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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Date: 9/13/26 1:23 pm From: Jackie Bobrosky via groups.io <electricjmb...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Red Breasted Nuthatch
I've had a single Red Breasted NH in my yard for the last few days. Visits a birdbath, and today finally heard its familiar "ank ank". Someone mentioned an irruption year, I have had them visit in the past.
Date: 9/13/26 8:15 am From: lwpayne919 via groups.io <lwpayne919...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Juv Yellow Warbler Hayward Shoreline
@ end of W. Winton.
In the last moments of birdwalk around the ponds n waterways there, thru a cyclone fence that borders path to parking lot, some little yellow-gray something darted into a bush.
I didn’t see it exit that bush, but I initially didn’t see it in the bush either…had to wait it out. Finally seeing movement, but unable to determine what it was with binoculars, I just held camera steady aimed at the spot by holding onto outer lens and the fence with the same hand.
It was so exciting! And I had no idea what it was.
Got home, moved photos to laptop, and was so happy to find there were some really good (for me) photos. I resisted Merlining them and pored over birdbooks instead.
Didn’t initially imagine a warbler would have such a large bill, but Peterson’s and Nat’l Geo birdbooks told me otherwise. I tried to turn this into a female Connecticut warbler. But I had to reach out to birdwatching comrades for consultation. Thanks to C. Waterman and his sis for guiding me to the correct ID. I hadn’t known or seen that immature yellow warblers could have such a prominent, perfect white eye ring.
While this didn’t turn out to be a lifer, it was nonetheless a really beautiful experience all around.
Tide was super high, literally lapping at the bottom of the wooden footbridge. There were willets, yellowlegs sp., hunting wt kite and rt hawk, song sparrows, lesser goldfinches, huge #s of barn swallows - a few daintily picking prey from the wavy waterways, crows, ravens. g & s egrets, b phoebes, and CA towhees.
Date: 9/12/26 5:37 pm From: richard s. cimino via groups.io <rscimino...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] White-tailed Kites Roost in Pleasanton -anyone remember the one in Livermore?
More Kite history,
My earliest White-tailed Kite record for Pleasanton County began in 1979.
Then, as now, the Kites were showing up in late summer, in small numbers, 5 to 7 a night, at a home on Golden and Harvest Rd. Pleasanton. Seasonally, during the late 1980 into the 90s, the numbers reached up to 35 White-tailed Kites. One memorable White-tail kite event was in 1999, when my physician called me to tell me she had 135 White-tailed Kites behind her barn in eastern Livermore. The White-tailed Kites have a history of gathering in the fall months in the Pleasanton area. Why? Hopefully, with Isabella Rady's interest in this phenomenon, and with more eBird submissions, new facts will be developed about the species. Recently, Isabella had emailed me about this event, so on Saturday, Sept 5th I made the trip over from Marin County, where I live, to witness the Kite roost for myself. That night, Isabella and I counted 162 White-tailed kites.
Rich Cimino
Marin County
Yellowbilledtours.com
Cell; 925-353-0266
From: <EBB-Sightings...> <EBB-Sightings...> On Behalf Of Amy Dawson via groups.io Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2026 12:52 AM To: <ebb-sightings...>; <ireddy...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] White-tailed Kites Roost in Pleasanton -anyone remember the one in Livermore?
Hi all,
Speaking of Kites, does anyone know if the large roost found in Livermore in 2011 is still there? At the time, I saw over a hundred!
Here is a string of emails that I dug up from that time, it has the location, so if anyone can go look it would be good to know! And it was this time of year as well.
To: <mailto:<EBB_Sightings...> <EBB_Sightings...> Sent: Wed, September 7, 2011 10:01:44 AM Subject: [EBB_Sightings] White-tailed Kites in Livermore
For the last two afternoons, just before sunset, these kites have gathered in large numbers. There were perhaps 30 on Monday and maybe 10 yesterday, allowing me to get some nice photos. They gather around my house on Felicia Court near the west entrance to Lawrence Livermore Natl Laboratory on Vasco Road. They perch in the tops of the redwoods trees, with a lot of takeoffs and landings.
Larry Thompson 1069 Felicia Court Livermore -----------------------------
I found a large roosting tree in the back yard of a house between Evelyn Way and Jessica in Livermore. The kites started circling at 7:15 and started landing 2 or 3 at a time from 7:30 to 7:45pm. In all more than 65 kites landed in just this one tree!
