[EBB Sightings] Pine Canyon/Diablo Foothills Regional Park

Today between 9:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. we walked up Pine Canyon in the Diablo
Foothills Regional Park to the Mt. Diablo State Park Boundary.  At
approximately 10:00 we got excellent views of a Rufous-crowned Sparrow where
Hugh Harvey had reported seeing one on 3/17.  It showed itself quite nicely
in the California sagebrush alongside the fence at Nature Walk-Stop #4.  In
addition, we had excellent views of several Wrentits a short distance up the
Shell Ridge Loop Trail, and a pair of Peregrine Falcons was observed at the
Castle Rocks where nesting has occurred in the past.  One falcon remained at
the nest site while the other adult was observed bringing prey to the site.
White-throated Swifts were also abundantly visible at the Castle Rocks.

On the way back we retrieved a Western Aquatic Garter Snake from the
blacktop roadway and placed it near the adjacent stream.  During this
encounter we were able to share the snake with others who were initially
skeptical about our picking up the snake.  It was a fun teachable moment and
it seemed that their apprehensions were put at ease.

It was a very pleasant way to spend the last day of "winter."  Happy Spring.

Paul and Nancy Schorr, Antioch