[EBB Sightings] Heather Farm Ducks

Though I have heard reports of Buffleheads in Heather Farm Park earlier this 
month, I did not see any until yesterday afternoon.  The large, mostly 
natural pond in this Walnut Creek park has not had many winter ducks the 
last few years, but yesterday two female Buffleheads were present.  They 
were seen again this morning, Monday.

Also on the pond yesterday and today were five Pied-billed Grebes.  This is 
a quantum leap from the one or two usually present year-round.

I was told of the presence of a male Wood Duck on the irrigation reservoir 
near the Seven Hills School.  I usually call it the Seven Hills Pond, but in 
fact it is water used for irrigating the vast lawns and playfields of the 
park.  The Wood Duck was seen Saturday AM and again late yesterday.  I could 
not find it this morning.

Also late yesterday, just north of the park and Contra Costa Canal, a Merlin 
was sitting in the tall pine tree with no needles at the top.  This morning 
a Red-shouldered Hawk was there, two weeks back a Cooper's Hawk was there. 
This tree is easily visible from the footbridge over the canal, adjacent to 
the former "sparrow corner".  Several years ago, while sitting on the large 
raised manhole cover by the footbridge and talking with several other 
birders, we saw a White-tailed Kite in this same tree.  I always try to look 
there to see who is using the tree as a vantage point.

In the corner of the drainage ditch, also by the footbridge, this morning I 
saw three Wilson's Snipes.  They were easily seen by standing near the 
chain-link fence across the maintenance road.

Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek