[EBB Sightings] Tricolored in Livermore

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Hi Birders,

On Saturday afternoon (4/23), I found a small colony of  Tricolored 
Blackbirds in Livermore, with breeding well underway.  The  adults were constantly 
carrying food into the cattails, and I even glimpsed a  few fledglings being fed.  
Other nests may be at an earlier stage, as I saw  at least one female 
carrying what looked like nesting material.

To get to  the site, take North Vasco Rd. from I-580.  In about a mile, just 
after  Vasco necks down to two lanes, go left on Dalton.  Within a couple of  
blocks, Dalton makes a sharp right and becomes Ames.  The marsh is on the  
right side at this corner.  You can't park on either Dalton or Ames, so  just 
before the curve, turn left and park on Broadmoor.  Best viewing is  from the 
sidewalk along Ames, about half-way along the fence near the 35 mph  sign.  I 
would suggest staying at least that far down, as the cattails  nearer the corner 
come very close to the fence, and I noticed the birds seemed  hesitant to 
carry food into the cattails there when I was standing  closer.

There were Great-tailed Grackles in the marsh too, although I saw  no actual 
nesting activity.  There was one male and two females in the  cattails when I 
arrived, and later on the roof of a nearby house.
 
I also took a quick look at Frick Lake.  Not many birds there, but  there was 
one completely unexpected Whimbrel.  Two Forster's Terns  were roosting on 
the fence that bisects the lake. (Directions: N. Vasco from  I-580, right on 
Northfront, left on Laughlin -- the lake is around a mile up the  road on the 
right.)

Good birding,
Kathy Robertson
Hayward, CA

P.S.  For  those of you wondering, I was not participating in the official 
Tricolored  survey being conducted this weekend -- it was just a fluke that I 
happened to  find this colony on this particular weekend.  I have contacted Leo 
Edson to  make sure this information is included in the survey  data.


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Arial"=20
bottomMargin=3D7 leftMargin=3D7 topMargin=3D7 rightMargin=3D7>
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Tricolored Blackbirds in Livermore, with breeding well underway.  The=20
adults were constantly carrying food into the cattails, and I even glimpsed=20=
a=20
few fledglings being fed.  Other nests may be at an earlier stage, as I=
 saw=20
at least one female carrying what looked like nesting material.

To ge=
t to=20
the site, take North Vasco Rd. from I-580.  In about a mile, just after=
=20
Vasco necks down to two lanes, go left on Dalton.  Within a couple of=20
blocks, Dalton makes a sharp right and becomes Ames.  The marsh is on t=
he=20
right side at this corner.  You can't park on either Dalton or Ames, so=
=20
just before the curve, turn left and park on Broadmoor.  Best viewing i=
s=20
from the sidewalk along Ames, about half-way along the fence near the 35 mph=
=20
sign.  I would suggest staying at least that far down, as the cattails=20
nearer the corner come very close to the fence, and I noticed the birds seem=
ed=20
hesitant to carry food into the cattails there when I was standing=20
closer.

There were Great-tailed Grackles in the marsh too, although I=
 saw=20
no actual nesting activity.  There was one male and two females in the=20
cattails when I arrived, and later on the roof of a nearby house.
=20
there was one completely unexpected Whimbrel.  Two Forster's Terns=
=20
were roosting on the fence that bisects the lake. (Directions: N. Vasco from=
=20
I-580, right on Northfront, left on Laughlin -- the lake is around a mile up=
 the=20
road on the right.)
or=20
those of you wondering, I was not participating in the official Tricolored=20
survey being conducted this weekend -- it was just a fluke that I happened t=
o=20
find this colony on this particular weekend.  I have contacted Leo Edso=
n to=20
make sure this information is included in the survey=20
data.


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