Date: 7/27/26 9:19 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] notes
I should clarify my Forster's Tern statement: I have not seen them in
summer on Richmond's San Francisco Bay shoreline in 5 or so years. While
they have declined along the north Richmond (and North Richmond) shorelines
on San Pablo Bay, they are still present during the summer in that region.
Ethan
On Mon, Jul 27, 2026 at 9:14 AM Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> This morning I was able to briefly check some spots in Richmond.
> Highlights were one Red Knot at Meeker Slough, 4 Forster's Terns in the
> Albany Crescent, and 10+ Least Terns in the Albany Crescent/off Isabel.
> Forster's Terns were not a difficult species to find in Richmond in
> July/August when I started birding, but I think it has been five or more
> years since I have seen a summer Forster's Tern in Richmond. The Least
> Terns were curious. At about 6:25 AM, I heard Least Terns flying over me
> while I was scoping the bay from near the Pt. Isabel radio tower. I looked
> up and saw a flock of 8 silhouetted against the fog flying northeast. I
> followed them as they appeared to beeline into urban Richmond towards
> ~50th/55th streets . About thirty minutes later I was scoping the Albany
> Crescent when 8 Least Terns dropped in from the north--from over the
> Costco--and began to forage in the bay water. I presume the same birds?
> Other than the 8, one adult and doting juvenile were foraging together off
> Pt. Isabel for much of the morning.
>
> While I am here, last Friday morning birding Bethel Island I found a
> Swainson's Thrush. This is one of the latest local breeding species to
> migrate, and is exceptionally rare away from breeding sites in July. So, it
> feels worth a mention here.
>
> Best
> Ethan Monk
>
>
>
>
Date: 7/27/26 9:14 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] notes
This morning I was able to briefly check some spots in Richmond. Highlights were one Red Knot at Meeker Slough, 4 Forster's Terns in the Albany Crescent, and 10+ Least Terns in the Albany Crescent/off Isabel. Forster's Terns were not a difficult species to find in Richmond in July/August when I started birding, but I think it has been five or more years since I have seen a summer Forster's Tern in Richmond. The Least Terns were curious. At about 6:25 AM, I heard Least Terns flying over me while I was scoping the bay from near the Pt. Isabel radio tower. I looked up and saw a flock of 8 silhouetted against the fog flying northeast. I followed them as they appeared to beeline into urban Richmond towards ~50th/55th streets . About thirty minutes later I was scoping the Albany Crescent when 8 Least Terns dropped in from the north--from over the Costco--and began to forage in the bay water. I presume the same birds? Other than the 8, one adult and doting juvenile were foraging together off Pt. Isabel for much of the morning.
While I am here, last Friday morning birding Bethel Island I found a Swainson's Thrush. This is one of the latest local breeding species to migrate, and is exceptionally rare away from breeding sites in July. So, it feels worth a mention here.
Date: 7/23/26 3:09 pm From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] [CALBIRDS] California Bird Atlas Town Hall Webinar TONIGHT - Late Breeders
Date: 7/21/26 7:33 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] 5 Warbler morning at Vollmer Peak, plus post-breeding dispersers
My recent birding has been fairly quiet, but this morning really stood out for variety and novelty.
Following up on reports of *Black-throated Gray* and *Hermit Warblers* at Vollmer Peak, I went to see if they continued. While these species are regular here later in the fall, the 3rd week of July is earlier than I usually start monitoring this spot. I'm not sure if Hermits typically show up this early, but it's definitely early for Black-throated Gray.
I was pleased to find both of those species (including at least 2 Hermits - perhaps as many as 4), plus a female *MacGillivray's Warbler seemingly with a begging fledgling* in tow, plus *Orange-crowned Warblers with fledglings*, and *Wilson's Warblers*. I can't remember having a 5 warbler day in late July, so this was quite a treat. The MacGivllivray's seemingly had a breeding territory here earlier in the year, so it's nice to see they've been successful.
Other highlights:
- One major highlight for me was a f*ledgling Rufous-crowned Sparrow*, which I photographed in harsh light in the midst of chasing warblers - assuming at the time that it was a Song Sparrow fledgling. I only noticed my hasty mis-ID later when reviewing photos. This is my first for this species at Vollmer (and a nice breeding code), so in retrospect, that turned out to be a real treat! I thought at one earlier point that I'd heard Rufous-crowned Sparrow deer-deer calls, but this wasn't heard clearly enough - so I've only counted the one I photographed. - *2 Lazuli Buntings* called from dense brush on the NE side of the peak, making buzzy flight calls in response to a low flying Red-tailed Hawk. Thanks to the Red-tail, otherwise I'd never notice the buntings! - A *banded adult Red-tailed Hawk* was interesting to see perched on a radio dish on one of the towers - though I couldn't get the whole band number. It might include the numbers 669, but I'm not sure. - *Blue-gray Gnatcatchers* were present at several locations - a bird that's less common except on the lower slopes. - *California Thrashers* were being quite vocals, making various cryptic calls from the poison oak thickets on the east side of the peak - *House Wrens and Purple Finches* (in incognito mode) were seemingly everywhere - probably post-breeding dispersers - The *Western Flycatchers* have seemingly bred successfuly here (or are dispersing from elsewhere) - since there were mixed adults and juveniles. They tend to breed down by the steam train area, so they're less often on the east side of the peak along the Seaview trail, except during migration.
Many of these species are being more quiet (mostly calls and few songs) and less visibly obvious right now, so if you go look for them, listening for calls can really help.
Date: 7/18/26 7:34 pm From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] East County misc.
Today I spent the morning walking the levee at Clifton. The highlight came in the form of a Black Tern foraging over the south end of the forebay. I am not sure the species has ever been found in July in Contra Costa County. Other noteworthy birds included a pair of Goldeneye, a pair of Common Mergansers, ~3 (+?) Semipalmated Plovers, 41+ Long-billed Dowitchers, and 9 Godwits.
On Monday, I did the same walk as this morning but a bit more pressed for time. I saw the same two Goldeneye, but did not see the Mergansers (which I think are new arrivals), also a Bank Swallow, a pair of dancing Clark's Grebes and a Forster's Tern being trailed by two brownish begging young.
Otherwise today I checked a number of other spots in East County. The first solid evidence of passerine migration-- I found 3 Western Tanagers, 2 Western Flycatchers and a Warbling Vireo. At Byron WTP I found a Say's Phoebe (I did not find them anywhere in this area in June) and a Peregrine, and I ran into Erica Rutherford and John Colbert on Bethel Island who pointed out some Cattle Egrets.
Date: 7/10/26 7:21 am From: Chris Waterman via groups.io <chriswaterman555...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Swinhoe’s White-eye in Alameda
Update- there are 3 chicks/ fledglings. Found in the Blue Jacaranda tree at 2066 Eagle Ave in Alameda. I got a pic of the 3 fledgelings and some audio but will have to return at a later time for more media.
Date: 7/10/26 7:06 am From: Chris Waterman via groups.io <chriswaterman555...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Swinhoe’s White-eyes in Alameda
Just found another 2 chicks being fed in alameda, same tree where I found chicks on 5/30. Corner of Willow and Eagle im city of Alameda. Heading back to get some pics.
Date: 7/6/26 11:33 am From: Teale Fristoe via groups.io <fristoe...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Brown Thrasher in Berkeley
Kathy,
With distinct streaking on the flanks and whitish (rather than pink)
wingbars, this is a House Finch.
Teale Fristoe
Berkeley
On Fri, Jul 3, 2026 at 8:25 PM Kathryn Macbride via groups.io
<kathymacbride...> wrote:
> Please, Can anyone tell me. Is this a purple finch on my feeder in Orinda
> today? My iphone changed the color a little. It was not quite this rasberry.
>
> Kathy
>
> On Sat, Jun 13, 2026 at 9:42 PM Tyche Hendricks via groups.io
> <tychehendricks...> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I’m new to this group, thanks to an invitation from my friend Marissa
>> Ortega-Welch. Happy to be here!
>>
>> I wanted to share that I’ve had an interesting visitor in my backyard the
>> last couple of days. At first I only got fleeting looks as it flew off and
>> I wondered if it was an exceptionally rusty-colored California Towhee (with
>> a long tail).
>>
>> But this morning I got a good look and some photos and it appears to be a
>> Brown Thrasher. It kept perching above my suet feeder, maybe not sure how
>> to get the suet. Also hopping around on the lawn and pecking in the dirt,
>> then flying into nearby bushes/trees, then off.
>>
>> You can’t see from the photo, but the eye is yellow.
>>
>> Enjoy!
>>
>> Tyche
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
Date: 7/3/26 8:25 pm From: Kathryn Macbride via groups.io <kathymacbride...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Brown Thrasher in Berkeley
Please, Can anyone tell me. Is this a purple finch on my feeder in Orinda
today? My iphone changed the color a little. It was not quite this rasberry.
Kathy
On Sat, Jun 13, 2026 at 9:42 PM Tyche Hendricks via groups.io
<tychehendricks...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I’m new to this group, thanks to an invitation from my friend Marissa
> Ortega-Welch. Happy to be here!
>
> I wanted to share that I’ve had an interesting visitor in my backyard the
> last couple of days. At first I only got fleeting looks as it flew off and
> I wondered if it was an exceptionally rusty-colored California Towhee (with
> a long tail).
>
> But this morning I got a good look and some photos and it appears to be a
> Brown Thrasher. It kept perching above my suet feeder, maybe not sure how
> to get the suet. Also hopping around on the lawn and pecking in the dirt,
> then flying into nearby bushes/trees, then off.
>
> You can’t see from the photo, but the eye is yellow.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> Tyche
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
