Lake Merritt
December 26,  2018
Leader(s):  Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 35
# of species:  48

Our day after Christmas walk drew a lively crowd  – about 35 people, though I kept answering questions and losing count. Most of the lake regulars showed up around the islands – both sorts of scaup, stiff-tailed Ruddy Ducks (not, of course, at all ruddy at this season), Canvasbacks, Canada Geese and Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, and a fair-sized flock of Bufflehead swimming and diving in a tight circle, chasing something…. We saw a few Double-crested Cormorants sitting on the floats, but the trees were back to normal for the season (all the nests empty and ignored). Overall populations continued to feel low, especially for the scaup, though all the individuals looked bright-eyed and healthy.

The islands offered lots of Black-crowned Night-Herons of all ages, along with some Snowy Egrets and one Great Blue Heron, and a Great Egret showed up along the far side of the lake. That gave us all the expected herons except for the Green, missing since last September – which wasn’t really a surprise; we haven’t seen one in December since 2016, and in only three other Decembers since 2009.

In the paddock – the area with the fresh water ponds that the park people drain and scrub clean every week or so – the new boss bird is a domestic Swan Goose, fawn-colored and black-beaked and striding around masterfully. The Muscovy Duck flock now up to eight individuals from the two or three of past months, stayed together, avoiding the Swan Goose despite looking to weigh about as much. Do these domestic birds fly in? Or is it reverse duck-napping? Who knows…. Certainly the chickens living in one of the tent camps were brought in.

The bird of the day was the second burglar-masked Townsend’s Warbler we met along the side of the lake between the playground and El Embarcadero – an area where warblers of any kind rarely appear and are still more rarely seen well as they prefer the tops of thick trees. But this brilliant gold, olive, and black beauty spent many minutes in the lower edge of a sparsely leafed oak, heading back and forth from one little well-lighted branch to another without regard to the breathless crowd standing a few feet away. (The first Townsend’s was a female in one of the New Zealand Tea bushes. She was just as welcome for allowing herself to be seen without inflicting the dreaded warbler neck upon the observers, but didn’t stay around nearly as long.)

In the garden, a couple of  Brown Creepers delighted the eye, picking their way up tree trunks and along branches in plain sight and flying down to start over at equally visible spots – except for one, which flew to the back of a nearby trunk and had turned into a black and white Nuttall’s Woodpecker by the time it circled into view. (Yeah, not really – but that’s surely what it looked like! The timing was just right.) We also picked up a California Scrub Jay – which still felt like a novelty, even though this was its ninth month to appear this year — and a speckle-breasted Hermit Thrush, a genuine novelty, as well as the usual Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Oak Titmice and Bushtits. Fox Sparrows scuffled in the leaf mold along with both crowned sparrows and the dust-brown California Towhees (which are basically really big sparrows too).

The ten or so birders who made it to the end of the trip – we ran very long, past 12:30 – without departing for other appointments had the chance to see 48 wild species all told, which was higher than in the past three Decembers, making it yet another good day at Lake Merritt. (Where, of course, every day is its own sort of good day….)

Arrowhead Marsh
December 23, 2018
Leader(s): Kathy Jarrett
# of participants:
# of species: 52

Starting at the EBRPD Tidewater staging area we bicycled along the Bay Trail to Arrowhead Marsh, taking advantage of the high tide to see a Sora, a couple of Ridgway’s Rails and a large number of Great Blue Herons hoping to catch a meal. We were surprised to see no Surf Scoters in the channel when we began but there were large numbers on the return trip. There were large rafts of Ruddy Ducks and Scaups. Thanks to Ken who let us use his scope to see the birds in Pond #3 at the southeast corner of the park; there we saw Wilson’s Snipe, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teals, American Wigeons and Black-necked Stilts and more.

Fort Mason
December 21, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 10
# of species: 43

Highlights were Bonaparte’s Gull, Wandering Tattler, Orchard Oriole and White-throated Sparrow.

Tilden Park Nature Area
December 7, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants:
# of species: 23

We walked in the Tilden Nature Area, from the parking lot to Jewel Lake and back again.

The Red-breasted Sapsucker at the start was a nice opener. It is possible that it is the same bird we have found here for three years in a row.  Today was our almost annual pre-holiday Book Exchange; thank you to all who contributed items.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50601650

Lake Merritt
November 28, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 29
# of species: 46

The day started with a strange sight: the bare trees on the islands were crowded with Double-crested Cormorants. Birds were sitting in and around the nests, rearranging sticks, and even posing head-and-tail-high in the “come live with me and be my love” pose. Routine in March, but weird enough in November for a passing couple to stop the group and demand, “What’s up with the cormorants? They don’t belong here now!” No one had an answer – in more than a decade of year-round walks, we’d never seen anything like it  either. These birds were mostly (but not quite all, which was even stranger) bronzy juveniles, normally uninterested in pairing off, and the trees should have been nearly empty from the time the last nest fledged in the summer till the land grab started in early spring. What could it be? What happens next? Tune in next month….

On the lake, the expected visitors were in residence: all three small grebes (Pied-billed, Eared, and Horned), the diving ducks (Greater and Lesser Scaup, Canvasbacks, Common and even Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Ducks), plus both White and Brown Pelicans. Numbers continued to be way down, however – especially among the scaup: dozens instead of hundreds or thousands. We did see birds everywhere, but the surface should have been black with them and it just wasn’t.

Black-crowned Night-Herons, on the other hand, were sitting just about anywhere a heron could sit along the shores of the islands – all ages, from streaky youngsters through tan adolescents to elegant black-gray-white adults – many more than in recent months. It’d be nice if they were moving back to breed at the lake, but again, only time will tell. None along the left side of the island nearest the nature center, though, where two raccoons (an adult and a half-grown youngster) were fossicking among the rocks. No Green Herons, either, possibly avoiding the raccoons, which were patrolling one of their favorite places.

Among the trees in the park, we saw most of the seasonal and year-round regulars, with the absence of Western Bluebirds and House Finches more than compensated by lovely views of burglar-masked Townsend’s Warblers and droves of White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows. Oak Titmice and Chestnut-backed Chickadees were darting back and forth around the base of the redwood beside the monkey-puzzle tree in the garden, joined by a California Scrub Jay of an unusually luminous shade of blue.

The bird of the day arrived as we were passing the pair of catalpa trees bordering the path across from the garden center. As usual, we paused to note the horizontal rows of holes that crowd the branches, saying wistfully, “Sapsuckers love these trees, and if we’re going to see –” At which point, a woodpecker flew into the top of one of the trees, showing off the rusty-red head, neck, and chest and the black-and-white wings of a Red-breasted Sapsucker! And it stayed, giving us long looks from all sides. (Even though we always hope, we do not expect to see this bird: since 2009, it’s appeared only eight times during the walk, no more than once in a whole year.)

What with the two truly amazing sights, and 46 species observed all told (including the now apparently resident Wood Duck, which put in a brief appearance for some of the group), and the rain that threatened but did not fall before we were all long since home and dry, it was a jewel of a day at Lake Merritt, where every day….

Crown Beach, Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary Alameda
November 15, 2018
Leader(s): Sharol Nelson-Embry
# of participants: 7
# of species: 26

We had a great walk this morning with throngs of shorebirds, pelicans, a few ducks, terns and gulls. We looked for the snowy plovers but the tide was low enough they were away from their fenced area probably feeding. EBird checklist submitted.

Albany Mud Flats/McLaughlin Eastshore State Park
November 11, 2018
Leader(s): Fred Werner
# of participants: 30
# of species: 54

Despite the smoky haze from the Camp Fire burning hundreds of miles north of here, a large group of birders were treated to a good range of waterbirds including spectacular swirling flocks of peeps on this uncommonly warm sunny Sunday on the Albany shoreline.

The 30 participants included a number of trip leaders and other experienced birders and several scopes to share, allowing for some great views.  We started at the 2nd observation platform on Buchanan St. alongside the Albany mudflats.  Everyone got great looks at the American Avocets, 6 duck species, 4 species gulls, Semi-palmated and Black-bellied Plovers, Marbled Godwits and Long-billed Curlews, terns and others.  A real treat was the massive sprawling flocks of peeps which allowed great views of Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and Dunlin all side-by-side and showed off their spectacular coordinated flying, for example when a passing Cooper’s Hawk scared them up.

We then walked up the short path to do a loop around the fenced-in Burrowing Owl protected zone of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.  Failing once again to turn any ground squirrels or tufts of grass into owls, the most interesting birds were a Northern Mockingbird, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown Pelicans, Western Meadowlarks and distant views of both Clark’s and Western Grebes.  One group of the abundant White-Crowned Sparrows provided an interesting lesson in careful observation.  They appeared red-billed!  But those eager to declare discovery a new species had their enthusiasm checked by observing further that this flock was in a thicket of ripe blackberries!

Ryan Gilpin submitted two separate lists to eBird for each of the “hotspots”:

Tilden Nature Area
November 2, 2018
Leader(s):Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 38
# of species: 31

We walked to Jewel Lake from the Tilden Nature Area parking lot and back.  We encountered some fine birds including four Ruby-crowned Kinglets, four Townsend’s Warblers, lots of Yellow rumps (Myrtle) and two Varied Thrushes.

Lake Merritt
October 24, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 21
# of species:  43

It’s easy to see the season changing at Lake Merritt, and not just by the floats spanning the lake instead of surrounding the islands, or the leaves starting to drift off the trees. The birds are back! Not all of them in great numbers yet, but besides flocks of Ruddy Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes, our group saw the first scaup of the season, the first Canvasback, and a pair of Horned Grebes, not seen here on an October walk since 2009. And, not “back” but here for the first time in the history of these walks, a male Wood Duck in full alternate plumage swam with the Mallards around the nature center. According to park personnel, he’d been there for about three weeks, taking the edge off the magic but providing some hope: check out the lake – he might still be there.

And it was loud. A female Belted Kingfisher flew from the islands to circle the globe cage and back a couple of times, rattle-calling all the way. Down at water level, half a dozen streaky brown juvenile Black-crowned Night-Herons flapped from island to island and up and down between rocks and branches, shouting like kids on recess. No idea why; they’re usually as silent as the gray-suited adults (several of which stood around ignoring them). Crows ran a Red-shouldered Hawk off the biggest island tree and tried to do the same to a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk munching something in one of the abandoned cormorant nests – but the red-tail ignored them, finishing the snack and sitting peacefully for several minutes. Later we were treated to some three-way raptor/corvid action, with the two hawks and a lot of crows in the air all at once, mixing it up so it wasn’t clear what was chasing what.

