[EBB Sightings] Berkeley Marina and Mission Peak/Fremont

I started the day about 8 at the Berkeley Meadow, scrutinizing the  
willows in the center of the meadow, at just about the midpoint of  
the trail. Across from this stand is a field of fennel. Found in the  
willows:

1 Willow Flycatcher--active and visible off and on for about 30 minutes
2 Wilson's Warblers
1 Western Tanager

Craving a serious hike and recalling Ron Wolf's message of late June-- 
where he posted seeing Rock Wren and Rufous-crowned Sparrow--I headed  
for Mission Peak and hiked the peak trail to the top. The hike, the  
views, and the birds did not disappoint:

8 Rock Wrens--4 along the trail just before the first gate as one  
ascends (2 were juvs); 3 in small rock piles to the right of the  
trail about 100 feet before the spur to the peak; 1 in the rocks just  
below the peak. All wrens were active and easy to see from the trail.

3 Rufous-crowned Sparrows--2 in the shrubs just off the trail near  
the first cattle gate and watering trough as one ascends and 1 in the  
rocks near the peak

Trailhead is accessed through Ohlone College in Fremont. Parking is  
free on Sunday. A small fee is required on other days when school is  
in session. Trail map can be downloaded from the East Bay Regional  
Park District website.

The higher elevations (peak is 2,517 feet) allow a nearly eye-to-eye  
view of raptors: today, Red-tail, Harrier, and Kestrel. A nice bonus  
was a very healthy-looking coyote hunting in the field east of the peak.

Happy Trails,

Judith Dunham
Berkeley