Date: 10/14/25 1:22 pm From: Douglas Vaughan via groups.io <gdougvaughan...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] White-breasted Nuthatch
WBNU on our patio west of the Berkeley Hills was unexpected. Red-breasted is common, Pygmies occasional over the past decade, usually in small flocks. The White-breasted flew actively from an adjacent garage wall to a suet feeder to a seed feeder, then gone.
Date: 10/14/25 4:33 am From: Bob Richmond via groups.io <bobrichmond94544...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] South end of Monarch Street.
A Red Phalarope was seen from the south end of Monarch street in the old Alameda Naval Air Station. It was in the Seaplane Lagoon. Bob Richmond, Alameda
Date: 10/12/25 10:42 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Harlequin Duck
He’s now up on the beach below the pier on Brooks, the beach all the sad summering ducks sleep on. He is now only with two scoters.
Ethan
> On Oct 12, 2025, at 10:01 AM, Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> wrote:
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> Go to Vincent Park, Shimada would have better light but parking tight. Not visible from ferry terminal and far from islabel. But in an hour light will suck from Vicent.
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> Ethan
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>>> On Oct 12, 2025, at 9:42 AM, Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> wrote:
>>>
>> This morning Tara McIntire found a Harlequin Duck with the scoters in the Lee of Brooks. The bird is currently visible from Isabel but viewing will be better from Vincent Park/Lucretia Edwards area until the light gets bad. And it is floating that way anyways. Considering I picked through this same scoter flock (~50 birds) about three times this morning prior to Tara finding it, I’d guess it came in today, and then maybe might not stay long. But just a guess!
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>> Ethan
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Date: 10/12/25 10:01 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Harlequin Duck
Go to Vincent Park, Shimada would have better light but parking tight. Not visible from ferry terminal and far from islabel. But in an hour light will suck from Vicent.
Ethan
> On Oct 12, 2025, at 9:42 AM, Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> wrote:
>
> This morning Tara McIntire found a Harlequin Duck with the scoters in the Lee of Brooks. The bird is currently visible from Isabel but viewing will be better from Vincent Park/Lucretia Edwards area until the light gets bad. And it is floating that way anyways. Considering I picked through this same scoter flock (~50 birds) about three times this morning prior to Tara finding it, I’d guess it came in today, and then maybe might not stay long. But just a guess!
>
> Ethan
>
>
>
Date: 10/12/25 9:42 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Harlequin Duck
This morning Tara McIntire found a Harlequin Duck with the scoters in the Lee of Brooks. The bird is currently visible from Isabel but viewing will be better from Vincent Park/Lucretia Edwards area until the light gets bad. And it is floating that way anyways. Considering I picked through this same scoter flock (~50 birds) about three times this morning prior to Tara finding it, I’d guess it came in today, and then maybe might not stay long. But just a guess!
Date: 10/10/25 4:27 pm From: Kat Palermo via groups.io <katarinapalermo...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Queer Birders meet up at Coyote Hills this Sunday 10/12 at 8:30 am
Hi birders,
I've organized another queer birder meet up. This time at Coyote Hills Regional Park. We will meet by the Visitor Center at 8:30 am this upcoming Sunday 10/12.
All are welcome regardless of how they self-identify. All we ask of you is to come ready to be kind to others.
Hope to see some of you there on Sunday! See attached flyer below.
Bill Kezer and I biked/birded Clifton Court in very calm winds, with our best sighting being a Lewis's Woodpecker flying south on the northeast side. This is the 248th species reported at this hotspot which is #1 in Contra Costa county. Clifton Court lost two of its biggest fans this year when Jerry Britten and Srikant Char both moved out of the county, but their frequent trips out there resulted in a lot of great sightings in recent years. Lewis's Woodpeckers have been tough to come by this year in Contra Costa, with a few at Vollmer Peak on Sept 23 and 15 at Bishop Ranch Open Space on October 5th.
As expected the forebay was full of American Coots (I put 5,000) and try as we did we couldn't find a swallow that wasn't a Tree among the 3,000 swallows we reported. Also of interest were a handful of Wilson's Snipe and a pair of Red-necked Phalaropes.
This is a Willet, with afternoon sun making its legs look more yellow than
they actually were.
Zac Denning
Albany
On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Saturday afternoon at Meeker Slough and a low tide I photographed a bird
> with yellow legs, but not a Greater Yellowlegs. Today after several
> reported sightings of Pectoral Sandpipers there I wonder if it might be
> one. Is there an expert out there who can ID this bird?
