[EBB Sightings] Frick Lake-Livermore-gulls-A new place

EBB-

Thanks to Art Edwards's recent posting about gulls at Frick Lake, I decided to check it out quickly on a trip to the Central Valley today.  I had never been out that direction, and needed Thayer's and Herring Gulls for my county count. At 11:30 AM, there were at least 500 gulls resting in the shallow waters, and at least a thousand more circling high above.  A very quick survey resulted in 7 Herring Gulls, 2 Thayer's, and the rest Californias of different cycles. I could only scope about 1/2 the flock until I had to leave. There were also Black-Necked Stilt feeding, along with Killdeer.  I will go back out Thurs and spend more time.  It's a great place to study gulls without having to go to the coast.  Art's wonderful website summarizing 48 years of bird observations and locations around Livermore is available at Joe Morlan's website, or by searching Art Edwards Livermore Birds.

It's reached by taking 580 E to Livermore, taking the Vasco  Road exit to the north side of the freeway, taking the first right on Northfront Road, then turning right on Laughlin Road until you find the seasonal shallow body of water.  Brushy Peak Regional Park is further north at the end of the road.

The Cassin's Kingbird was also very cooperative this morning out at the south end of Greenville Road, on the dirt portion at the 2nd pond.  It shot out of the tree at the middle of the second pond and started vocalizing from a fence post for 5 minutes, allowing wonderful looks at the prominent pale-edged wing coverts and the notched tail with white tips.  Now I will be able to tell the difference between a Western and a Cassin's, with a Tropical this year at Hayward thrown in for a bonus.


Pat Bacchetti
Oakland