Bay Bridge environmental impact report
Sat, 17 Oct 1998 14:19:36 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
You might be interested in taking a look at the environmental impact report
for the proposed rebuilding of the eastern part of the Bay Bridge:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/sfobbdeis.htm
Section 3.9 deals with wildlife impacts.
I don't have enough knowledge to evaluate such statements as that the affected mudflats are important to wildlife, but the wetlands are of negligible value. However, I would imagine that some birders would want to check out the statements in this report. It's also worth noting that some kind of park at the east end of the bridge is being touted as part of the plans. Birders may want to have some input on these plans as far as protecting the wildlife and providing good birding spots. I haven't had time to read all of this lengthy document, but I didn't notice anything in what I read about the use of the bridge itself for roosting and nesting by cormorants - surely it must be in there somewhere.
There are still a couple of public hearings scheduled for comments on this document: Tues Oct 20 from 5 to 8 PM at Contra Costa Christian High School, 2721 Larkey Lane, Walnut Creek; and Thurs Oct 22 from 5 to 8 PM at the John F Kennedy Library, 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo.
Good birding,
Larry Tunstall
http://www.best.com/~folkbird/
EBbird website:
http://www.best.com/~folkbird/EBBC/
Reply #1 Reply #2 Subject List
Hayward Shoreline
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 18:03:33 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
Bob Lewis forwards the following list from his Albany Night School class visit to Hayward Shoreline today (Oct 18). Highlight was flocks of shorebirds being flushed by two Peregrine Falcons.
2 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Eared Grebe, 2 Clark's Grebe, 3 Double-crested Cormorant, 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Great Egret, 3 Snowy Egret, 45 Green-winged Teal, 10 Mallard, 20 Northern Pintail, 1 Cinnamon Teal, 350 Northern Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 300 American Wigeon (some in rafts offshore), 50 Surf Scoter (in offshore raft), 80 Ruddy Duck, 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 White-tailed Kite, 2 Northern Harrier, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 20 American Coot, 50 Black-bellied Plover, 5 Killdeer, 20 Black-necked Stilt, 1200 American Avocet, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 200 Willet, 30 Long-billed Curlew, 1400 Marbled Godwit, 1 Ruddy Turnstone, 200 Western Sandpiper, 50 Least Sandpiper, 100 Dunlin, 200 Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Western Gull, 1 Forster's Tern, 1 Black Phoebe, 2 American Crow, 3 Marsh Wren, 3 European Starling, 2 Common Yellowthroat, 3 Savannah Sparrow, 10 Song Sparrow, 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow, 5 White-crowned Sparrow, 3 Western Meadowlark, 5 Brewer's Blackbird, 25 House Finch.
Posted to EBbird by Larry Tunstall
Point Emery, Aquatic Park, and Point Pinole
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 20:50:27 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
Birding along the bayshore today (18 Oct). Nothing exciting, but a nice selection of birds (and butterflies) to make the day interesting.
At Point Emery (where Ashby runs into the Bay): Horned Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Mallard, American Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ring-billed Gull, Western Gull, White-crowned Sparrow.
At Berkeley Aquatic Park (down at the south end): Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Mallard, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dowitcher sp, Western Gull, Forster's Tern, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, American Crow, American Robin, House Finch. And half a dozen Common Murres in a tank at International Bird Rescue!
At Point Pinole Regional Park: Double-crested Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Western Gull, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, unidentified woodpecker, Northern Flicker (both red and yellow shafted), Black Phoebe, Steller's Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon), White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Meadowlark Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch.
Plus several other birds we couldn't identify, but we're learning!
Good birding,
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
http://www.best.com/~folkbird/
Sabine's Gull, Clay-colored Sparrow
Mon, 19 Oct 1998 12:28:19 PDT
From: Steve Glover
East Bay Birders,
Several things to mention. This morning I went out to Richmond for a few hours. At about 9 AM I had an adult Sabine's Gull flying north in front of Brooks Is[land]. It still retained much of it's black hood. I believe that this is the third county record and my first. This was #300 for me in the county for those who like lists. I saw it from [Point] Isabel. I then went to the park at the west end of Marina Bay Parkway. I was hoping to find Clapper Rail in the marsh to the south around Meeker Slough but bombed. They have been noted here several times in recent but I have missed them despite dozens of attempts.
While there I had a Clay-colored Sparrow, probably the sixth or seventh county record. From the parking lot at the end of Marina Bay Parkway take the trail to the left. In a couple of minutes you will come to a small lawn area. Next to the lawn area, in a small draw, is a very small clump of willows, some pampas grass and some fennel. The bird spent most of its time feeding in the fennel, sometimes flushing into the willows. The only other birds there were 2 White-crowned Sparrows and some Bushtits.
A few weeks ago, also at the park at the end of Marina Bay Parkway, I had a small flock of finch-type birds that I was unable to identify. I was attracted by their calls which, if pressed, were vaguely similar to Red- breasted Nuthatches. They were monotonous calls, most notable for their nasal quality. I got on one bird quite briefly and was only able to see a large white area on the folded primaries or secondaries (like I said, it was a very brief view). It also appeared to have a pink bill. I can't say anymore than that but if anyone gets out there they should be aware.
A Mourning Warbler, reported as probable, was on the Birdbox over the weekend. It was reported from Mitchell Can[yon], Mt. Diablo State Park. If documented and accepted it would be the first county record.
Steve Glover
Dowitchers
Mon, 19 Oct 1998 20:43:15 PDT
From: Bob Lewis
A small correction on the list from last weekend that the Albany Adult School had at Hayward Shoreline - Long-billed Dowitcher should have been indicated as Dowitcher sp. Having said that, and having heard no calls, can anyone advise whether the study of differentiation of the two Dowitcher species in winter plumage has progressed beyond the comments in Birds of Northern California, where it is noted that it is not possible to distinguish them?
Bob Lewis
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