[EBB Sightings] Mt. Bluebirds Patterson Pass Rd.

Hi all:

Driving east on Patterson Pass Rd (far eastern Alameda Co.) at about mile 4.90, 6 Mt. Bluebirds flew over my head heading west.  I gave chase, to no avail. I went down to the big paved pullout/driveway at mile 5.8 and found 6 more Mountain Bluebirds flycatching off of the distant telephone wires about 1/4 mile south inside the ranch (the birds were inside the ranch, I wasn't).  For those who chased the bluebirds in January, this is the same location where some had them and some didn't. Judith Dunham and Pat Bacchetti pulled up and were able to enjoy the distant blurs of blue and white.

Earlier that same day: 
Phainopepla juveniles -- 3 -- Mines Rd. / Del Valle Rd. intersection
Lewis's WP -- 1 --                "          "     "       "
Ferruginous Hawk, juvenile -- 1 -- "       "           "     "
Huckabone -- 2 -- adults
Golden Eagle - Adult -- Mines Rd. mile 5.75
Phainopepla male -- Mines Rd. mile 6.75
Golden eagle juvenile -- Mines Rd. mile 9.70
Golden Eagle adult -- 2 -- "    "    mile 13.0

Later that same day:
Long-billed Curlew -- 180 -- in flight -- Patterson Pass mile 8.0
Golden Eagle, adult -- 1 -- Brushy Peak Reg. Park.

Photographically speaking, it was a day of too close and too far. For some outtakes of the day, keep your expectations way low, visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14935921 at N00/

Good birding,

Bob Power
Oakland, CA