Adult and juvenile  Brown Pelicans lined the floats, crowding the juvenile Double-crested Cormorants still in residence,  and patrolled in circles over the lake among clouds of gulls. In addition, three American White Pelicans swam and fished together; later we saw them circling for altitude, shining in the sun and showing off their startling array of flight feathers. How that much black can be totally hidden when they’re on the surface is a constant amazement!

Lakeside Park and the garden had crowds of Yellow-rumped Warblers (missing since last March) busily fly-catching, branch-picking, ground-nibbling, and generally living by their basic maxim: Anything anybody eats is food! Butter-butts are almost always the most numerous warbler to be found because – unlike most warblers, which have preferred feeding modes – they’ve specialized in not specializing. Today they were not just most common but alone; the other fall warblers didn’t show up at all.  The lawns were hopping with other birds, though, most notably gray-crested Oak Titmice and brilliant Western Bluebirds, and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers seemed to be giving their soft police-whistle calls from trees in all directions – while managing to stay thoroughly out of sight.

The trip wound up a little past noon, and those who stayed to the last finished on a high note: a Great Blue Heron and several Great Egrets flew down the lake and landed on one of the islands, joining a crowd of 20 or 30 mixed Great and Snowy Egrets that had landed there after we departed in the morning. All told, we’d seen 43 species, continuing last year’s upward trend. And so another banner day at Lake Merritt, where every day is a good day but few are so mild and lovely as this one.

MLK Regional Shoreline, New Marsh Loop
October 23, 2018
Leader(s): Sharol Embry
# of participants: n/r
# of species: 54

There was a good diversity of birds on the loop, but not yet in great numbers, except for American Coot (about 200).  Good finds included Blue-winged Teal, five Grebe species, Ridgway’s Rail, Sora, American Pipit, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Black Oystercatcher and Western Meadowlark.  The complete list is on eBird.

Hilltop Lake Park
October 24, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 4
# of species: 36

The Ring-necked Ducks are back in good numbers.  Also Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Bufflehead and Ruddy Ducks.  Common Gallinule, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Say’s Phoebe were other good birds from today’s walk.

Fort Mason
October 21, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 22
# of species: 53

A very active morning at Fort Mason, with the most intriguing sighting coming at the very end when three of the participants in this morning’s GGBA walk flushed a medium sized (bigger than a towhee) brownish bird that was sleeping on the ground in the northeast corner of the garden. It was described as having spots, a white bar on each wing when it flew, and sharp pointed wings, which sounded like a Nighthawk to me. The bird flew towards the apple tree when it was flushed, and we could not refind it. Prior to that we had a very good morning for sparrows, with nine species altogether. A LARK SPARROW and a CHIPPING SPARROW were on the north side of the garden, and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW were in the garden, Warblers included a NASHVILLE WARBLER in the lower Battery, and a PALM WARBLER on the lawn north of the garden. An OSPREY was over the Bay, and a WANDERING TATTLER was on the waterfront. Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were west of the garden.

Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
October 21, 2018
Leader(s): Megan Jankowski
# of participants: n/r
# of species: n/r

Today’s GGBA field trip spotted a Palm Warbler at Middle Harbor around 12:30/1 pm. It was on the first rock jetty picking at food and pumping its tail.

We had good shorebird diversity today, including one whimbrel, but so far the only ducks that have arrived are bufflehead and shovelers.

Chain of Lakes, Golden Gate Park

October 14, 2018
Leader(s): Mitch Youngman and Bonnie Brown
# of participants: 21
# of species: 36

Though we had a small burst of activity at South Lake upon meeting up, birding was slow under overcast skies for the first half of our time. However, as the sun came out, so did the birds netting us good looks at Townsend’s Warblers, countless iterations of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a nice scope view of a Northern Flicker and limited views of a common Yellow-throat and Western Tanager. In a feat of spectacular spotting, one of our group teased a juvenile and adult Black-crowned Night Heron out of the way-overgrown North Lake, allowing scope views of the adult. Our group also had some opportunities to hear the Fox Sparrow chipping, compare 1st year White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows & note the Ruby-crowned Kinglet’s rapid foraging and fluttering behavior. Both raptors were quick fly-by or over looks but well heard. The “heard only” birds, Belted Kingfisher and Pacific Wren, were heard by some of the group as well. We finished the morning back at South Lake under beautiful blue skies. View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49209223

Tilden Park Nature Area
October 5,  2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 40
# of species: 34

We walked in the Tilden Nature Area, from the parking lot to Jewel Lake and back by way of the boardwalk. Brown Creeper was the bird of the day; we saw four and heard them singing.  We also found a Varied Thrush as well as a Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler and Western Tanager.

There was also a juvenile Cedar Waxwing perched under the Pacific-Slope Flycatcher. Cedar Waxwings are somewhat unusual for this area (only four other October sightings since 1996 at either Jewel Lake or the Nature Center). A photograph of the Waxwing (along with a number of the other species) is included in the eBird checklist:

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48966991

Topic today was again feathers: Ptilochronology (the study of feathers through time), growth bars (the growth cycle of a feather is marked off each 24 hours by a dark [daylight-deposited] and light [night-time deposited] pair of bands), and is evidence of the nutritional status of the bird during the feather’s development. The field is only 30 years old (Thomas Grubb’s first paper using ptilochronology was published in 1989) but there is enough research that Grubb published Ptilochronology: Feather Time and the Biology of Birds (Oxford University Press), in 2006.

Albany Mudflats/ Albany Bulb
September 29, 2018
Leader(s): Fred Werner
# of participants: 31
# of species:  49

The tide rolled in, the sun came out, and a large group of birders were treated to a good range of waterbirds on a warm post-summer Saturday on the Albany shoreline.

The 30+ participants included a number of experienced birders and several scopes to share, allowing for some great views.  We started at the Albany Mudflats observation platforms along Buchanan St., checking out the shorebirds and ducks being ushered towards us by the incoming tide.  Blue-winged Teal afforded only a glimpse as they flew by, but everyone got great looks at the American Avocets, Green-winged Teal, Marbled Godwits, Willets, large flocks of peeps and more.   Other highlights included an active Say’s Phoebe, and close fly-bys by Killdeer.

We then walked up the short path to do a loop around the fenced-in Burrowing Owl protected zone of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.  Failing to turn any ground squirrels or tufts of grass into owls, the most interesting birds in the enclosure were Western Meadowlarks.  A female Yellow Warbler in the trees by the entrance, a flyover of American White Pelicans, and long views (for some) of a perched Osprey provided more highlights.

Some folks turned around at this point while a contingent continued on to stage 3 of today’s walk; the Albany Bulb.  House Finches and California Towhees abounded.  Spotted Sandpipers, a pair of Mockingbirds and a harbor seal were delights here amongst the quirky artwork and jumble of riprap.

Lake Merritt
September 26, 2018
Leader(s):  Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 30
# of species:  38

Sunny but weird weather greeted participants on today’s walk: the sky seemed clear, but close to the water we had so much light-scatter that it felt like looking at the islands through a pane of dusty glass. A little of that was altogether enough, so after enjoying such nearby delights as a couple of dozen Snowy Egrets and six or eight Great Egrets on the islands, a hundred or so Double-crested Cormorants (mostly from this year’s hatch) sitting on the floats, and a female Belted Kingfisher that flew in and posed for us, we headed across Bellevue and into the park.

There the runaway highlight was a raiding party of three American Crows mobbing a Red-shouldered Hawk. The aerial dogfight – which the crows were not getting all their own way – went round and round and back and forth, starting from behind some trees across the meadow that used to have a plaque in the middle and passing more or less straight above us. Later we spotted what was probably the same hawk, alone and hyper-alert high in a thick pine tree in the garden.

We also had our first Townsend’s Warbler of the season. A party of five California Scrub Jays were strung across the top of a line of trees, all shining so brightly white and dark that a birder new to the area asked if they were magpies. That would have been a real find! But the jays – more than the group had ever encountered together in the past – were delight enough, especially when they all took off and flew side by side across the field and over our heads.

Besides the afore-mentioned hawk, the garden treated us to some good looks at Bewick’s Wrens (always there, often heard but not seen), White-crowned Sparrows , and brilliantly yellow-breasted Lesser Goldfinches. We also enjoyed the usual host of Anna’s Hummingbirds, House Finches, and California Towhees.

The light was marginally less dreadful when we returned to the lake, where we found a Green Heron and a Great Blue Heron on one of the islands – making it a five-heron day, with the egrets and the ever-present Black-crowned Night-Herons. None of the winter ducks had arrived, but we did see a lot of Pied-billed Grebes and one gray powder-puff Eared Grebe. The Western Bluebird family put in an appearance in the oaks along Bellevue, bringing the total for the day to 38 species and winding up yet another satisfying day at Lake Merritt, where every day is a good day to be there, haze or no….

