[EBB Sightings] Some belated East Bay CBC birds

Hi all,
Sorry for the delay on this. I participated in the
Contra Costa CBC on Saturday on the 15th, the Hayward
CBC on the 16th and the Eastern Contra Costa Count on
the 19th.
On the 15th at Mallard Reservoir north of Concord (no
public access,) I had five Surf Scoters (might be the
first I have seen there in the 18 years I have done
this) and a young Red-necked Grebe (a count first). A
male Blue-winged Teal was along Waterfront Rd. in a
pond south of the railroad tracks. To access this area
you need to go through the Tesora Refinery security
checkpoint on Waterfront Rd. and tell them you want to
go birding. Both Sora and Virginia rails are abundant
along this road, as is the maxillaris race of Song
Sparrow.

Later in the day Bruce Morad and his wife were kind
enough to take me out in their boat to check the
southern shoreline. An immature male Barrow's
Goldeneye was mixed in with a flock of about 200
Commons and at least 1100 (!!!) Surf Scoters were near
the docks of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.
Massive numbers of ducks, mostly scaup and goldeneye,
were rafting in the area, mostly within Benicia CBC
airspace.

The last I had heard, the preliminary total for the
count was 155, just a couple shy of the record. 

On Sunday I covered the Hayward Regional Shoreline
north of Winton Ave., with Heller Stanton in tow
during the morning. Birds of interest included 5
Ross's Geese and a Snow Goose on the sealed landfill
north of the channel at the end of Winton Ave, 20+
Aleutian Cackling Geese at the same spot (the geese
flocks here roam habitually so some of these birds
might not always be at that location), 2 Greater
White-fronted Geese at the San Lorenzo Community Park
duck pond (a real garden spot), a male Eurasian Wigeon
and a hybrid male wigeon on the bay near the sewage
treatment plant near Grant Ave, a Red-throated Loon on
the bay in the afternoon (loons are very hard to come
by in my section there), two Common Moorhens in the
golf course pond adjacent to  San Lorenzo Community
Park), the continuing Tropical Kingbird around the
channel east of the end of Winton Ave (easier for us
to see by turning into the Crate and Barrel Parking
lot and driving to the channel; if a guard hassles you
it wasn't my idea), and two Lesser Goldfinches around
the substation at the parking area on Grant Ave. 

The highlight of the day was a very obliging Lapland
Longspur on the landfill north of the channel at the
end of Winton Ave. Although Bob Richmond routinely
finds longspurs in the area in fall, the grass is
normally too tall by this time of year and they
haven't been found on the count in over 20 years, I
think. The bird was with a flock of about 20 Horned
Larks and was usually on the slopes of the landfill
around the southwest corner. There is no vegetation on
these slopes so the longspur is completely vulnerable
to leisurely scopeviews and digiscoping. 

Yesterday I was joined by Jim, Josiah and Andy on the
Eastern Contra Costa County CBC. My area is around
Holland Tract and Orwood Rd. east of Knightsen. Recent
rains had left more standing water than is typical for
this early in the winter and the waterbirds responded
in a big way. Numerous Tundra Swans and Sandhill
Cranes were in the area, as well as lots of white
geese (including at least two blue-phase Snow Geese)
and hundreds of Aleutian Cackling Geese. Raptors were
well represented with at least 5 Ferruginous Hawks, a
Rough-legged Hawk, a Merlin and a Peregrine. Jim Tietz
spotted an ad. White-throated Sparrow, as he often
seems to.

The highlight was an American Redstart, first found by
Jim and Josiah in some willows and blackberry brambles
 on Delta Rd. shortly before the marina at the east
end of the road. So, heading east on Delta Rd. from
Hwy 4 in Brentwood, go several miles to a 90 degree
left turn. After crossing a bridge and dropping onto
Holland Tract, the road turns sharply to the right.
Continue through the first marina to a 90 degree right
turn. About halfway between this right turn and the
next left turn, check the willows and brambles on the
east side of the road. The bird gave it's loud chip
fairly often.

I had to leave for work at noon but i'm sure the three
of them found some other goodies after I left. 

Happy holidays,
Steve Glover
Dublin, CA