Bill Clark Livermore
-----------------
A friend and I drove down to Livermore at dusk yesterday to see the kites - and we're so glad we did - it was a wonderful sight to see.
We arrived sometime between 7:15 and 7:30 and began to see a few kites here and there, flying into the area from all directions. As time went on, we saw 20, then 30 or even 40 or more in the air at one time.
They would fly around, some would hover a bit, before landing on various trees only to take off again to fly around over head. Eventually they all settled down for the night - from what we could tell - primarily in the top of some three trees in the area. Even after it was fairly dark, we could still see a few flying in to roost.
We think we probably saw well over one hundred - but this is a conservative estimate as they kept landing and taking off again - making it hard to keep track of them.
It seemed the best spots to watch them were on Jessica Drive, just south of the park and across from Anita Court - where you could see them landing on trees behind the homes on the right and left side of the street. Specifically, that would be the block between Jessica Dr.and Felicia Ave. and Jessica Dr. and Evelyn Way. They were also roosting on the trees between the park and Evelyn Way. In addition, if you go down and make two right turns onto Evelyn Way - to where it turns to the left, you will have the sun shining on the birds as it sets, and you'll be closer to some of the trees - so it may be easier to see them and better for taking photos.
It was good to run into Larry Thompson - who first posted about the kites - thanks Larry!
Amy in Oakland.
---------
Sunday evening I went to Evelyn Way to watch the white-tailed kites come in at sunset.
Most didn't start to come in until it was too dark to photograph, but it was fun watching them come in to land on a treetop, discover it occupied, and circle for another tree roost.
Allen
On Friday, September 11, 2026 at 09:28:19 PM PDT, ireddy via groups.io < <mailto:<ireddy...> <ireddy...> wrote:
I feel I should share some updates about the very big White-tailed Kites roost I discovered in my neighborhood in Pleasanton on August 28 and that I have been observing since then.
I have been in contact with Ed Pandolfino (co-author of the article above) and Jeffrey Dunk (author of the White-tailed Kite entry for Birds of the World) as soon as I realized that this roost was massive and that there wasn't a ton of information about them. Ed and Jeffrey are both the co-authors of the soon to be released new version of the BOW entry and are very interested in the information we can find at this roost.
I try to count the number of birds who arrive at the roost each night. Since I started, the roost has changed place and the numbers fluctuate. It was first on Woodthrush Way, but then moved to Crestline Street and is now spreading to Willowren and probably further West to what I gather. Their numbers are often in the hundred or more (138 tonight) but it is hard to know if all the birds are accounted for.
I also try to record the directions they are coming from or leaving to. I also take notes of what they are doing, their use of trees - especially the tall pointy ones where the first comers perch (cypress/pine/redwoods). It would be interesting to know the proportion of juveniles/adults but it is very hard to tell because of the low light.
Their arrival time is shifting earlier every day - now before 7pm and all is quiet by 7:45pm. In the morning, they always leave a minute after the first crow calls around 6:20am. At this roost, they take more time to leave than the 3-5 minutes mentioned in the above article and they seem to first depart much later. I experimented coming earlier, at 5:10am but nothing happened until 6:20am. The mystery, though, is that I count less birds in the morning as compared to the evening.
And of course, as Dominik mentioned, if you come, be mindful of the residents, the kites are very much in the trees that border their houses (in their frontwards or backyards).
If any of you has observed a roost before and wants to share info with me of what they saw, where it was located, its size, when they saw it... I would love to know. I find it all very interesting.
Enjoy the birds, they give us so many opportunities to learn!
Date: 9/12/26 12:51 am From: Amy Dawson via groups.io <dawson.amy...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] White-tailed Kites Roost in Pleasanton -anyone remember the one in Livermore?
Hi all, Speaking of Kites, does anyone know if the large roost found in Livermore in 2011 is still there? At the time, I saw over a hundred!Â
Here is a string of emails that I dug up from that time, it has the location, so if anyone can go look it would be good to know! And it was this time of year as well.