Volmer Peak
September 22, 2018
Leader(s): Kathy Bleier
# of participants: 13
# of species: 28

Fourteen of us walked up to Vollmer Peak on what turned out to be a pretty warm day.  We drove through fog getting there, but then it lifted, we sweated, and the birds hunkered down a bit.  Saw the most Western Wood-pewees I’ve ever seen in one place (reported 5 to be conservative but pretty sure there were a couple more), lots of Pygmy Nuthatches that didn’t show themselves, a bunch of Red-breasted that did, my first of season Hermit Thrush and Golden-crowned Sparrow and a pesky pair of Empidonax who had a confusing array of traits and failed to call or show us their primary projections.  Still early, a third of the group ventured down the Lupine trail after reaching the peak, only to encounter a half marathon of runners (all of whom were walking due to the heat) and very few birds.  So we turned back and wrapped up by 11.   The bird list is at

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48701958

Fort Mason
September 16, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 40
# of species: 58

We all had quite a show today – a total of 58 species, including lots of migrants.  The best sighting was probably the two WESTERN KINGBIRDS – one flew over the garden, and another landed a few minutes later and perched in close proximity for several minutes. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER also provided stunning views. WESTERN TANAGERS were absolutely everywhere, and even landed a few feet away from our group of 40 birders. We spotted at least 24 different Western Tanagers. Warblers were well represented with 8 YELLOW WARBLERS, 6 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 4 TOWNSEND’S WARBLERS and 3 WILSON’S WARBLERS. A HOUSE WREN was in the garden and another was on the hillside above Aquatic Park. Early in the morning a WANDERING TATTLER was on a rock on the edge of Aquatic Park. At one point in the Battery there were three species of woodpecker in the same tree – DOWNY, HAIRY and NUTTALL’S. A BELTED KINGFISHER was well camouflaged on the abandoned pier. WESTERN WOOD PEWEES were in the garden, above Aquatic Park and at several places in the Battery – one Pewee was feeding another.  It was hard to count how many different Pewees there were since they were very active, but there were a minimum of 4, and perhaps as many as twice that number.  There were also at least 5 PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHERS and 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS. AN OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was quite visible in the Battery. A BULLOCK’S ORIOLE was also in the Battery. There were many ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS, as well as a RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD. Returning wintering birds included a FOX SPARROW in the lower Battery, and a SAY’S PHOEBE around the chapel (we did not see the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW I had in the garden yesterday). Finally a LAZULI BUNTING was on the lawn in front of the General’s House, later accompanied by a CHIPPING SPARROW.

Hilltop Lake Park
September 12, 2018
Leader(s): Kathy Bleier
# of participants: 4
# of species: 3

It was a warm, sunny, windless day at Hilltop.  Our small group spent extra time identifying eclipse ducks (Gadwalls and Mallards), with one or two starting to come back into alternate plumage; confirming the ID of the yellow birds up in the trees (one female Western Tanager and one presumed juvenile male based on the bright color but lack of discernible red in the face); looking for the Willow Flycatcher, seen by 1 or 2 in our group (also seen a couple days later during Coastal Cleanup); and watching Red-breasted Nuthatches (which seem abundant in various places this month).   And of course, it’s always nice to watch the Kingfisher.  We found one late, brand new American Coot chick, which appears to make 3 rounds of chicks this year.  Between this and that, we spent 45 minutes longer than usual.  Nice outing!  The ebird list is at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48486857

Tilden Nature Area
September 7, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 38
# of species: 32

We walked as usual from the parking lot to Jewel Lake and back.

Today’s theme was Molting (not plumages but physiology and ecology of molting). Textbooks and review articles and research results disagree about the roles of photoperiod, sex hormones, thyroxine-T4, prolactin and other influences on molting. Many sources say, “We don’t know a lot about the physiology of molt”.

There are many strategies and adaptations for molting in birds. The most interesting things I learned are: Ducks (Mallards and Blue-winged Teals were studied) increase their leg muscles to make for faster water-surface or underwater escape from predators during flight-less periods due to wing-feather molts; Hummingbirds (Ruby-throated was studied) can fly with only three primaries on each wing during molt, and lose weight to have a wing-load almost the same as when they are full-feathered.

Today’s birds included Vaux’s Swift, White throated Swift, Hermit Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Western Tanager and a Picidae grand slam.

UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve
September 1, 2018
Leader(s): Whitney Grover
# of participants: 9
# of species: 18

The Mt. Sutro walk went great today. We heard many Pacific Wrens singing their whisper song and first thing, right in the parking lot, we saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker. We had three warbler species: Orange-crowned, Wilson’s and Townsend’s. View the whole checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48217761

Lake Merritt
August 29, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 19
# of species: 38

The  birders who turned out for what was supposed to be the quietest walk of the year enjoyed a truly glorious day – overcast but calm and pleasantly cool, and full of birds: 38 species (11 more than last August), including a Green Heron that flew in and posed on one of the upright logs supporting a near island and then turned to provide a view of the other side, and a Great Blue Heron that landed in a pine farther back but in easy view as it preened every feather. “I didn’t think they could do that with their necks!” said one of the group; “No hands,” said another, “He’s got to get that beak absolutely everywhere.” (Which isn’t quite true – much of the neck is out of reach of the beak no matter how the bird twists, but that’s what claws are for.)

We had Black-crowned Night-Herons of all ages, too many Snowy Egrets to count, and several Great Egrets standing close enough for a good comparison of the two shining white birds. The Pied-billed Grebes were out in force, many in their demure breeding plumage – still mostly all brown, but a better, more interesting brindled brown, with a black bib and properly pied black and white beaks. Both pelican species appeared again, along with a horde of young Double-crested Cormorants fishing around the islands and the traditional female Kingfisher (which swallowed a fish while someone was watching through one of the scopes).

Either the resident Western Bluebirds managed to fledge a whole lot of nestlings or we had more than one family this year – the Ring of Lights and the lawn at the far end of the floats were jumping with baby bluebirds; I think I saw six at once, and it felt like there were as many more. Only one proud papa, though…. One of the oaks in the area – besides hosting bluebirds – offered chickadees and titmice and at least one Bushtit, along with a Nuttall’s Woodpecker (or possibly two) and a yellow birdlet that might have been an Orange-crowned Warbler.

I was with the last few birders to reach the Garden Center garden – and so privileged to see the Wilson’s Warbler  in the twisty-based bird bath. We called for the rest to come back and join us, but a squirrel chased it away before they returned, so they missed out on the second of these birds ever recorded on the 4th-Wednesday walk (and the only one since November 2013).

And the walk wasn’t over. One of the dying pines near the Monkey Puzzle tree had not one but two adult hawks sitting in it: Cooper’s and Red-shouldered. That was a treat, but meant that the platform under the trees – usually one of our main birding spots – had no birds at all, since none of the usual company wanted to do lunch with a hawk… but the walk still wasn’t over….

The rock fountain in the sensory garden had a crowd of House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches jumping between the water and the branches overhead, while assorted Anna’s Hummingbirds buzzed around. And the walk wasn’t over…. Up at the top of one of the half-bare birches perched a near-robin-sized gray bird with a yellow breast and a heavy black bill: after much discussion, comparison of various books to a photo one of the group caught, and a good second look (it left and returned), we decided we were looking at the second-ever Western Kingbird for the walk, the first having appeared in March 2012.

And that was a grand cap for a truly grand day at Lake Merritt, where every day is a good day but few so unexpectedly fine as this one….

Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline and San Leandro Bay
August 26, 2018
Leader(s): Kevin Schwartz and Steve and Carol Lombardi
# of participants: 9
# of species: 49

We had a wonderful day of bicycling and birding. We bicycled 8.3 miles around MLK, Jr. Regional Shoreline. We started at the entry parking lot at Swan Way along the bay side bicycle trail to the Arrowhead Marsh boardwalk. We crossed the bridge to the west side canal trail and continued south birding the canal and the Burrowing Owl and Audubon Oakland Airport expansion mitigation area from all sides. We saw the constructed Burrowing Owl mounds, no Burrowing Owls, yet. We headed back up the road to the end parking lot and continued back on the bicycle trail to Garretson Point, ending the official eBird data entry at the Eucalyptus grove and San Leandro Bay viewpoint at Oakport St. Some of the participants departed here to head home on bicycle, while the rest of us bicycled back leisurely to the entry parking lot again. 

We did well reducing our carbon footprint:

Bicycling, we had 4 of the people relying solely on bicycle and/or bicycle/public transportation, to get to and from the event, including 1 person bicycling all the way from Kensington for the event.  Driving, we had 5  people carpool.

Now for the birds…

While we can never promise species to our participants, we were definitely not let down today. The MLK, Jr. Regional Shoreline is one of the best locations in the Bay Area to see a health Ridgway’s Rail population. Today we saw or heard a total of 14 individuals. We saw 2 individuals at Arrowhead Marsh, and heard 8 individuals in this area. We heard 4 individuals in the Oakland airport expansion mitigation area and we saw 2 individuals north of Garretson Point. 

We were hoping to see more peeps, having good looks at them, but only saw two groups of peeps flying by us. Typically, peeps can be found in greater numbers and greater diversity near the mouth of San Leandro Bay and Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary. At low tide MLK, Jr. Regional Shoreline is a great place to see Black Turnstones and Black Oystercatchers feeding along the riprap along Doolittle Dr. The turnstones and oystercatchers did not disappoint. 

Other highlights:

• We started the day with 75 Brown Pelicans circling overhead and around the marsh, once listed as a federally threatened species.
• We had a Cooper’s Hawk land right in front of us and perch for nearly a minute on a fence post at eye level. 
• We watched in close proximity and heard call differences of both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.

To see the eBird list for the day, please, visit the checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48111571

Fort Mason
August 19, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 48
# of species: 5

Although it was a cold and foggy morning, I knew it would be a good morning when an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was calling just after dawn on the hillside above Aquatic Park.  Although it did not stick around for the almost 50 participants in the Golden Gate Bird Alliance walk to see, there were plenty of other birds. The garden had a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, a WESTERN TANAGER, 2-3 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a YELLOW WARBLER, a WILSON’S WARBLER and a yellowish warbler with a gray head that was either a Nashville or a MacGillivray’s. On the hillside above Aquatic Park, there was a HOODED ORIOLE and a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (as well as an odd looking NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD without a tail).  The Battery had two TOWNSEND’S WARBLERS, 2 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a WESTERN TANAGER and a WILSON’S WARBLER. Aquatic Park had three species of tern – CASPIAN, ELEGANT and FORSTER’S. A COMMON MURRE was swimming just offshore after the walk.

Hilltop Lake Park
August 15, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants:
# of species: 29

Though overcast, it was a pretty balmy, windless 65 degree day at the Lake.   We had many of our regular birdwatchers in attendance and a visitor from British Columbia; the group seemed to really enjoy helping him add a number of birds to his life list.  The star performer of the day was the House Finch – 75 or more of them.  A few immature White-crowned Sparrow have shown up along with Red-breasted Nuthatch and a pair each of Nuttall’s and Downy Woodpeckers.  Immature American Coot and California Scrub-jays continue, and we saw the Green Heron again.  Orioles seem to have moved on.   Looking forward to returning warblers and migrants this coming month and then the ducks.

Ebird list S47867999.  

