[EBB Sightings] California visit

Kenny,

What do you want to see?  I'd start on Mines Road out of Livermore using Kemper's Birding Northern California, and look for CA Quail, Wrentit, Lawrences' Goldfinch, Phainopepla, California Thrasher, and other species.  Then I'd go south on I-680 to highway 84 west, loop across the freeway going east, and follow the road into a park (can't remember its name) for Yellow-billed Magpie, California Towhee, Western Scrub Jay, and riparian vireos, grosbeaks, and orioles.

If you have the time for a real long side trip, drive up to Bodega Bay on he coast north of SF/west of Novato/Petaluma and get Black Turnstones, Pigeon Guillemot, Wandering Tattler, and Surfbirds.  The Surfbirds are on the jetty or on the ocean rocks.  The turnstones are in the bay.  Drive north from there along the coast and check rocks for Black Oystercatcher and all of the other coastal species.

Another option is to take an Oceanic Society cruise out of SF to the Farallon Islands, where you can get Rhinocerous and Cassin's Auklets, Common Murre, and Tufted Puffin, along with 5 species of pinnepeds and probably Blue and Humpback Whales (with a chance for California Gray Whales, too).

Darrell Lee

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