Amy in Oakland
From: purrboycasey <thompson14ster...>
To: <EBB_Sightings...>
Sent: Wed, September 7, 2011 10:01:44 AM
Subject: [EBB_Sightings] White-tailed Kites in Livermore
For the last two afternoons, just before sunset, these kites have gathered in large numbers. There were perhaps 30 on Monday and maybe 10 yesterday, allowing me to get some nice photos. They gather around my house on Felicia Court near the west entrance to Lawrence Livermore Natl Laboratory on Vasco Road. They perch in the tops of the redwoods trees, with a lot of takeoffs and landings.
Larry Thompson
1069 Felicia Court
Livermore
-----------------------------I found a large roosting tree in the back yard of a house between Evelyn Way and Jessica in Livermore. The kites started circling at 7:15 and started landing 2 or 3 at a time from 7:30 to 7:45pm. In all more than 65 kites landed in just this one tree!
Bill Clark
Livermore-----------------A friend and I drove down to Livermore at dusk yesterday to see the kites - and we're so glad we did - it was a wonderful sight to see. Â
We arrived sometime between 7:15 and 7:30 and began to see a few kites here and there, flying into the area from all directions. As time went on, we saw 20, then 30 or even 40 or more in the air at one time.Â
They would fly around, some would hover a bit, before landing on various trees only to take off again to fly around over head. Eventually they all settled down for the night - from what we could tell - primarily in the top of some three trees in the area. Even after it was fairly dark, we could still see a few flying in to roost. Â
We think we probably saw well over one hundred - but this is a conservative estimate as they kept landing and taking off again - making it hard to keep track of them.
It seemed the best spots to watch them were on Jessica Drive, just south of the park and across from Anita Court - where you could see them landing on trees behind the homes on the right and left side of the street. Specifically, that would be the block between Jessica Dr.and Felicia Ave. and Jessica Dr. and Evelyn Way. They were also roosting on the trees between the park and Evelyn Way. In addition, if you go down and make two right turns onto Evelyn Way - to where it turns to the left, you will have the sun shining on the birds as it sets, and you'll be closer to some of the trees - so it may be easier to see them and better for taking photos.
It was good to run into Larry Thompson - who first posted about the kites - thanks Larry!
Amy in Oakland.
---------
Sunday evening I went to Evelyn Way to watch the white-tailed kites come in
at sunset.
Most didn't start to come in until it was too dark to photograph, but it was
fun watching them come in to land on a treetop, discover it occupied, and
circle for another tree roost.
Allen
On Friday, September 11, 2026 at 09:28:19 PM PDT, ireddy via groups.io <ireddy...> wrote:
Hello birders, Following up Dominik Mosur's message from sept 8 and Patricia Bacchetti who kindly shared this article on the roost in Sacramento https://journal.cvbirds.org/index.php/cvb/article/view/514/814I feel I should share some updates about the very big White-tailed Kites roost I discovered in my neighborhood in Pleasanton on August 28 and that I have been observing since then. I have been in contact with Ed Pandolfino (co-author of the article above) and Jeffrey Dunk (author of the White-tailed Kite entry for Birds of the World) as soon as I realized that this roost was massive and that there wasn't a ton of information about them. Ed and Jeffrey are both the co-authors of the soon to be released new version of the BOW entry and are very interested in the information we can find at this roost.  I try to count the number of birds who arrive at the roost each night. Since I started, the roost has changed place and the numbers fluctuate. It was first on Woodthrush Way, but then moved to Crestline Street and is now spreading to Willowren and probably further West to what I gather. Their numbers are often in the hundred or more (138 tonight) but it is hard to know if all the birds are accounted for.  I also try to record the directions they are coming from or leaving to. I also take notes of what they are doing, their use of trees - especially the tall pointy ones where the first comers perch (cypress/pine/redwoods). It would be interesting to know the proportion of juveniles/adults but it is very hard to tell because of the low light.  Their arrival time is shifting earlier every day - now before 7pm and all is quiet by 7:45pm. In the morning, they always leave a minute after the first crow calls around 6:20am. At this roost, they take more time to leave than the 3-5 minutes mentioned in the above article and they seem to first depart much later. I experimented coming earlier, at 5:10am but nothing happened until 6:20am. The mystery, though, is that I count less birds in the morning as compared to the evening.  For those of you who want to experience this roost and gather information on it, ebird if a good place to record it. I am putting all of my notes here https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/hotspot/L76641473/activity?yr=all&m=And of course, as  Dominik mentioned, if you come, be mindful of the residents, the kites are very much in the trees that border their houses (in their frontwards or backyards). If any of you has observed a roost before and wants to share info with me of what they saw, where it was located, its size, when they saw it... I would love to know. I find it all very interesting. Enjoy the birds, they give us so many opportunities to learn! IsabelleÂ
Date: 9/11/26 9:28 pm From: ireddy via groups.io <ireddy...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] White-tailed Kites Roost in Pleasanton
Hello birders,
Following up Dominik Mosur's message from sept 8 and Patricia Bacchetti who kindly shared this article on the roost in Sacramento https://journal.cvbirds.org/index.php/cvb/article/view/514/814 I feel I should share some updates about the very big White-tailed Kites roost I discovered in my neighborhood in Pleasanton on August 28 and that I have been observing since then.
