[EBB Sightings] Lake Merritt, Byron, Delta Road and Big Break Trail

This morning, I saw both a male TUFTED DUCK and the female REDHEAD at the
Rotary Nature Center at Lake Merritt.  The Redhead was mixed in with the
Lesser Scaup in the immediate feeding area.  The Tufted Duck was just a tad
to the east, in the bay formed by the three islands.  There was also one
HERRING GULL present among the more common species.

I then went to eastern Contra Costa County to strengthen my county list and
try for the Lark Bunting.  My first attempt - around 11:00 - failed due to
wind; some other birders (Emily, Paul, and ??) had already been frustrated.
As compensation, a beautiful FERRUGINOUS HAWK flew overhead.

I then followed Steve Glover's Guide to Birding CCCo
[http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/ccsites.htm], trying Delta Road east of
SR4.  At the end of Delta Road, where the Holland Marina is located, there
was a mega-flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (at least 2000), and well
over 100 SANDHILL CRANES.  On the way back, I spotted five YELLOW-BILLED
MAGPIE in the fields at Ohmstede and Delta.

Around 2:00 pm, I started hiking the Big Break Trail in Oakley (part of the
East Bay Regional Park System).  This was quite a fun discovery!  The first
part of the trail (accessed from the north end of Jordan Road) parallels a
water treatment plant, so the place was hopping with MEW and BONAPARTE'S
GULLS, BLACK-NECKED STILT, and lots of waterfowl.  The trail has lots of
marsh on the other side, and some scruby vegetation, yielding SPOTTED
TOWHEE, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT among
others.  When the trail gets closest to the Bay/Delta (near the "Big
Break"), I was able to spy out a family of COMMON MOORHEN.  A flock of 16
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN rested on the water.  Among the raptors were a
COOPER'S HAWK couple and a NORTHERN HARRIER couple.  The Northern Harriers
were making soft noises at each other while they hunted over the same marsh.
One lone AMERICAN PIPIT tried to escape detection, but he is 'down for the
count' (Great Backyard Bird Count, that is).  Overall I had 48 species at
this location, and could have had many more if I had been there at dawn or
dusk rather than mid-afternoon.

I then rushed back to Byron Airport, where some birders already had the LARK
BUNTING in view.  What a distinctive individual she is!  Thanks to those who
found her this time; everyone was so rapt in the sighting that social
pleasantries were forgotten [so as not to disturb the bird]!

Good birding - Jennifer Rycenga