winged but I estimated that about 300 were Yellow-headed.
Yesterday, a quick afternoon trip to Landfill Loop produced a Loggerhead Shrike on the landfill’s northern edge. This species is quite rare in Richmond and this was my first sighting. This is presumably the same bird found by Susana de Trapaga here in early September.
Good birding,
Ethan Monk
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Date: 9/24/26 7:38 pm
From: Bob Toleno via groups.io <bob...>
Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
Ohlone Audubon's Hayward-Fremont CBC will be on Sunday, December 20. For
anyone who doesn't already have an assignment for the Oakland CBC, we'd
love help, as we've lost many leaders over the past two years.
Bob Toleno
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 11:29 AM Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga=
<sbcglobal.net...> wrote:
> Could somebody please post the dates for MDBA, GGBA and Sherman Is
> Christmas bird counts?
> Thank you
>
>
>
>
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Date: 9/24/26 3:23 pm
From: BA EC via groups.io <bae.crofts92...>
Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
Richmond CBC is Saturday, January 2nd 2027! More details to come on
registration in the coming months.
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 15:12 Edward Vine via groups.io <elvine=
<lbl.gov...> wrote:
> And SF CBC is Dec. 28.
>
> Ed
>
> On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 11:38 AM Dawn Lemoine via groups.io <lemonbirder=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> The Oakland CBC is Dec 20.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 11:33 AM Chris Ortega via groups.io <chrisorte9a=
>> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Susana,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the request! MDBA Eastern CBC is set for 12/16, and Central
>>> is 12/19. I'll send out a more complete invitation a little later but
>>> appreciate your prompt to get the dates out now.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Chris Ortega
>>> Bay Point
>>>
>>> On Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 11:29 AM Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga=
>>> <sbcglobal.net...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Could somebody please post the dates for MDBA, GGBA and Sherman Is
>>>> Christmas bird counts?
>>>> Thank you
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Edward Vine
>
> Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
> Building 90R2002
> Berkeley, CA 94720-8136
>
> Email: <elvine...>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 9/24/26 3:12 pm
From: Edward Vine via groups.io <elvine...>
Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
And SF CBC is Dec. 28.
Ed
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 11:38 AM Dawn Lemoine via groups.io <lemonbirder=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> The Oakland CBC is Dec 20.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 11:33 AM Chris Ortega via groups.io <chrisorte9a=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Susana,
>>
>> Thanks for the request! MDBA Eastern CBC is set for 12/16, and Central is
>> 12/19. I'll send out a more complete invitation a little later but
>> appreciate your prompt to get the dates out now.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Chris Ortega
>> Bay Point
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 11:29 AM Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga=
>> <sbcglobal.net...> wrote:
>>
>>> Could somebody please post the dates for MDBA, GGBA and Sherman Is
>>> Christmas bird counts?
>>> Thank you
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
--
Edward Vine
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Building 90R2002
Berkeley, CA 94720-8136
Email: <elvine...>
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Date: 9/24/26 11:38 am
From: Dawn Lemoine via groups.io <lemonbirder...>
Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
The Oakland CBC is Dec 20.
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 11:33 AM Chris Ortega via groups.io <chrisorte9a=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hi Susana,
>
> Thanks for the request! MDBA Eastern CBC is set for 12/16, and Central is
> 12/19. I'll send out a more complete invitation a little later but
> appreciate your prompt to get the dates out now.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Chris Ortega
> Bay Point
>
> On Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 11:29 AM Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga=
> <sbcglobal.net...> wrote:
>
>> Could somebody please post the dates for MDBA, GGBA and Sherman Is
>> Christmas bird counts?
>> Thank you
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
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Date: 9/24/26 11:33 am
From: Chris Ortega via groups.io <chrisorte9a...>
Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Christmas Bird Counts |
Hi Susana,
Thanks for the request! MDBA Eastern CBC is set for 12/16, and Central is
12/19. I'll send out a more complete invitation a little later but
appreciate your prompt to get the dates out now.