> Thanks
>
>
> https://flic.kr/p/2rxLMaF >
> Claude Lyneis
> <cmlyneis...>
> https://www.youtube.com/bhsvideodad > Flickr Photos at https://flic.kr/ps/36it5P >
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Date: 10/6/25 12:42 pm From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Sandpiper Meeker Slough
Saturday afternoon at Meeker Slough and a low tide I photographed a bird with yellow legs, but not a Greater Yellowlegs. Today after several reported sightings of Pectoral Sandpipers there I wonder if it might be one. Is there an expert out there who can ID this bird?
Thanks
Date: 10/3/25 2:51 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Chestnut-sided Warbler at Creekside Park in Albany
While birding with Ed Yong at about 9am, I found a juvenile female
Chestnut-sided Warbler this morning at Creekside Park in Albany.
I first spotted it at (37.8978491, -122.3048576), looking down from the
upper trail (not far below the first hairpin turn in the trail), and I got
Ed looking for it as well. The bird was frustratingly skulky, fast moving
and tough to follow as it moved through the densely wooded area. It was
foraging low to mid canopy in oaks, in the vicinity of a large mixed flock
of chickadees, kinglets and warblers in the canopy. It always stayed at a
lower height than the main flock, flying with occasional acrobatic swoops
in between bouts of foraging mostly hidden in dense clusters of oak leaves.
It remained in this area by itself (on the lower northeast slope of Albany
Hill) even after the flock moved on.
After losing sight of the bird, Ed Yong and I walked down to the lower
trail, to just below the original sighting location, to try to re-find it.
After some effort, Ed refound it in low branches of the oaks on the south
side of the trail - this time in the midst of the mixed flock, just after
we ran into Melani King and Sam Zuckerman at (37.8982372, -122.3050045). We
were standing near where there’s a sanitary sewer manhole cover in the
middle of the lower trail.
Both Ed and I saw it well (and Melani King and Sam Zuckerman may have had
brief glimpses), but unfortunately we weren't able to get photos. We may
have later heard it call a few times (with a chip call similar to a Yellow
Warbler) near the original sighting location with Sam and Melani. While
Merlin identified that call as Chestnut-sided, Merlin also isn't very
reliable with Yellow Warbler-like calls, and we actually didn't see the
bird at that point.
Also notable:
Ed and I saw a northward movement of around 20 Vaux's Swifts from about
mid-way up the hill trail, looking north through a gap in the trees. Two
Swinhoe's White Eyes were also seen by 4-5 of us (after bumping into
Whitney Grover) at the Madison St dead end. It seems like these birds
(considered as exotic escapees on eBird), have become a regular wintering
species at this location, with many of the sightings near the Madison St.
dead end.
Date: 10/2/25 4:36 am From: Bob Richmond via groups.io <bobrichmond94544...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Dickcissel
A Dickcissel was seen south by 25 yards of the southern most winery along Marshall St. on the old Alameda Naval Air Station. It was on the west side of the road.
Date: 9/30/25 6:20 pm From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Common Tern at Emeryville Marina
For several days there have been sightings reporting Common Terns at Emeryville Marina. I went there for the second time today and there was one Common Tern with about 10 Forster’s Terns. Luckily it landed on the breakwater closest to the northern walkway/pier and I was able to get some good photos. I have included a photo with it next to a Forster’s for comparison, which shows the Forster’s definitely have longer legs. One Foster’s was banded, but the band wasn’t readable.
Date: 9/23/25 10:23 am From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Movement of Lewis’ Woodpeckers, Vollmer Peak
This morning, from about 8:30 to 9:45 AM, there has been a movement of Lewis’
Woodpeckers, seen at Vollmer, Peak. The birds have been moving south
southeast in singles or in pairs. One perched for several minutes on a bare
branch, the others were seen above the peak (viewed from the trail below)
hawking insects with floppy crow-like wing beats in between periods of
soaring.
I would be on the lookout for large dark crow like birds high above, along
ridgelines south of Vollmer Peak, including Sibley regional preserve,
Reinhardt Redwoods Regional Park, etc., and even the Mount Diablo range
area if they turn further east.
Date: 9/22/25 1:02 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Visible migration in Albany - out of place meadowlark, warblers, hummers
It's happening! Today there was a visible movement of migrants during my morning yard and sky watch in front of the house, in central Albany, near the Albany Library. Along with a notable diversity of species for mid-September. Most notable was a very out of place *Western Meadowlark *that was perched at the tip of the 60 foot tall redwood tree in my backyard! When I glanced up, there it was, glowing in the morning sun (see photos below). Amazingly (given the dense residential-urban setting), this is actually my second yard sighting, with the other from November last year (that one was a low northbound flyby).
