[EBB Sightings] Great Tailed Grackles & Loggerhead Shrike

Last night 6/18/08, I took a quick walk at the new Ohlone College campus on Cherry Ave, in Newark. One the back side of the parking lot, there are open fields and a small pond that is starting to dry out. There was an adult LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE perched on the cyclone fence near the pond, in addition to a male NORTHERN HARRIER and a male AMERICAN KESTREL that were foraging in the fields. A pair of RING-NECKED PHEASANTS were also fun to watch. Lots of CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS, & KILLDEER were at the pond. There were at least 4 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS mixed in with the BARN & CLIFF SWALLOWS. This will be a great spot in the fall when it starts to rain and the fields begin to generate more natural cover.
 NOTE: there are several no trespassing signs along the path from the parking lot. I checked with the security supervisor at Ohlone who clarified that it was OK to walk the path out to the pond as long as you stay on the path. The intent of the signs is not to prevent anyone from using the trail. In fact, there is a great elevation observation area with several benches that afford great views of the  fresh water pond, salt ponds and other open fields West of the train tracks. 
  There were also two male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES at the industrial pond near Morton Salt on Central Avenue in Newark this morning 6/19/08.

Good Birding,

George Chrisman
Burlingame, CA