Cheers,
Chris Ortega
Bay Point
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 11:29 AM Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga=
<sbcglobal.net...> wrote:
> Could somebody please post the dates for MDBA, GGBA and Sherman Is
> Christmas bird counts?
> Thank you
>
>
>
>
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Date: 9/21/26 4:42 pm
From: Jane Chinn via groups.io <janechinn...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] FOS Sparrows |
Hello: I woke up Sunday morning to a lovely sight at my birdbath. Two adult White-crowned Sparrows and two juvenile White-crowned Sparrows. They seem a bit early this year. For the past 10 years I've been trying to keep a record of their arrival and numbers. Most years they show up around September 28. Hoping to see more and the Golden-crowned too. Also for the past three years a single White-throated Sparrow has been a part of the group. They stay the winter and leave around the middle of April.
Can anyone recommend a study of their migration pattern from the S. F. Bay Area.Â
Thank you.
Jane ChinnHayward Hills (above CSUEB)
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Date: 9/19/26 9:16 pm
From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Western Gull vs a Rock Crab |
Saturday afternoon I went out to walk along Stege Marsh and Meeker Slough. With the tide above 3.5, a moderate wind out of the southwest not many birds were out. There were 12 White Pelicans on the island where Meeker Slough empties in the bay.
Still, just as I was headed for the car there was a Western Gull that had a Rock Crab in its bill. The gull tried several different holds on the crab, but in the end the crab escaped. So score one for the crab with its thick shell and strong claws. Link to photos below.
https://flic.kr/p/2sBLsg3
Western Gull and Rock Crab 2 Stege
flic.kr
https://flic.kr/p/2sBMfkW
Western Gull and Rock Crab 1 Stege
flic.kr
Claude Lyneis
<cmlyneis...>
https://www.youtube.com/bhsvideodad
Flickr Photos at https://flic.kr/ps/36it5P
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Date: 9/19/26 1:12 pm
From: Alan Krakauer via groups.io <Alan.krakauer...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Western Tanagers, Gyuto Monastery (Richmond) |
I wanted to post a quick comment about the Gyuto Monastery in Richmond
(6401 Bernhard Ave). The grape arbor they have is now in season (has been
for a week or two), and Western Tanagers continue to visit regularly. They
often hide in the middle but visible on top when they first arrive at the
grapes, or in nearby trees when they stage in or out. I've seen Swainson's
Thrushes, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Yellow Warblers, and more common resident
species there as well. It's a nice spot for a relaxing sit or short walk on
the edge of Wildcat Canyon.
Good birding,
Alan Krakauer
Richmond, CA
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Date: 9/19/26 1:02 pm
From: Alan Krakauer via groups.io <Alan.krakauer...>
Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Mt. Diablo, nutcrackers, etc. |
Hi Ethan,
Thanks for the informative report from Mt. Diablo. I led a small GGBA field
trip to San Pablo Ridge in Wildcat Canyon on Thursday. We had Red-breasted
Nuthatches throughout the park with especially large numbers in the
Monterey Pine stands along the top of the ridge. The flocks on the ridge
were doing a lot of foraging on the ground below the trees which was
interesting. We didn't notice an insect emergence or any obvious food
source but we saw them doing this in multiple places.
I'll try to get back there soon to look for Nutcrackers. I'm still haunted
by the calls I heard in Wildcat Canyon a few years ago that caused me to
ask here "what else might sound like a Clark's Nutcracker?" and then
nutcrackers were seen elsewhere in the Berkeley hills a few days later.
Cheers,
Alan Krakauer
Richmond, CA
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Date: 9/18/26 10:50 pm
From: Susana dT via groups.io <trapaga...>
Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Nutcrackers |
I saw the 3 Nutcrackers found by Ethan at Mt Diablo summit today at 6pm. They all flew out of a pine tree a few yards before the 'summit elev. 3849ft.' sign on the one way road to the summit parking lot. There were also many Red-breasted Nuthatch and two Peregrine falcons circling over the lower/overflow parking lot.
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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.
Best,
Ethan Monk
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