I have been in contact with Ed Pandolfino (co-author of the article above) and Jeffrey Dunk (author of the White-tailed Kite entry for Birds of the World) as soon as I realized that this roost was massive and that there wasn't a ton of information about them. Ed and Jeffrey are both the co-authors of the soon to be released new version of the BOW entry and are very interested in the information we can find at this roost.
I try to count the number of birds who arrive at the roost each night. Since I started, the roost has changed place and the numbers fluctuate. It was first on Woodthrush Way, but then moved to Crestline Street and is now spreading to Willowren and probably further West to what I gather. Their numbers are often in the hundred or more (138 tonight) but it is hard to know if all the birds are accounted for.
I also try to record the directions they are coming from or leaving to. I also take notes of what they are doing, their use of trees - especially the tall pointy ones where the first comers perch (cypress/pine/redwoods). It would be interesting to know the proportion of juveniles/adults but it is very hard to tell because of the low light.
Their arrival time is shifting earlier every day - now before 7pm and all is quiet by 7:45pm. In the morning, they always leave a minute after the first crow calls around 6:20am. At this roost, they take more time to leave than the 3-5 minutes mentioned in the above article and they seem to first depart much later. I experimented coming earlier, at 5:10am but nothing happened until 6:20am. The mystery, though, is that I count less birds in the morning as compared to the evening.
For those of you who want to experience this roost and gather information on it, ebird if a good place to record it. I am putting all of my notes here https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/hotspot/L76641473/activity?yr=all&m= And of course, as  Dominik mentioned, if you come, be mindful of the residents, the kites are very much in the trees that border their houses (in their frontwards or backyards).
If any of you has observed a roost before and wants to share info with me of what they saw, where it was located, its size, when they saw it... I would love to know. I find it all very interesting.
Enjoy the birds, they give us so many opportunities to learn!
Date: 9/11/26 6:34 pm From: Patricia Bacchetti via groups.io <bacpab...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] San Ramon area migrant notes and Pleasanton Kite Roost - Labor Day Weekend (9/6 and 9/7 2026)
Date: 9/8/26 1:23 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] San Ramon area migrant notes and Pleasanton Kite Roost - Labor Day Weekend (9/6 and 9/7 2026)
A quick addendum to the Kite report. If you do come out to observe please
be respectful of the residents in the neighborhood. Don't block
driveways/sidewalks, point big lenses into people's homes etc.
DM
SF
On Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 1:22 PM Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> I spent Sunday 9/6 birding around San Ramon (Contra Costa County) to see
> what signs of migration could be detected in the suburbs and yesterday
> reprised a 7/20 hiking loop of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness along Rocky
> Ridgewith the same goal.
>
> Overall numbers of migrants were lower than I had anticipated/hoped for
> but there were still a few things that I found notable enough to share with
> the list. One thing I found interesting was that while my weather app
> indicated a 2-5 mph Northeast wind in San Ramon, Rocky Ridge (elevation
> ~2000') was blown out at a steady 15-20 mph with gusts so strong that I had
> to hold on to my scope to keep it from getting knocked over.