Point Isabel, Richmond
August 11, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 12
# of species: 34

White caps whipped up the bay as we walked from the dog park, north and up Meeker Slough Saturday morning.   It was sunny but even the Starlings, Lesser Goldfinches and Mockingbirds were having no part of that wind.  Didn’t see any White-crowned Sparrows either, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t hunkered down in the marsh scrub with other things.  Not even one tern out there.  Still, we saw 4 egret/heron species, Black-bellied Plovers with the remains of their breeding plumage, and a pretty good sampling of shorebirds for 34 species.  Ebird list at S47804880.

Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve
August 4, 2018
Leader(s): Whitney Grover
# of participants: 8
# of species: 

The walk went really well. Eight people showed up, most of them beginners, and some of them heard about the trip from the Sutro Stewards so it was their first GGA encounter. The birds were a little quiet but at the end we spotted a Western Tanager, bird of the day!

Tilden Nature Area
August 3, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 37
# of species: 31

We walked to Jewel Lake by way of the Jewel Lake Trail and back by the boardwalk. “Prize” for coming the furthest to Margaret from Bakersfield; her biennial trip to get away from the heat! Lots of teenagers today, also, from East Bay and from North Bay. Thanks to all for attendance and energy!  Most numerous by far were the Bushtits and Dark-eyed Juncos.  We also found three species of Woodpeckers and a good assortment or raptors.

Lake Merritt
July 25, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 19
# of species:  33

Nineteen happy birders and a raccoon enjoyed perfect – clear and not hot – weather for today’s walk. The Double-crested Cormorants had well and truly finished with their nests for the season (a couple of months earlier than in recent years), but many of them were still fishing the lake and sunning themselves on the floats. Half a dozen American White Pelicans joined them in pursuit of fish, and what might have been a family of Brown Pelicans (a couple of white-headed adults and several mousy juveniles) monopolized the far corner of the floats.

A moderate few hundred molt migration Canada Geese wandered the lawns and the lake surface, and we watched a group of half a dozen or so stroll up one of the concrete ramps built onto the wall to get from the water to the grass – a great convenience since they still couldn’t fly. They and a lot of Mallards in eclipse plumage  and various states of mongrelization (from the relatively tiny wild types through larger and larger birds with stranger and stranger markings, ranging up to a pure white barnyard ducky) accounted for almost all of the web-footed population, joined by a couple of early American Coots and a few Pied-billed Grebes.

Snowy Egrets fished or sat on the islands (evoking standard meep #101: WHY won’t they come back and nest here?), and we had one Great Egret – the first seen on the walk since last October – plus a Great Blue Heron and a few Black-crowned Night-Herons. No Green Heron, unfortunately, but the raccoon was circling the near island on the heron’s favorite water-line rocks.

A Forster’s Tern (first since last May, and the first in July since 2015) patrolled the lake, and four species of swallows (Barn, Tree, Violet-green, and Northern Rough-winged – also unusual for July both for numbers and variety) did the same for the lawns. In the park and garden we had most of the usual suspects (titmice, chickadees, robins, juncos), but surprisingly no Bushtits. Western Bluebirds of all ages crowded the stretch of lawn along Bellevue toward El Embarcadero, and another pair of adults was working the bowling green near Children’s Fairyland.

But the runaway favorite sighting of the day was the pair of Brown Creepers that were working the catalpa trees across Bellevue from the Garden Center building. We’d stopped there to admire the horizontal rows of holes left by sapsuckers in seasons past – those trees look like someone has tried to perforate their trunks like rolls of tickets, so they make a nice shady spot to stop and chat about natural history even in months when the hole-makers are not just unlikely but totally implausible. Then someone said, “Is that? Nooo….” – and there was a palm-sized brown bird with a long curved bill walking straight up the bark, and (what joy!) another one a little farther up on another trunk. Long, satisfying looks, even more welcome than the ones in June for coming almost at the end of the walk when it had begun to seem as though we’d seen all there was to see.

Not totally the end – the garden itself had treats to offer, including House Finches and a Lesser Goldfinch on the fountain rock – but nonetheless a fitting climax to a 33-species day at Lake Merritt, where even in high summer every day is a good day….

Hilltop Lake Park
July 18, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 3
# of species: 29

Unseasonably chilly summer day to start – oh wait, this IS the Bay Area – but the sun came out before we finished and there was a lot of activity and birdsong, albeit some indecipherable juvenile practicing.  Lots of young things were about:  new Common Gallinule and American Coot chicks, Coot and Pied-billed Grebe immatures, and Mallard chicks/juveniles, immature Black Phoebe (browner wing coverts), fluffy Hooded Oriole immature (plus 2 adults), immature California Scrub-jays (heads still all gray), 2 White-crowned Sparrows (early return migrants or offspring of resident coastal race which have been recorded breeding in this and neighboring grid blocks in the 2009 Contra Costa Breeding Bird Atlas), and fluffy Bewick’s Wren.  90 Mallards also came in for a visit; a lot, I thought.  Ebird list S47280867.  Kinda fun!

Fort Mason
July 15, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 21
# of species: 35

Best birds today were Pigeon Guillemot and Hooded Oriole.  We also saw both Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds, and found three Cormorant species and three Swallow species.

Hayward Regional Shoreline
July 13, 2018
Leader(s): Steve and Carol Lombardi
# of participants: 14
# of species: 35

We walked from the Hayward interpretive center to the gates of the tern colony. It was a nice day with a few monsoon-ish clouds and a light breeze.  There were lots of early shorebirds and other stuff including several ducks in eclipse plumage that had us guessing.

Chain of Lakes, Golden Gate Park
July 8, 2018
Leader(s): Mitch Youngman and Bonnie Brown
# of participants: 20
# of species: 35

It was a sunny morning in Golden Gate Park, with a mix of warm sunshine and cool ocean breezes.  We had quite a large group with us today; several have attended our walks in the past and we had a few from out of the area, including New Mexico.   We also had at least three people bring scopes and that was wonderful so we could got some really good looks at the belted Kingfisher (nice surprise!), Red-Shouldered Hawk, Black Crowned Night Herons, among others.  We had a lot of  Allen’s Hummingbirds around, many females and we suspected many young hummers still wanting a free meal.  Rob found a few Mallards at North Lake and upon closer inspection we believe they were molting males, interesting!   We also had 5 Brown Creepers, which I think is the most we’ve seen on one of our walks.  At the water fountain by North Lake, we had two female Purple Finch.  Lots of Tree Swallows flying high above us at North Lake too and a few Barn Swallows.  All in all, it was a great morning with a friendly group and enjoyable birding.

Tilden Park Nature Area
July 6,  2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 39
# of species: 30

This month is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chandler S. Robbins, senior author of The Golden Field Guide to Birds of North America (1966 and revised editions) [other authors were Bertel Bruun, a neurologist, and Herbert Zim, a science educator who introduced science laboratory exercises for elementary school students and founded the Golden Guide series of books; the artist was Arthur Singer, who created camouflage for US “ghost armies” in World War 2]. 

Robbins founded the Breeding Bird Survey of North American birds in 1966; the BBS compared to eBird-ing and Bird Atlasing was the topic today. There is a 25 -mile route for the BBS starting at Pinehurst Road and Valle Vista in Moraga that goes along San Pablo Dam Road and (I think) past the Reservoir and up Castro Ranch Road. This route has been done since 1972, and, though some years have been missed, it was done in 2017. BBS routes involve 25 stops, at half mile intervals, and an observer who looks and listens for 3 minutes at a time, to identify all the birds heard or seen. There are about 4000 routes in North America, not all are done every year. The data for 1985-1991 was analyzed for 450 species of birds and published as The Summer Atlas of North American Birds (Price, Droege and Price, 1995). We compared eBird species abundance “heat maps” for Barn Swallow, Blue-winged Teal and Western Tanager to the 1995 publication and they were very similar.

Take-away lessons from recent eBird publications are: birders improve the more they bird (they submit more checklists with more observations), and birders should add numbers and effort (time in the field and distance travelled) to improve accuracy of predictive maps. Evaluating the accuracy of “citizen scientist” efforts supports the idea that contributions by non-academic ornithologists are important, useful, and relevant. Happy 100th birthday to Chandler Robbins!

Lake Merritt
June 27, 2018
Leader(s):  Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 12
# of species:  40

The dozen happy birdwatchers who braved a chilly morning for our walk were treated to the biggest day tally in several years – 40 species, instead of last year’s 33 or the 32 and 29 in the two preceding June walks. Most startling: a Peregrine Falcon plunged at one of the cormorant nest trees (failing to spook anyone into flight and flapping off behind the next island); we haven’t seen a peregrine on any 4th-Wednesday walk as far back as 2009, when my records begin. It may have been trying for a Mourning Dove (not seen here for more than a year) – that would make a more reasonable meal than a cormorant, and two were hanging onto the upper branches, literally for dear life.

The cormorant nests were mostly empty; the third round of nesting seems light this year, but 10 or so had new families starting, so the show will continue for another couple of months. The lighter traffic in the trees opens things up for others: the queenfisher (female Belted Kingfisher) was back for the first time since last March. Not necessarily the same bird, of course, but it seems likely – we almost never see more than one, and that one is virtually always female.

Other lake and lakeside birds included both Brown and White Pelicans, the first Green Heron in several months (exit, pursued by raccoon), and hundreds of molting Canada Geese. Hundreds may seem like a lot, but it’s been thousands in the not-too-distant past. A family of Western Bluebirds hung out in the trees and on the lawns beyond the goose brigade below the playground, and a couple of hummingbirds (probably Anna’s but too high and fast to be sure) chased each other over the treetops like a pair of fighter jets.

In Lakeside Park (across Bellevue) the duff under the trees was jumping with Dark-eyed Juncos, one feeding a baby Brown-headed Cowbird more than twice its mass, and several Brown Creepers fossicked up the trunks. Robins and Black Phoebes were everywhere, along with another family or two of Western Bluebirds, and the red and yellow rosebushes by the fountain were adorned with some of the brightest House Finches ever seen, plus some Lesser Goldfinches.

All told, we saw or at least heard all but three species ever recorded on more than one or two other June walks, and picked up several more that have rarely or never shown up suck as Pied-billed Grebe : a very good day indeed, even for Lake Merritt (where the standard is very high), and it even turned warm and sunny enough for the goldfinches to be splashing in the sensory garden rock fountain at the end….

Hilltop Lake Park
June 13, 2018
Leader(s): Kathy Bleier
# of participants: 12
# of species: 30

Ah, finally, lovely weather – 68 degrees or more and sunny for our morning walk around the lake.    We identified one female oriole – a Bullock’s rather than the Hoodeds we watched last year, but two other orioles also sped by, unfortunately too fast to identify.  Both Anna’s and Red-Allen’s Hummingbirds were present.  We saw 4 species of swallow, and  both Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks (a pair of the latter have been around for a month or 2) and 20+ other species from the usual cast of characters.  We saw what I thought were 2  Common Gallinule juveniles, based on yellow-tipped bills and somewhat point looking heads, but I’m now thinking they might have been American Coots, based on a) photos from various sources (written descriptions of yellow vs white bill differences, notwithstanding) and b) the fact that we saw American Coot chicks last month!   Adults of both species were present, so humility and uncertainty prevails.  The  Ebird list is at S46550349.

Fort Mason
June 17, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 14
# of species: 38

Today participants in the monthly GGBA walk at Fort Mason were able to see three HOODED ORIOLES and the first of the season’s returning HEERMAN’S GULLS to Fort Mason, with four in Aquatic Park.

Mission Adobe Nursery, Fremont
June 17, 2018
Leader(s): Ryan Gilpin
# of participants: 18
# of species: 27

Today was a combined tree and bird walk. People seemed pretty interested in talking about trees and birds.  We got a lot of questions about trees and picked a good site to talk about them.  We also found quite a few active nests. For the complete bird list refer to

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46621780

Lake Chabot Regional Park
June 19, 2018
Leader(s): Sharol Nelson-Embry
# of participants: 25
# of species: 35

We had a wonderful walk this morning with more than 25 people attending, many from our Tuesdays for Birds friends. We had great looks at a pair of adult bald eagles.  There was an abundance of swallows:  Tree Swallows, Northern Rough Wing, Barn and Violet Green, with at least 90 total.  Chickadees, Bushtits and Pacific Slope Flycatchers were also numerous.  For the complete list, refer to ebird.

Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
June 8, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 7
# of species: 38

A nice June day yielded most of our target birds.  We walked a total of about 2.5 miles through grass, brush and forested areas.  It was sunny and the temperature was perfect at 55-65 degrees.  Starting from Sibley staging area parking lot, we walked out Round Top trail to Quarry Trail and down a little ways, backtracked up to main trail and went a bit down Volcanic Trail (looking for Rufous-crowned Sparrow from top and bottom of sagebrush area).  We went back to complete Round Top trail loop and back to parking lot.   We saw 38 species, including great looks at California Thrasher, Lazuli Bunting and Rufous-crowned Sparrow singing atop various shrubs, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk chasing a couple Cooper’s Hawks (very useful for comparisons).

Tilden Nature Area
June 1, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 48
# of species: 29

Today’s theme was comparing and contrasting Bird Notes Afield (1907) by Charles Keeler, and Birds of Berkeley (2018) by Oliver James. Guests from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Forty-eight observers saw 29 species of birds, including Red-shouldered Hawk, Black-headed Grosbeak, and a juvenile male Hairy Woodpecker being fed by parents in the same snag that has been occupied at least 3 seasons. And great looks at Bewick’s Wren and Pacific-coast Flycatcher at the end of the walk.

Lake Merritt
May 23, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 17
# of species: 34

Today felt like the coldest 4th Wednesday of the year, with enough moving water in the air to require windshield wipers on the drive to the park. Nonetheless, 17 intrepid birders — including a serious pre-teen who was returning to India later in the day — joined Golden Gate Bird Alliance for the morning walk. Conditions improved somewhat through the morning, and we even had one fleeting patch of sunlight. 

The lake rewarded the attention, presenting three Least Terns showing off their yellow bills and diving and fishing and chasing each other, just as though they were routine visitors instead of never-seen-here-before, plus some novel-for-the-month sights. Eared and Horned Grebes, missing in May as far as my records go (2009), provided one representative each in full blazing breeding plumage, and the cormorants on the islands seemed further along than usual — or possibly behind, though that seems less likely. At any rate, instead of the crowd of branchers observed last year, we had nests full of adults with half-sized youngsters poking their heads up to be fed. One male was crouching in a nest, head back and tail up in the “Lookit me! I’ve snagged a condo! Come live with me and be my love!” pose, ready to start the season’s next round of domesticity. A Black Phoebe had a couple of fledglings parked on the rocks at the foot of the lake wall, far from hidden but convenient for bringing back bugs snatched near the surface of the water — and for long, satisfying looks at the chestnut edging on the young birds’ back feathers and quick glimpses of bright yellow-orange throats.

A couple of Canada Geese rested belly-down on the islands, heads high and white chin patches glowing like candles — probably prospective mamas on eggs. That’s late for the area; two park employees stopped us with different places where babies were to be found (though we didn’t actually see any), and the geese at Middle Harbor Park have had clutches following them around since mid-April, but most of the geese in Lakeside park have no offspring in hand. They seem to have arrived early for the molt migration, airing the odd empty wing and leaving a few flight feathers lying about, foretelling a busy and messy June.

One male Western Bluebird showed off in the trees below the playground, though the rest of his family stayed out of sight, while both Violet-green and Northern Rough-winged Swallows zipped across the lawns. Less happily received were a European Starling and a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds in the bowling green; handsome birds all but unwelcome for being aggressively invasive in the former case and enthusiastic nest parasites in the latter.

All in all, it was a chilly but happy group that wound up the walk a little after noon, having seen 34 species (two up from last year) and enjoyed yet another visit with Lake Merritt, where every day is a good day….

Hilltop Lake
May 23, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 3
# of species: 2

A cool (55 degrees), overcast day.   We walked around the pond, which had a little bit of azolla (I presume) still on it (green now; previously red during the winter).    It was relatively quiet.   We saw 3 small American Coot chicks and a Mallard chick.  There was no sign of Pied-billed Grebe nor Common Gallinule chicks this visit, and Hooded Orioles were also AWOL.   It also was nice to see the Green Heron, colorful Red-winged Blackbirds and fledged Black Phoebes.   Ebird list:  S45965563.

Fort Mason
May 20, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants:
# of species: 

We were treated to extended views of a singing, and feeding, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK on the hillside above Aquatic Park, where a pair of HOODED ORIOLES also foraged. Otherwise, few migrants were around – a lingering YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in the lower Battery, a WHITE-THROATED SWIFT flying over the Battery and a WILSON’S WARBLER in the garden. A BULLOCK’S ORIOLE was in the garden shortly after sunrise. The number of BRANDT’S CORMORANTS on Alcatraz right now is astounding – I listed 500 on eBird, but I’m sure that is a substantial undercount.

Yesterday (May 19th), there was also a singing male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at El Polin Springs (in the willow east of the spring), two LAZULI BUNTINGS on the hillside, and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER just south of Inspiration Point.

On Friday the 18th, the highlight at Fort Mason was a BROWN BOOBY flying east (one was reported in Alameda that afternoon after an absence of several days – likely the same bird). There was a singing male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at Fort Mason (perhaps the same one seen today), a WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.

On Thursday the 16th I started at Lake Merced, where a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was swimming north of the concrete bridge; two GREEN HERONS flew over the lake; a VAUX’S and a WHITE-THROATED SWIFT were in with the swallows; and both a WARBLING VIREO and a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE were near the Vista Grande Canal. Later that morning I went to the East Wash, and down the now almost impassable trail and found a lot of activity, including a SWAINSON’S THRUSH, a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, 2 WARBLING VIREOS, a YELLOW WARBLER, 5 WILSON’S WARBLERS, a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (I also saw what looked like a hatch year HUTTTON’S VIREO.

Briones Regional Parkz
May 19, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 10
# of species: 36

It was a cool (55-60 degrees), breezy and mostly sunny day.  We walked from the far gravel parking lot at Bear Creek Staging Area, around Newt Hollow Picnic Area, then up Abrigo Valley Trail to Maud Whalen group campsite and back. Birds were not as active as I’d hoped and expected, but we managed to see most of our targeted species, i.e. Bullock’s Orioles, Western Kingbird, Lark Sparrow and Lazuli Bunting (by most of the group).   We heard a number calls – some identifiable, some not – without seeing the birds, who may have been hunkered down or maybe busy with young.   36 species identified: Ebird checklist S45879354.

Yosemite National Park
May 18-20, 2018
Leader(s): Dave Quady and Dave Cornman
# of participants: 18
# of species: 6

Eighteen birders enjoyed gorgeous weather and lots of bird activity on Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s annual spring field trip to western Yosemite National Park. This year’s trip differed from previous ones in two ways: it was earlier by two weeks, and we spent a half-day in the Rim Fire snag forest, searching specifically for Black-backed Woodpeckers. We didn’t find that species, but certainly gained an appreciation for the panoply of life and re-growth apparent among the snags, five years after that massive fire. Finally, with the Tioga Road not yet open, we were unable to bird higher elevation lodgepole pine forests that have long been a regular part of our itinerary.

Each year we regret missing some ‘expected’ species, which this year included Bushtit, Wrentit, Bewick’s Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Hermit Warbler, and Lesser Goldfinch. Offsetting those misses, we had a wonderful experience with a Great Gray Owl, a species we last recorded in 2014, and singing Nashville Warblers, not heard singing in recent trips. Yosemite’s iconic nesting species again delighted the eye: White-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and Mountain Chickadee come quickly to mind.

Our ‘official’ trip list (of birds heard or seen by at least one leader and one participant, listed in American Ornithological Society taxonomic order) totaled 60 species, a half dozen lower than average. But who was complaining? The weather was gorgeous, more bird species were singing than in recent years, mountain dogwood bloomed in blindingly bright white, oaks were leafing out, and wildflowers dotted the ground with color. Where else would one rather be at this time of year?

Corona Heights
May 18, 2018
Leader(s): Sarah Burton
# of participants: 11
# of species: 15

Winds W 20-24 mph, misty with drizzle, temperatures 52-55F.

First GGBA bird walk as a guide. Participants first viewed a White-crowned Sparrow nest in the garden of the Randall Museum, then saw an Anna’s Hummingbird nest with two fledglings. Highlights were the pair of Lesser Goldfinches that, along with a pair of California Towhees, a Scrub-jay, and about five Bushtits, were flushed from a conifer on the east side of the hill shortly after a banded Red-tailed Hawk flew low and close into the branches. Not other buteos, accipiters, swallows, or swifts today, and far fewer migrants than were reported over the last two weeks. The Western Wood-Pewee, Western Tanagers, Olive-sided Flycatchers, and more, were likely hiding from the wet and cold conditions. Spirits were high, still, and participants engaged in listening and question asking until the very end. We completed the full loop together, I relying on bird factoids to compensate for the not-so-birdy day. Dominik Mosur was involved in the first 10 minutes of the walk and set up his scope so viewers could have a closer look at the hummingbird nest. Grateful for his knowledge, professionalism, reliability, and encouragement these last couple of months as I prepared for the walk today.

Tilden Nature Area
May 4, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 34
# of species: 31

Our regular birdwalk (earlier today was the Dawn Chorus themed walk at 5:30am).

Guests through Meet-up today from Bangalore, Karnataka state, India. Bird(s) O’ the Day: Cedar Waxwings uphill from the parking lot, and White-tailed Kites.

Dawn Chorus
May 4, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 25
# of species: 36

This weekend is International Dawn Chorus Sunday and this was our 7th annual Dawn Chorus walk on the first Friday of May from 5:30 to 8:00 a.m.  Honored guests were Dave Quady, and a visitor from Ithaca, N.Y. 

New information (to me, anyway): Dawn conditions are more stable and make the songs heard day after day by mates and rivals sound consistent, eliminating uncertainty and challenges: Yeah, that’s my guy who has survived the night! or That’s my neighbor and we’ve got an arrangement already- no threat!

Some of the birds heard/seen included Great Horned Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Hutton’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Pacific Wren, Swainson’s Thrush and Black-headed Grosbeak.

Chain of Lakes, San Francisco
April 28, 2018
Leader(s): Bonnie Brown and Mitch Youngman
# of participants: 18
# of species: 29

Golden Gate Bird Alliance outing today in the Chain of Lakes was fantastic and we got off to a great start with about 50 Cedar Waxwings in the Eucalyptus trees above South Lake.  They stayed near us for a while flying about in flocks and we had some good views.  We had a really wonderful group today, 23 in total, all locals.  It was great to have two people from the current SF Master Birding Program with us and they brought scopes (thank you Rebecca and Robert for sharing), so we had three scopes in total.  

 The scopes allowed our large group to get to see the female Red-Tailed Hawk on her nest, Allen’s Hummingbirds, and a highlight of the day, the Great Horned Owl and two owlets on branches above their nest on MLK Drive.  Great find of a bushtit nest right next to the trail at North Lake.  Towards the end, we finally got a few good looks at a beautiful Wilsons Warbler.  Our weather was a mix of cool ocean air and occasional warm sunshine, low 60’s.  All in all, it was another excellent morning walk.  Thank you all for joining us today and hope to see you again.

Del Valle Regional Park & Mines Road
April 27, 2018
Leader(s): Steve and Carol Lombardi
# of participants: 11
# of species: 74

We had a pretty nice day birding at Del Valle Regional Park and along Mines and San Antonio Valley Roads. We got most of the expected spring birds, including Bald Eagles on their long-used nest at Del Valle along with multiple Phainopepla and Lewis’s Woodpeckers.  We were surprised and delighted to see several tule elk cows with young calves grazing in the pasture next to the road at the Lewis’s Woodpecker spot in San Antonio Valley.

Hilltop Lake, Richmond
April 25, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 6
# of species: 39

Eight of us spent about 2 hours noodling around Hilltop Lake today (about 0.75 miles total).   It was mostly sunny, 55-62 degrees.  Most of the Azolla (small-leaf  floating aquatic plant) was gone; the remaining chunk at the north end was green, rather than the red color of the last couple months.  Ducks are gone, except for a few mallards, and so are the Northern Flickers.  Swallows are back (we identified 3 species), as are the Hooded Orioles.  The Pied-billed Grebe was calling a lot; hopefully breeding behavior.  A couple other uncommon visitors were the Green Heron and the Black-headed Grosbeak.  We saw 39 species plus an Accipiter.   The Ebird checklist is S44940980.

Lake Merritt
April 25, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 14
# of species:  32

A few participants in the April 4th-Wednesday Golden Gate Bird Alliance walk – not including me, alas – got to see one of the finest sights springtime has to offer: a pair of Eared Grebes in full copper and steel and gold breeding plumage rise up and run side by side across the water. By the time others whirled to look, the two were swimming sedately. Still a treat, every move and turn perfectly matched, but with no sign that surface speed was any part of their lives.

It was a quiet day – at 32 species, tied for the lowest count in several Aprils – but well filled with brilliant moments: the fledgling Double-crested Cormorant spreading its new wings on the edge of an island, the would-be papa cormorant circling the islands to build the height needed to deliver a heavy branch to a nest for the second wave of breeding, the lone Horned Grebe in breeding plumage in a group of Eared Grebes. Across the street behind the bird paddock, Cedar Waxwings filled a tall snag over the garden. A pair of Western Bluebirds shared the Necklace of Lights with brown Northern Rough-winged Swallows, while a crowd of House Sparrows sorted through the lawn below them. You’d think House Sparrows would be too common to mention, but lately they’ve been rare at the lake: this was their first appearance this year. We  saw them only three times last year and four the year before; they haven’t shown up in April since 2015.

Human encounters had charms of their own. We got a scope focused on an active Black Phoebe nest, and a young mother lifted her daughter from a stroller so she could look too. The child beamed happily and told us of seeing wild Keas in New Zealand: a good start to a life with birds. Later, a six-foot-tall woman stopped us to demand, “Can you answer a bird question? I keep seeing Kookaburras in the trees, but I thought Kookaburras live in Australia?!” “You’re seeing kingfishers – and you’re right, Kookaburras are kingfishers that live in Australia. But there are lots of different kinds: all Kookaburras are kingfishers, but not all kingfishers are Kookaburras; these ones are Belted Kingfishers, smaller and a different color, but a lot alike.” “That answers my question!” She grinned and strolled on, a goddess in white shorts and loose top.

And thus another trip along the lake – far enough to see the few scaup remaining in front of the fountain at El Embarcadero, with one big Western Grebe among them – then back across Bellevue and around the Garden Center and through the garden, moving from overcast to bright sunlight and enjoying every moment of yet another good day at Lake Merritt.

Corona Heights
April 20, 2018
Leader(s): Brian Fitch
# of participants: n/r
# of species: n/r

Today was my final time as official leader of this walk, after roughly 20 years of working mostly with a group of other leaders.  Human participants showed up in good numbers, in contrast to the birds, with few migrants, and even residents being strikingly sparse for a beautiful April morning.

Most of the highlights showed up late for the remaining birders, including a perched first year Cooper’s Hawk, a low swooping White-throated Swift, and a calling Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.  The entire group was able to view a male Black-headed Grosbeak which eventually cooperated after hiding in grass and eucs.  I also heard a distant Hooded Oriole.

Thanks to Golden Gate Bird Alliance for sponsoring this event, which was originally started as a simple censusing project by Margaret Goodale of the Randall Museum.  It will hopefully continue as a monthly walk on into the future with other leaders.

Mount Diablo State Park: Miller Canyon
April 20, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 6
# of species: 49

It was a beautiful sunny day with not much wind, 62-75 degrees.   Seven of us  walked down Mitchell Canyon Road Trail, turned right toward Black Point trail and then south on small trail parallel to and upslope from Mitchell Canyon trail.  This joined Red Road trail where we walked past chaparral on one side and a creek on the other of the trail up to the large stand of oaks near the top.   When we came back down, everyone was game to go a bit farther south on Mitchell Canyon trail to look for Lazuli Buntings (which we think we heard but unfortunately did not see).    We got back at 2:30, having walked about 3.5 miles for six hours (we did dawdle, apparently).

We saw 49 species, starting with a bunch in the parking lot.   Our sightings included 3 wren species and 7 warbler species.   A treat for me was the Bell’s Sparrow, though it stayed only a couple seconds atop its shrub on Red Road.   We fretted over several species, including the flycatcher that sat directly above our heads but would not call, show its primary projection or show us its back.  We settled on an ID of Pacific-slope Flycatcher, given the combination of largish yellow lower mandible, olive overtones, slightly extended (though not the cleanest) eye ring,  and slight crest.  One of the warblers in the two warblery live oaks under which we spent much time had a white eye ring (too fleeting to see whether it was a broken eye ring), yellow belly and solid grey head and hood, however the hood came half way down its belly.  Still, I can’t think of anything else that comes close to what I saw,  except the MacGillivray’s Warbler (okay, I assumed it wasn’t a Connecticut Warbler).  Finally, a raptor flew very quickly across the main trail, flashing a lot of white, which caused one of us to “see” a Northern Harrier and another to get an accipiter GISS (general impression of size and shape).   Considering the setting and behavior, I consulted with a friend and long-term hawk bander and rescue expert, who said that rear and side in-flight views of accipiters, particularly Cooper’s Hawks, have very fluffy, prominent white undertail coverts that sometimes blow up around the base of the tail and can show a lot of white around the tail.   I settled on Accipiter.

Coming back we ran into the most aggressive little gopher snake which kept charging and “striking” at us; I think it thought it was a rattlesnake.   I believe a good time was had by all.  We saw 49 species plus an Accipiter and a Selasphorus hummingbird.  Ebird checklist is S44852276.

Point Pinole
April 13, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 18
# of species: 50

It was a beautiful sunny, warm day.  We walked about 2.2 miles from the Giant Highway Staging Area out along the Bay View, Nitro, Woods and Station Trails and back to the parking lot.  Ducks were mostly gone except for a few American Wigeons, a raft of 100 or so Scaups, a couple female Canvasbacks and a single Ruddy Duck with a brilliant blue bill.  A fair number of shorebirds were present and a lot of Western Bluebirds.  Highlights of the walk were Dunlins in breeding plumage with nice black bellies, an unexpected Golden-crowned Kinglet, brilliantly colored Western Bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers, a couple nesting White-tailed Kites, and great looks at a very accommodating Osprey.   Ebird list: S44536565.

