[EBB Sightings] Don Castro RP

Hi Birders.

Thought I'd check out Don Castro, in Hayward, yesterday; and though there wasn't anything unusual there, it was fairly lively.

On the water were RING-NECKED DUCKS, GREEN HERON, GREATER SCAUP, and a WESTERN x GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL.? Also Pied-billed Grebes, Mallards, Canvasbacks, Great Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret.

Land birds included a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS, BROWN CREEPERS, DOWNY WOODPECKER, HERMIT THRUSH, as well as lots of Yellow-rumps, crowned and Song Sparrows, Robins, Lesser Goldfinches, Wrentits, and Bewick's Wren.

A Great Blue Heron was high up in a eucalyptus tree, which I assume means it had nesting in mind?? Also, one of the Canvasbacks and one of the Ring-neckeds paddled the water before diving for food -- something I'd not seen before.

There's a nice wooded path that goes around the far side of the lake (across the lake from the parking area) and along a part of San Lorenzo Creek.

I had a total of 38 species in about two hours.

Directions to the park are on the EBRPD website.

Good birding in 2010!
Emily Serkin
Castro Valley