>
> Vaux's Swift - a loner flew over the Las Trampas main staging area with 3
> unidentified Swallows early in the morning. I was hoping the Northeast
> winds would bring more but that was it in ~5hrs. It was the first one I've
> seen this fall
>
> Say's Phoebe - singles were on the Iron Horse Trail and at Old Ranch Park
> in San Ramon. Early September is when Say's start to arrive for the
> fall/winter season but in recent years I've noted them breeding just a few
> miles east of here so these may be locals
>
> Violet-green Swallows - 3 flew over Rocky Ridge/Las Trampas ,the first
> ones I've seen this fall
>
> Red-breasted Nuthatch - the region wide irruption was in full evidence
> with several calling from the oak/bay stands along the Las Trampas
> Elderberry Trail. (2) flew past me on Rocky Ridge from the Watershed lands
> heading down into the canyon
>
> House Sparrow - a flock of (~20) along the Iron Horse Trail next to
> Montevideo Elementary were notable to me because it's the first time in
> dozens of efforts going back to 2021 that I have encountered this species
> within San Ramon City Limits. MINDBLOWING!
>
> White-crowned Sparrow (Pugetensis) - a somewhat early migrant HY
> White-crown was along the Iron Horse Trail at Pine Valley Rd.
>
> Rufous-crowned Sparrows - 4 pairs noted along the Rocky Ridge/Elderberry
> Trails in Las Trampas were all in spots where I seem to encounter this
> species on every visit. It appears that similarly to California Towhees,
> Rufous-crowned Sparrows maintain a territory and pair bond year round
>
> Tricolored Blackbirds - a few of these could be heard giving their
> distinctive "what's wrong with that cat" vocalizations mixed in a flock of
> (~200) Red-winged Blackbirds on the natural turf axillary ball fields of
> California High School next to the Iron Horse trail. Another data point
> emphasizing the danger of the artificial turf conversion trend that seems
> to be so prevalent in these days
>
> MacGillivray's Warbler - a hy female in coyote brush surrounded by
> parched grassland was an obvious migrant, as engaged in a conversation with
> one of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow pairs along the Elderberry Trail in Las
> Trampas. It was my first encounter with this species ever in Contra Costa
> County since I refuse to bird Mitchell Canyon or the Berkeley Hills on
> general principle.
>
> I also wanted to pass on a report of an amazing spectacle taking place in
> Alameda County in Pleasanton in the past two weeks. Starting 8/28, fellow
> EBBirder Isabelle Reddy has been noting a massive White-tailed Kite roost
> gathering in the vicinity of Ken Mercer Sportspark and Woodthrush Park.
> Isabelle noted 20 kites the first evening 8/28, 78 on 9/1,133 9/3, 175
> 9/4, 224(!!) 9/5, 142 9/6 and 112 9/7. Per Isabelle the roost appears to
> have shifted as of last night but the kites keep coming each evening
> starting about an hour before sunset and quickly departing around first
> light the following morning. Isabelle will be out of town for a while but I
> would encourage other birders/citizen scientists to come by and continue
> the effort of counting these birds and tracking where the roost shifts to.
>
> Per eBird data this is the largest roost of White-tailed Kites in the
> United States of AMERICA!
>
> Happy Fall Birding everyone,
>
> Dominik Mosur
> San Francisco
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/8/26 1:22 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] San Ramon area migrant notes and Pleasanton Kite Roost - Labor Day Weekend (9/6 and 9/7 2026)
I spent Sunday 9/6 birding around San Ramon (Contra Costa County) to see what signs of migration could be detected in the suburbs and yesterday reprised a 7/20 hiking loop of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness along Rocky Ridgewith the same goal.
Overall numbers of migrants were lower than I had anticipated/hoped for but there were still a few things that I found notable enough to share with the list. One thing I found interesting was that while my weather app indicated a 2-5 mph Northeast wind in San Ramon, Rocky Ridge (elevation ~2000') was blown out at a steady 15-20 mph with gusts so strong that I had to hold on to my scope to keep it from getting knocked over.
Vaux's Swift - a loner flew over the Las Trampas main staging area with 3 unidentified Swallows early in the morning. I was hoping the Northeast winds would bring more but that was it in ~5hrs. It was the first one I've seen this fall
Say's Phoebe - singles were on the Iron Horse Trail and at Old Ranch Park in San Ramon. Early September is when Say's start to arrive for the fall/winter season but in recent years I've noted them breeding just a few miles east of here so these may be locals
Violet-green Swallows - 3 flew over Rocky Ridge/Las Trampas ,the first ones I've seen this fall
Red-breasted Nuthatch - the region wide irruption was in full evidence with several calling from the oak/bay stands along the Las Trampas Elderberry Trail. (2) flew past me on Rocky Ridge from the Watershed lands heading down into the canyon
House Sparrow - a flock of (~20) along the Iron Horse Trail next to Montevideo Elementary were notable to me because it's the first time in dozens of efforts going back to 2021 that I have encountered this species within San Ramon City Limits. MINDBLOWING!