Bay Trail Bike and Bird, Coyote Point Park  to Foster City
April 1,  2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier and Pat Greene
# of participants: 6
# of species: 53

Our joint GGBA/Grizzly Peak Cyclists bike & bird trip  was to see the last of the season’s ducks and to look for shorebirds in breeding plumage.  There was a total of six of us.   It was a lovely, sunny Easter Day (60-68 degrees) and the Coyote Point Recreational Area had already begun filling up with family picnics when we arrived.   The Bay Trail there is entirely paved and proceeds along open water, through marshes, and along little fresh water/brackish ponds and sloughs.  The remaining ducks in the bay were predominantly American Wigeons, Surf Scoters and some Scaups, with handfuls of 7 other species along the way.   Highlights were 60 Caspian Terns, a female Hooded Merganser, Black-bellied Plovers, Avocets and one Eared Grebe in or transitioning into breeding plumage, and a pair of Ospreys on a nest.   In all, we saw 53 species (https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44176225) and biked an easy 15 miles round trip.  On the ride back, the wind came up, and with it hordes of windsurfers.

Lake Merritt
March 28, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 35
# of species: 40

Before the Eared and Horned Grebes head off to their breeding grounds – now’s the time to see some truly spectacular avian dress-up wear. (Well, the 4th-Wednesday Golden Gate Bird Alliance group missed out on Horned Grebe, but the Tuesday4BirdsFriends bunch saw a beauty the preceding morning, so they’re there.) Both species are flat out gorgeous, with body plumage that looks like polished copper and steel and head decorations like beaten gold. In addition, a lot of the Ruddy Duck drakes have fully auburn backs to set off their black and white heads and their brilliant blue bills.

They’ll all be leaving in the next few weeks, along with the Greater and Lesser Scaup (which are showing off plumage that looks like their regular winter wear but much brighter and shinier overall) and the last of the Canvasbacks and Bufflehead. The Double-crested Cormorants will stay… but if you want a hope of seeing their crests, get down to the lake before the end of April; they all, males and females alike, put on black or sometimes white bunny-ear party hats for the pairing-up season but then drop them whether or not they snag a nesting spot. Birds will be raising broods in the trees on the islands till September, but the second and third tenants of the nests will have smooth heads while they work. (Some birds have been looking over the tree by the playground where they nested last year, but none have picked spots there yet – good news for the cleanup crew if that situation continues.)

The Northern Rough-winged Swallows have returned to their nesting holes in the rock wall of the lake below the playground, and a few people on the walk had the delight of seeing a pair swoop past mating in mid-air. All got to watch one perch on the Necklace-of-Lights wire, neat and brown and looking like 200 mph sitting still. We also saw two active Black Phoebe nests (and doubtless missed a dozen more), and stayed a while near the Bushtit nest first observed in February but couldn’t tell if it was still busy or not. Bushtits take about two and a half weeks to hatch eggs and as long again to fledge youngsters, so it could have been in use, but the parents didn’t show up while we watched.

The total species count was 40, moderately low for the month, despite picking up a rarely seen Red-breasted Merganser and an Allen’s-or-Rufous Hummingbird (the orange ones, which defy precise identification when they buzz past at speed), along with the Western Bluebirds (out of sight last month) and the first Lesser Goldfinch of the year. We missed out on Chestnut-backed Chickadee and House Finch, both almost always seen in Lakeside Park, and also failed to see the Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwing, Townsend’s Warbler, and Golden-crowned Sparrow that had turned up on Tuesday morning. Nonetheless, it was sunny… and warm… and altogether pleasant for a change, and even though we could use more rain this year, we were happy not to be getting any on this, yet another good day at Lake Merritt.

Hilltop Lake Park
March 14, 2018
Leader(s): Kathy Bleier
# of participants: 7
# of species: 28

It was a short walk (about 0.7 miles) around the 10-12 acre lake on a day threatening rain.  Still, the regular die-hards showed up and a few new people for a total of 8 participants, including the leader.   The birds were relatively quiet.  We saw a total of 28 species, including 3 woodpecker species and our first Allen’s Hummingbird of the season.  A few  Canvasbacks, Ring-necked Ducks and Bufflehead remain.   The rain finally came, so we ended a half hour earlier than usual.   Ebird checklist: checklist/S43646492

San Leandro Shoreline Bike and Bird Trip
March 10, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier and Pat Greene
# of participants: 1
# of species: 56

If a rare duck visits the marina but (almost) no one bikes there to see it, does it still quack?   Three of us say yes (ok, we didn’t actually hear it quack).  This was a joint Golden Gate Bird Alliance and Grizzly Peak Cyclists trip, co-led by Cathy Bleier and Pat Greene.  It was a chilly day (about 55 degrees) with 20% of rain.  Only one participant showed up, but we had a fun day anyway.  We spent quite a while with the Harlequin Duck and got within about 20 feet when it settled on the shore.   We then went about 3 miles farther down the trail to the Heron Bay wetlands.   Avocets were coming into breeding plumage but not the Black-bellied Plover or Dunlins yet.  A few Surfbirds were present, too.  Like last year, a couple Bicolored Red-winged Blackbirds practically stood on our feet while displaying for us.   We returned to San Leandro BART having biked a total of about 7 miles and seen 56 species.   Ebird checklist/S43542794

Bodega Bay
March 4, 2018
Leader(s):Rusty Scalf
# of participants: 13
# of species: 59

There were many good birds on this trip including Brant, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Brandt’s Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant. and Snowy Plover.

Tilden Nature Area
March 2, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 24
# of species: 27

We walked to Jewel Lake and back again in wet, dark(ish), sun, hail, rain conditions.

Thanks to the 24 observers (23 and me!) who came out today; some drove into the parking lot with snow or hail on their cars from the higher elevations to the south and east. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker did not appear at the cotoneaster in the parking lot, but we had Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker and Acorn Woodpecker for a Picidae hat-trick and a Corvid grand slam, too: Steller’s Jay, California Scrub-Jay, American Crow and Common Raven.

Topic today was Birdwatching with American Women: a selection of nature writings, by Deborah Strom. Women birders were crucial in: ending the millinery and fashion trade use of birds on hats and clothing in the early 20th century (Celia Leighton Thaxter’s essay “Women’s Heartlessness”); spreading the nature education movement nation-wide (Anna Botsford Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study); producing “our first modern field guide”,  said GGBA member Harry Fuller of Florence Merriam Bailey’s Handbook of Birds of the Western United States; introducing field techniques for research that are still used today (Margaret Morse Nice’s Song Sparrow studies).

Lake Merritt
February 28, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 22
# of species: 44

We arrived to find the Double-crested Cormorants well settled on the islands. Every surviving nest there had a bird in it. A few prospective couples sat together, but mostly it was solo males, beak and tail pointed skyward in cormorant-speak for “See my fine condo! Come live with me and be my love!” (The human eye can’t tell the difference between males and females, but it’s known that the males grab territory and then females pick males – or territory – to suit themselves.)

If you want to see bunny-ear crests instead of these birds’ usual snake-smooth heads, now’s the time to head over to the nature center. The crests will last through March and start disappearing in April, even though birds will be on nests into September. (Not *these* birds, of course; it takes about a month to hatch a clutch of eggs and another month for the babies to fledge, so – since there’s no evidence that cormorants double-clutch – the first round of parents will be long gone about their business by then. And probably the second round, too…. Thus far there was no action in the tree beside the playground that served as overflow housing last year.

At the other end of the visibility scale, we found a Bushtit nest in the sensory garden: a deep woven pouch apparently big enough to hold a dozen or more of the tiny gray birds instead of the solitary pair that owns it, this being the time of year when the usually gregarious species shuns all company. Including human company – hence the lack of specific directions for finding this hidden jewel.

Near the nature center, we heard a loud and repeated call – sort of like a Scrub Jay but more metallic, almost trumpet-like, very strange. Finally the source flew into view, startling everyone: a Steller’s Jay, whose voice would have been instantly recognizable up in the Oakland hills but just didn’t belong in a city park. (We’d encountered them only twice before, in October 2013 and November 2014, so the time of year didn’t fit, either.)

The lake held the usual winter migrants, in better numbers than past months. For the first time this winter, a couple of Lesser Scaup swam close enough to the nature center to make it easy to talk about ways to tell them from their Greater Scaup cousins. The greaters stayed out with the main flock between the islands and El Embarcadero, but were numerous and near enough to continue the comparison. Hank-the-rescue-pelican had one companion, as he occasionally does at this time of year – fourth February sighting since records start in 2009 – but basically zero hope of retaining her for the upcoming breeding season. If you’re a colony-nesting hen, a solitary male just can’t hold you.

A pair of well-equipped birders we passed swore up and down that they’d just seen (and lost track of) a Red-necked Grebe in the main flock, and we spent a long time looking for it bird by bird. That’d have been a Big Deal, seen only twice before (in 2010 and 2011) and headline-worthy news, but we couldn’t find it. Nonetheless, despite a truly biting wind, it was a solid, 44-species day – a good day at Lake Merritt (which really doesn’t have any other kind, as I may have mentioned before).

Patterson Pass
February 24, 2018
Leader(s): Steve and Carol Lombardi
# of participants: 16
# of species: n/a

16 of us braved the chilly temps and ferocious wind to search for raptors and other stuff at the Brushy Peak Regional Preserve north of Livermore, and then transited Patterson Pass Rd. from west to east.

The bad news is that we’re in another drought. The good news is that Frick Lake – the seasonal pond south of Brushy Peak – has dried up, so we didn’t have to screw around looking at gulls.

We dipped on two of our targets, Ferruginous Hawk and Mountain Bluebird.
Otherwise, it was a pretty successful day, with good looks at three Burrowing Owls, several Loggerhead Shrikes – apparently paired up for breeding, as well as several Golden Eagles and a beautiful Prairie Falcon. We finished up at the Midway Rd. intersection looking at a mixed flock of “black” birds; Tri-colored, Red-winged, Brewers, B-h Cowbirds, and, of course, Starlings, foraging around a cattle feeding station.

Big fun, but I hope it warms up, soon.