In addition, there was a nice morning flight of warblers, with at least *6 Townsend's Warblers* (one singing), at least 2* Orange-crowned Warblers*, and one first-for-the-yard *Myrtle race Yellow-rumped Warbler *(also my FOS for this species), along with an influx of *Anna's Hummingbirds* (estimated with some uncertainty: at least 10 total, 5 seen at once, others zipping past far overhead or seen more distantly). My first of season *Western Bluebirds* made an appearance, along with a yard-notable *2 woodpecker species*, and appearances by 2 species that are less regular for the yard at this time of year: *Black Phoebe* and *Red-breasted Nuthatch*. A *Red-shouldered Hawk* sounded off, and a juvenile *Cooper's Hawk* was being hotly pursued by an irate *crow*. One mostly white mystery bird with limited dark markings on the upper wing was left as Bird sp due to distant receding views.
*Eyes up for tomorrow!* Based on past experience of increased sightings from my house, plus the continuing warming trend, I expect tomorrow (Tuesday) could have pretty decent potential for migrant flights until around 9am, especially from peaks, ridges and hilltops. Bay/ocean-side promontories might also collect some goodies tomorrow. Every time I've seen visible migration from my neighborhood, the following day has been productive from these locations, especially when there's a warming trend (as well as offshore/Easterly winds, though those don't apply now). This informal migration barometer of mine is purely anecdotal, but so far it's been a decent predictor. So keep eyes to the hilltops, ridges and skies tomorrow!
Date: 9/21/25 9:33 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] remaining Bodega Bay pelagic opportunities
hi all,
There will be two more boats out of Bodega Bay this year, for anyone still wishing to sample (or re-sample) "the best place... in North America, for pelagic birding" (Howell, 2015). On three prior trips this year there has already been Tristram's Storm-Petrel, Hawaiian Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater, several Laysan Albatross, gobs of Ashy and Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (thousands each), numbers of South Polar Skua (10+), Short-tailed Shearwaters. etc. I am running neither, but have been asked to advertise both.
OCTOBER 5th, with Redwood Regional Ornithological Society $180 regular/$120 student. Contact <peter_colasanti...> to reserve a spot.
NOVEMBER 23rd, independently organized (Lucas Stephenson) $195 regular/ no student price. Contact <navigator44...> to reserve a spot.
These will be very different trips, in early October the water is often still warm and fall migration still in full swing for many species. This will be a better trip for things like Sabine's Gull, high numbers of jaegers, skua, etc. The November trip will probably offer better opportunities for connecting with things like Black-legged Kittiwake, Short-tailed Shearwater, etc. Each trip offers a good chance for Laysan Albatross, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Ashy Storm-Petrel, etc.
Last year in November we found a Great Shearwater, and two years ago in October a Wedge-tailed Shearwater... so if you are hoping for the unexpectable, either date is good!
Date: 9/19/25 9:22 pm From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] American Wigeons at Meeker Slough
For many months there have been reports of at least one American Wigeon at Meeker Slough. And at least one seems to stay year around there. On Thursday four were there.. One seemed to have slightly different markings and according to another birder there it was the newest arrival. It has some green feathers on its back or wingtips, which seems unusual at least at the photos of these birds that I looked through.
Here are photos of one of with the more common marking labeled with a 1 and the one with the unusual markings.
Date: 9/19/25 7:43 pm From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] morphna? Song Sparrow and others
I managed to squeeze in an hour and a half of birding in Richmond this afternoon, which was about two more hours of free time than I expected, and it was pleasantly quite birdy. The highlight was a dark race of Song Sparrow from the Pacific Northwest at Miller/Knox , which I guessed was morphna , although I might have a better idea after I download photos. This is probably one of the earliest records for the Bay Area, but who even looks at subspecies anyways ;) My first of season Hermit Thrush was also here with a smattering of regular migrants.
A visit earlier to Booker T. Anderson was very birdy. I counted over 20 migrants including at least four gray-headed O-c Warblers and a Cassins Vireo, a species I struggle to find each year in Richmond. This general birdiness after this front mirrors Cedric Duhalde’s earlier report on SFBirds, and hopefully will continue through the weekend!
Date: 9/19/25 9:58 am From: judisierra via groups.io <judisierra...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Backyard migrants
For the last few days I've noticed chickadees coming to my yard around 4:00 accompanied by various migrants. Yesterday was a nice variety with a Tanager, Western flycatcher, orange-crowned and yellow warbler.