White-crowned Sparrow (Pugetensis) - a somewhat early migrant HY White-crown was along the Iron Horse Trail at Pine Valley Rd.
Rufous-crowned Sparrows - 4 pairs noted along the Rocky Ridge/Elderberry Trails in Las Trampas were all in spots where I seem to encounter this species on every visit. It appears that similarly to California Towhees, Rufous-crowned Sparrows maintain a territory and pair bond year round
Tricolored Blackbirds - a few of these could be heard giving their distinctive "what's wrong with that cat" vocalizations mixed in a flock of (~200) Red-winged Blackbirds on the natural turf axillary ball fields of California High School next to the Iron Horse trail. Another data point emphasizing the danger of the artificial turf conversion trend that seems to be so prevalent in these days
MacGillivray's Warbler - a hy female in coyote brush surrounded by parched grassland was an obvious migrant, as engaged in a conversation with one of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow pairs along the Elderberry Trail in Las Trampas. It was my first encounter with this species ever in Contra Costa County since I refuse to bird Mitchell Canyon or the Berkeley Hills on general principle.
I also wanted to pass on a report of an amazing spectacle taking place in Alameda County in Pleasanton in the past two weeks. Starting 8/28, fellow EBBirder Isabelle Reddy has been noting a massive White-tailed Kite roost gathering in the vicinity of Ken Mercer Sportspark and Woodthrush Park. Isabelle noted 20 kites the first evening 8/28, 78 on 9/1,133 9/3, 175 9/4, 224(!!) 9/5, 142 9/6 and 112 9/7. Per Isabelle the roost appears to have shifted as of last night but the kites keep coming each evening starting about an hour before sunset and quickly departing around first light the following morning. Isabelle will be out of town for a while but I would encourage other birders/citizen scientists to come by and continue the effort of counting these birds and tracking where the roost shifts to.
Per eBird data this is the largest roost of White-tailed Kites in the United States of AMERICA!
>If “leucistic” is inaccurate jargon what term should be used for diluted pigment? > >Nat Smale >El Cerrito > >Sent from my iPhone > >> On Sep 7, 2026, at 4:36?PM, Joe Morlan via groups.io <jmorlan...> wrote: >> >> ?[You don't often get email from <jmorlan...> Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] >> >> "Leucistic" is often used, but technically it means a bird with overall >> diluted pigment. It is not a synonym for "partial albino" which applies to >> patches of white mixed with normal plumage. Some geneticists argue that >> there is no such thing as a "partial albino," thus the inaccurate jargon >> "leucistic" became popular. >> >>> On Mon, 7 Sep 2026 15:14:58 -0700, "Jim Roethe via groups.io" >>> <JimRoethe...> wrote: >>> >>> Leucistic or Albino? >>> >>> >>> >>> This is the second year I've seen this bird. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Jim Roethe >>> >>> Orinda >> -- >> Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA >> >> >> -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA
Date: 9/7/26 5:10 pm From: Holly Bern via groups.io <htbern1...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Interesting bird at my feeder
“Piebald" leucism can result in the absence of color in patches. This can occur when the melanocytes fail to develop, multiply or migrate properly during embryonic development. The red in the bird’s face is from its diet, not melanin.
> On Sep 7, 2026, at 4:14 PM, Jim Roethe via groups.io <JimRoethe...> wrote:
>
> Leucistic or Albino?
>
> This is the second year I’ve seen this bird.
>
>
> Jim Roethe
> Orinda
> <IMG_2501b.jpg>
>
Date: 9/7/26 5:04 pm From: Nat Smale via groups.io <smale...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Interesting bird at my feeder
If “leucistic” is inaccurate jargon what term should be used for diluted pigment?
Nat Smale El Cerrito > On Sep 7, 2026, at 4:36 PM, Joe Morlan via groups.io <jmorlan...> wrote: > > [You don't often get email from <jmorlan...> Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] > > "Leucistic" is often used, but technically it means a bird with overall > diluted pigment. It is not a synonym for "partial albino" which applies to > patches of white mixed with normal plumage. Some geneticists argue that > there is no such thing as a "partial albino," thus the inaccurate jargon > "leucistic" became popular. > >> On Mon, 7 Sep 2026 15:14:58 -0700, "Jim Roethe via groups.io" >> <JimRoethe...> wrote: >> >> Leucistic or Albino? >> >> >> >> This is the second year I've seen this bird. >> >> >> >> >> >> Jim Roethe >> >> Orinda > -- > Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA > > >
Date: 9/7/26 4:36 pm From: Joe Morlan via groups.io <jmorlan...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Interesting bird at my feeder
"Leucistic" is often used, but technically it means a bird with overall diluted pigment. It is not a synonym for "partial albino" which applies to patches of white mixed with normal plumage. Some geneticists argue that there is no such thing as a "partial albino," thus the inaccurate jargon "leucistic" became popular.
On Mon, 7 Sep 2026 15:14:58 -0700, "Jim Roethe via groups.io" <JimRoethe...> wrote:
>Leucistic or Albino? > > > >This is the second year I've seen this bird. > > > > > >Jim Roethe > >Orinda -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA
On Sat, Sep 5, 2026 at 10:40 PM Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> This morning, I met some birder friends from out of town at 6:40am at
> Vollmer Peak. Last night was (I think) the first clear night/morning for
> several weeks, and I suspect this, along with the warm temperatures and
> minimal breeze, spurred a nice flush of migrants.
>
> We witnessed some visible migration - with occasional small groups of 3-5
> passerines zipping over the peak, often giving flight calls, all heading
> East to West.
>
> Our goal for the outing was to find my friend a lifer Hermit Warbler -
> which we did (at least 4). Amazingly, we had an 8 warbler morning (every
> expected N CA species except Yellow-rumped!), with the highlight being a
> Nashville Warbler (wears in eBird due to the early date). 8 species is
> the best non-vagrant warbler haul I’ve had outside of the Mines Rd area:
>
> - 1 Nashville Warbler
> - 12 Wilson’s Warblers
> - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler
> - 4 Hermit Warblers
> - 8 Townsend’s Warblers
> - 1 Yellow Warbler
> - 1 MacGillivray’s Warblers
> - 1 Black-throated Gray (possibly 2?)
>
> We also encountered a nice variety of other migrants:
>
> - 25 Vaux’s Swifts (probably an undercount)
> - 1 juvenile Chipping Sparrow
> - 6 Western Tanagers
> - 1 Western Wood-pewee
> - 1 Western Warbling Vireo
> - 1 Swainson’s Thrush
> - 5 Pine Siskins
> - 1 Purple Finch
> - 2 American Robins
> - 3 Northern Flickers
> - 15 Red-breasted Nuthatches (tough to estimate)
> - 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers
> - 20 Western Flycatchers (conservative estimate of birds heard and
> seen)
> - 10 Violet-green Swallows
> - 1 Tree Swallow
> - 12 New World Warbler sp. - in flight
> - 3 passerine sp - possibly Lazuli Buntings, but tough to say for
> sure. Zipped over the top of the peak without pause.
>
> The wind was mild (3-6 mph out of the SW), clear overhead with scattered
> clouds in the distance plus some haze from wildfire smoke, temperatures
> 57-67F.
>
> Happy birding,
>
> Zac Denning
> Albany
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
This morning, I met some birder friends from out of town at 6:40am at
Vollmer Peak. Last night was (I think) the first clear night/morning for
several weeks, and I suspect this, along with the warm temperatures and
minimal breeze, spurred a nice flush of migrants.
We witnessed some visible migration - with occasional small groups of 3-5
passerines zipping over the peak, often giving flight calls, all heading
East to West.
Our goal for the outing was to find my friend a lifer Hermit Warbler -
which we did (at least 4). Amazingly, we had an 8 warbler morning (every
expected N CA species except Yellow-rumped!), with the highlight being a
Nashville Warbler (wears in eBird due to the early date). 8 species is the
best non-vagrant warbler haul I’ve had outside of the Mines Rd area:
We also encountered a nice variety of other migrants:
- 25 Vaux’s Swifts (probably an undercount)
- 1 juvenile Chipping Sparrow
- 6 Western Tanagers
- 1 Western Wood-pewee
- 1 Western Warbling Vireo
- 1 Swainson’s Thrush
- 5 Pine Siskins
- 1 Purple Finch
- 2 American Robins
- 3 Northern Flickers
- 15 Red-breasted Nuthatches (tough to estimate)
- 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers
- 20 Western Flycatchers (conservative estimate of birds heard and seen)
- 10 Violet-green Swallows
- 1 Tree Swallow
- 12 New World Warbler sp. - in flight
- 3 passerine sp - possibly Lazuli Buntings, but tough to say for sure.
