[EBB Sightings] Del Puerto Canyon--MDAS field trip

The Mt. Diablo Audubon Society found or heard 60 species today, despite the 
oppressive heat in the hills south of Livermore.

Starting from I-5, highlights include a Merlin just after we turned onto Del 
Puerto Canyon Road.  It landed on the hillside and worked on devouring its 
prey.

The Costa's Hummingbird was found in the first elderberries on the left 
after the Graffiti Rock.  Some Rock Wrens and a Say's Phoebe were flitting 
about the Owl Rocks.  3 other Rock Wrens were on the cliff face to the north 
back down the road from all the tree tobacco before the Graffiti Rock.

A Canyon Wren and two Rufous-crowned Sparrows were found at MP 10.4, the 
traditional Canyon Wren spot.  A Green Heron flew up from the creek.

We were very lucky to find a pair of Lawrence's Goldfinches at the 
campground past Frank Raines Park.  Then, to top it off, the San Joaquin 
Stanislaus Cattlewomen's Association offered us all some fresh strawberry 
shortcake which they had leftover from their fund-raising meeting in the 
building below the bathrooms.  Verrry nice!

A Pied-billed Grebe family was in the pond to the right after passing the 
county line.  The babies had striiped heads.

Lewis's Woodpeckers were found a quarter mile or so south of the Junction on 
San Antonio Valley Road.  Another pair of Lawrence's Goldfinches was found 
by one car in the large pine tree along the driveway of the old fire 
station.  The rest of us had cashed it in and headed home.

A Rufous Hummingbird was seen during our return on Mines Road at MP 5.75. 
It as downhill in all the Sticky Monkeyflower.

We were very lucky the birds and strawberries made up for the oppressive 
weather.

Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek