[EBB Sightings] Eastern Contra Costa Birds with additions

Hi all;

I slipped out to see the Tufted Duck at Clifton Court Forebay today, and he's a handsome fellow with a fine tuft.  He's hanging out with a female Lesser Scaup, it seems. 

On Clifton Court Road I re-found a Burrowing Owl on the north side of the road that my son spotted on Christmas Eve.  As you are heading west from the forebay to Byron Hwy, start counting telephone poles on the right after you cross the bridge over the channel.  The owl is between the 3rd and 4th poles, about 50 yards out in the ground squirrel burrows.  The grass is growing fast so I don't know how much longer this bird will be visible.

Amy McDonald found Barrow's Goldeneye at the junction of Herdyn Rd and Lindeman Road, so I headed there next. Herdyn Road is just south of Clifton Court Road on The Byron Hwy. There's a nice current, with many Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, and Buffleheads.  I was unable to find the Barrow's today, though.  As a consolation prize, a beautiful Merlin flew overhead for 10 minutes, swooping under the bridge and over the ducks. The county line is right at the channel, so I was able to count him in both counties as he flew. There was also an Orange-crowned Warbler in the blackberries, along with several YR Warblers.

Finally, I went north on the Byron Hwy to Knightson and went right (east) on Orwood Road. There were 2 fly-over flocks of Tundra Swans visible through the fog.  Large flocks of blackbirds had all 3 species, though no Yellow-headed BB were seen today. 

Good birding,

Pat Bacchetti
Oakland

Directions:  Take 580 east over the Altamont Pass; take 205 to the left when you get to the other side of the pass; take the Mountain House Parkway exit and go left (north); turn left at Byron Hwy; Herdyn Road and Clifton Court Road are both right turns off of Byron Hwy.  Traffic moves fast and there are no shoulders, but the roads are well-marked.  To get to Orwood Road, continue northwest on Byron Hwy, pass through Byron; turn left towards Brentwood at Hwy 4, then go right to Knightson when Hwy 4 goes left to Brentwood.  Orwood Road is the first right turn after Balford Road.