Zipped over the top of the peak without pause.
The wind was mild (3-6 mph out of the SW), clear overhead with scattered
clouds in the distance plus some haze from wildfire smoke, temperatures
57-67F.
Date: 8/31/26 12:25 pm From: JENNIFER FURY via groups.io <jennyfuzzy...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Continuing Lucy's Warbler at Lake Elizabeth
Thanks Bruce! Such nice and encouraging reports. Much appreciated. Cheers,Jennifer Fury Saltwater is the cure for everything, sweat, tears, or the sea 🌊 -------- Original message --------From: "Bruce Mast via groups.io" <cathrasher4...> Date: 8/31/26 11:20 AM (GMT-08:00) To: East Bay Bird Sightings <EBB-Sightings...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Continuing Lucy's Warbler at Lake Elizabeth For those of you who don't follow the rare bird alerts on Telegram, the LUCY'S WARBLER that Bill Chen found on Saturday was still present this morning. The bird is at Lake Elizabeth in Fremont. This morning it seemed to be associating with a loose flock of migrating Yellow Warblers that were foraging in the trees above the Brook 2 picnic area near the creek mouth and bridge. Flock also included a couple Western Flycatchers, at least one Orange-crowned Warbler, a Western Tanager, and my first Cedar Waxwings of the fall season.Bird on,Bruce MastOakland
Date: 8/31/26 11:20 am From: Bruce Mast via groups.io <cathrasher4...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Continuing Lucy's Warbler at Lake Elizabeth
For those of you who don't follow the rare bird alerts on Telegram, the LUCY'S WARBLER that Bill Chen found on Saturday was still present this morning. The bird is at Lake Elizabeth in Fremont. This morning it seemed to be associating with a loose flock of migrating Yellow Warblers that were foraging in the trees above the Brook 2 picnic area near the creek mouth and bridge. Flock also included a couple Western Flycatchers, at least one Orange-crowned Warbler, a Western Tanager, and my first Cedar Waxwings of the fall season.
Date: 8/21/26 8:02 am From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Noyo Pelagics -August 30th
Greetings Bay birders -
We still have some room on our pelagic trip on Sunday, August 30th, from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. Northwest winds continue and are predicted for some days between now and then, but they are generally not big blows, in the range of 10-15 knots, as typically occurs in late August. Upwelling produced by these winds has kept water temperatures cool off the Mendocino coast, now in the 54-58 degree range, with a cooler band of water occurring off our coast among the warmer incoming water associated with El Niño.
New and interesting birds continue to be seen on our trips. Following positive comments from outside reviewers, we have accepted records of 6 Townsend's Storm-Petrels observed and photographed on our trip of August 3rd. Summaries of these and other recent records, representing the first documented occurrences of this species in northern California, are in the eBird Checklists, for example here:
Late August is a great time for a variety of all the regular species (albatrosses, shearwaters, jaegers, skuas, Sabine's Gulls, Arctic Terns, phalaropes, etc.) and we anticipate finding good numbers of storm-petrels as we did on our August 3rd trip (five species including Wilson's). Nazca Boobies seem to be having an incursion year, with 2 in SF, 3-4 off Mendocino, and one off Humboldt yesterday, so far. Other southern or warmer-water species such as Cocos Boobies and Guadalupe Murrelets have also been seen in relatively good numbers off the central and northern coasts of late, and we anticipate that these and other unusual species will be attracted to the cooler waters of higher marine productivity off Mendocino, surrounded by warm-water "oceanic desert" moving in. Finally, you never know, there's always the chance for a 'mega-rarity' on any pelagic trip.
We still have 1-2 scholarships available for high school and college students, sponsored by Mendocino Coast Audubon, for free tickets. If interested in one of these, contact Tim Bray (cc'd above). MCAS has also reserved a campsite at MacKerricher State Park for the night of the 29th-30th. If interested in taking advantage of this, contact Roger Adamson (cc'd above).
