[EBB Sightings] Merlin in Pinole

This morning (Sun, Nov 1), at San Pablo Bay Regional Shoreline in 
Pinole, we had a gorgeous female MERLIN.  She was perched on a twig 
in the narrow band between the lower railroad tracks and the Bay, 
below the parking lot and down the trail a little to the right.  Then 
an Amtrak train came by, flushing her.  She was last seen flying 
along the Bay to the west.

Some other good birds around this area lately:

- juvenile Cooper's Hawk, hanging around at the park & in the 
neighborhood (possibly multiple birds) - last seen today (Nov 1).

- first-of-season Canvasback - today (Nov 1).

- tan-striped White-throated Sparrow (Oct 22, not seen since then) - 
the local sparrow flock has been hanging out in the scrub on either 
side of the trail, skulking and not cooperating.

- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Oct 18 and again Oct 29 in the willows at 
the bottom of the hill) - usually we only see them here in migration.


Directions to San Pablo Bay RS:  Exit I-80 at Appian Way in Pinole 
and head north toward the Bay.  At the bottom of the hill, turn left 
on San Pablo Ave.  At the 2nd light, turn right on Pinole Shores 
Drive.  At the end of Pinole Shores Drive is a small parking lot for 
the Shoreline.


Good birding,
--
Laura Look
Pinole, CA