[EBB Sightings] Hayward Shoreline (Winton Ave.) - Rough-legged Hawk & Lincoln's Sparrow

I took an hour in late morning to walk out to the shoreline along the north side of the canal (landfill side). On the way back to my car a buteo came gliding in from the north & began circling at the canal & entrance gate (11:30 a.m.). It slowly worked it's way south down over the ponds west of Cabot Ave. Thru the binos, verified by a couple of long distance photos, I saw it was a female Rough-legged Hawk. This was my first sighting of the species, but I expected it more toward the foothills. How often are they seen in the Bay?
  Earlier, as I began my walk, I went a few feet into the "gully" just east of the landfill. A Lincoln's Sparrow flew up from the grass in front of me & perched on some fennel a few feet ahead. That gave me the opportunity to get my first good pics of a Lincoln's. And the WT Kite was hovering just next to the pathway before that. I was able to creep up from behind fairly close, taking pics, as it scanned the weeds below.
   
  Joe Devine
  Modesto, Ca

 
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