[EBB Sightings] Contra Costa County Big Year tally

On Jan 10, 2008, at 10:09 PM, Denise Wight wrote:

> Bob Power got Alameda County off and running with a
> few birders already participating in that count, but
> over here in Contra Costa, so far, it's just me.  We
> could use more birders to get out to see how many
> species this county can produce in 2008!
> Let me know if you're interested in participating.  We
> will add you to the list!
> And keep posting your usual bird sightings from Contra
> Costa County!

Well, I'm not personally going to be doing a Big Year in 2008, but I  
can add a couple of species to the Contra Costa list.

Barrow's Goldeneyes are still around in the vicinity of the Martinez  
Regional Shoreline, but they have dispersed even further from their  
previous locations. For the past couple of days there's been a group  
directly under the Benicia bridge and another group perhaps a mile to  
a mile-and-a-half west of the regional shoreline/train station --  
further west than I've generally seen them in years past. There are  
still pretty good numbers of Surf Scoters in both places as well, but  
I haven't been able to come up with any White-wings or Blacks.

Pelagic Cormorant can often be found in the vicinity of the Carquinez  
Bridge/Nantucket Restaurant. Today one was with Double-cresteds on  
the posts to the east of the bridge and the C&H Sugar plant. Some  
days I see one or two on the posts to the west of the bridge/ 
Nantucket restaurant although I can't swear that I've seen one there  
this calendar year.

Good birding,
Kirk Swenson
Davis <--> Emeryville