Lake Merced
February 20, 2018
Leader(s): Dan Murphy
# of participants: 16
# of species: 50

We birded around Lake Merced this morning. Species wise it was a slow day with only about 50 species. But the quality of those birds was pretty nice. Among our first half dozen or so birds at the Sunset Circle was a male Cinnamon Teal and a male Hermit Warbler. Both species have been previously reported from this area, but both were quite a
surprise. The teal was swimming along the marsh to the NE of the bridge.
The Hermit Warbler was in the Monterey cypress along the edge of the parking lot looking down at the bridge. Among our last birds were a Palm Warbler and a Hutton’s Vireo by the old boat launching site near the Boathouse. They were along the hillside below the street parking on Harding Dr. It’s where the Lucy’s Warbler was seen several times. I don’t think the Palm Warbler was previously reported. The Hutton’s Vireo was
cool because it’s a fairly unusual bird that I don’t recall seeing around there previously.

Fort Mason
February 18, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 18
# of species: 42

Participants in today’s Golden Gate Bird Alliance field trip at Fort Mason were able to see a WANDERING TATTLER walk along a ledge at the edge of Aquatic Park from a distance of no more than 8-10 feet, with the bird being unconcerned about the people with binoculars a few feet away. We also got great scope views of an ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD on a nest on the nearby hillside. A number (6+) of NORTHERN FLICKERS were in the garden, including a male YELLOW-SHAFTED, which posed on a branch of a Eucalyptus tree for 5+ minutes before flying, showing off its yellow feathers. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW landed right in front of the group and foraged on the ground in front of us. At the beginning of the morning, a BROWN CREEPER was climbing up the large evergreen tree near the entrance to the garden, and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER put in a brief appearance. A DOWNY and a NUTTALL’S WOODPECKER rounded out the woodpecker sightings in the garden. One PINE SISKIN worked a flowering tree on the east side of the garden. By the time we got over to the tennis courts in late morning to look for the Yellow Warbler, the wind had really picked up and we could not find it.

Heron’s Head Park Great American Backyard Bird Count
February 17, 2018
Leader(s):
# of participants: 15
# of species: 45

Huge thanks to Tim Tindol for presenting on the Black Oystercatcher as part of Science Saturday at Heron’s Head Park today.  Also thanks again to Mary Betlach and Alexia and Tim Tindol for participating in the Black Oystercatcher monitoring and support for this event at the EcoCenter at Herons Head Park.

Science Saturday walk at Heron’s Head Park, Feb. 17, 2018, ~ 1 – 2 PM, post high tide: we saw the continuing RIDGEWAY’S RAIL east end of the marsh (about the “eye” of the heron’s “head”, looking from the sky) actively foraging head deep in pickleweed. Other uncommon birds for this site included a male GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.

Also of note: nice pickup in American Avocet with at least 15 at HHP in a high tide roost; Noreen and I counted another 7 a bit later at Pier 94, many are well into pre-alternate molt. Aechmophorus grebes were pair bonding, no dancing yet but definitely lining up their dance cards.

Pier 94: very large number of gulls especially Mew Gull which we estimated at 325, perhaps staging up for northerly movements. Also one each of Herring Gull (in Hansen’s pond) and Iceland Gull east of north marsh. This Iceland Gull has light eyes as only a small percentage of this species exhibits but, otherwise, typical adult Thayer’s ssp.

Lake Merced
February 19, 2018
Leader(s): Dan and Joan Murphy
# of participants: 16
# of species: 50

Species wise it was a slow day with only about 50 species.  But the quality of those birds was pretty nice.  Among our first half dozen or so birds at the Sunset Circle was a male Cinnamon Teal and a male Hermit Thrush.  Both species have been previously reported from this area, but both were quite a surprise.  The teal was swimming along the marsh to the NE of the bridge.  The Hermit Warbler was in the Monterey cypress along the edge of the parking lot looking down at the bridge.

Among our last birds were a Palm Warbler and a Hutton’s Vireo by the old boat launching site near the Boathouse.  They were along the hillside below the street parking on Harding Dr.  It’s where the Lucy’s Warbler was seen several times. I don’t think the Palm Warbler was previously reported.  The Hutton’s Vireo was cool because it’s a fairly unusual bird that I don’t recall seeing around there previously.

Hilltop Lake Park
February 14, 2018
Leader(s): Kathy Bleier
# of participants: 9
# of species: 28

A sunny but brisk day at the lake (about 55 degrees) and a bit quiet.   The ducks were mostly gone (a few Canvasbacks, Buffleheads and a couple others) and the lake was covered with what I assume is Azolla, a tiny reddish aquatic fern.   A lot of colorful male Anna’s Hummingbirds were present, but no females visible and no mating aerial displays yet.   A couple swallows are back (fast and gone).   A Myrtle or two were among the Yellow-rumped Warblers and we had 3 woodpecker species.   Looking forward to what spring brings.  Ebird list S42759016

Dolphin Charter Delta Trip
February 11, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers
# of participants: 29
# of species: 59

We sighted a pair of Peregrines under a bridge, and a pair of Great Horned Owls in a bare tree right at the edge of the channel, a Loggerhead Shrike on a wire and a huge raccoon on the base of a power tower. We had some of the roughest water ever (according to the captain) in the last few hours, but it was a grand trip anyway.

Kennedy Grove Recreational Area
February 9, 2018
Leader(s):Rusty Scalf
# of participants: 13
# of species: 46

The walk went pretty well.  We did minimal climbing, but saw lots of birds including great looks at Varied Thrush and a singing Cal Thrasher.

We largely stayed on the on the perimeter trails and not the steeper ‘Sea Foam’ trail.Other good birds included Ring-necked Duck, American White Pelican and Hutton’s Vireo.

Tilden Nature Area
February 2, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 37
# of species: 35

Today is Groundhog Day! We walked to Jewel Lake and back again. Guest Phyllis E. came from Cleveland, OH.
The Groundhog saw his shadow, his old-soul, and returned to his den and will re-emerge without it and start spring, again (we hope sooner, rather than later!). See “Totemism and Civic Boosterism in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, 1899-1909” by Christopher R. Davis [Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, vol 68, number 2, April 1985] [available on-line].

Bird o’ The Day was a Red-naped Sapsucker. George S. has pictures. Other birds seen include Bufflehead, Allen’s Hummingbird, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush and Pacific Wren.

Golden Gate Park – Chain of Lakes
January 28, 2018
Leader(s): Bonnie Brown and Pauline Yeckley
# of participants: 15
# of species: 29

We had 15 friends join in and two of those were 9 year old girls. It was a glorious, sunny, windless Winter morning in SF, Cool at the start, 49 degrees and slowly warmed up to the mid 60’s. We started at South Lake and then walked counter clockwise to Middle Lake, JFK drive (to check the Great Horned Owl nest – nobody was home today), North Lake, to the Gardeners shed and then back to the cars. Highlights were: Allens Hummingbirds! We saw their swooping behavior, vertical descents and had a really nice close up look at one in the sunshine at the water source at the south end of North Lake. Lots of Yellow Rumped Warblers, mostly heard but we did see several as well. We looked for the Belted Kingfisher at South Lake when we started but didn’t see her. On our way back to South Lake, we did get some great looks at it. Very active and fun to watch. The surprise of the morning occurred after most people left. Saw something flying south to north heading towards South Lake and it turned out to be a mature Bald Eagle! About 6 of us confirmed the sighting. 5 minutes later we saw it again in the northwest direction, soaring. Wow! Lovely morning with another great group. View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S42315564

Lake Merritt
January 24, 2018
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 26
# of species: 48

In a season of firsts, another: as we were gathering, first-comers got a good look at a Merlin sitting at the top of the highest branch of the biggest bare tree on the island. Merlins are not common in the Bay Area, and no one on the trip could recall seeing one at the lake before.

Those who arrived after the Merlin flew off were understandably disappointed, but the Barrow’s Goldeneye was some comfort, and so were the pair of bright black and white Bufflehead drakes who chased each other back and forth under the interested eye of a neat brown Bufflehead duck. Elsewhere on the lake, the winter picture continued much as in recent months. A pair of Lesser Scaup had found their way to the scavenger flock by the nature center, which was new, but the remainder mostly clustered down toward El Embarcadero with the Greater Scaup – still hundreds rather than thousands – along with more typical numbers of Common Goldeneyes and Bufflehead. Several Canvasback drakes and one duck swam past the islands, among a lot of (currently non-ruddy) Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, and Eared Grebes.

Walking down the lake shore, we paused to check out last summer’s Black Phoebe nest – not obviously occupied, though there was one Black Phoebe nearby – and to admire a small flock of Western Bluebirds – the first to show themselves since last July – bouncing between one of the cork oaks and the lawn. Bluebirds still feel like news at the lake, where they first appeared in 2013.

Three Western Grebes swam with the scaup flock, and even raised their heads (abandoning their floating meatloaf act) long enough for everyone to see their mustard yellow beaks and be sure what they were.

Over in Lakeside Park and the garden, the Oak Titmice were out in force – ten or a dozen tiny gray-crested birds instead of the usual two or three – and there was an unusual amount of woodpecker action too. We saw four ladder-backed Nuttall’s Woodpeckers and also a white-backed Downy Woodpecker, a much rarer sight in the park. Four species of sparrows – White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Song, and Fox – fossicked the garden beds along with the California Towhees and Lesser Goldfinches, while numerous hummingbirds zoomed overhead.

All told, we saw 48 species of birds – a solid winter total, especially since we missed out on the expected Kingfisher, Junco, and Bewick’s Wren (all probably around somewhere, just not where the group was looking). And the rain didn’t start till well after the trip ended, so it was as ever a very good day at Lake Merritt.

Fort Mason
January 21, 2018
Leader(s): David Assmann
# of participants: 21
# of species: 49

Another good day at Fort Mason with 49 species seen. Aquatic Park turned out to be a hotspot again, with two BONAPARTE’S GULLS over the water, along with 4 SNOWY EGRETS repeating their skimming behavior from yesterday. There were three COMMON MURRES, including one in full alternate plumage sitting on the pier, and two in basic plumage swimming in Aquatic Park. There were a number of WESTERN GREBES, a CLARK’S GREBE, a BUFFLEHEAD, two HORNED GREBES, two COMMON LOONS, and a RED-THROATED LOON. One of the WANDERING TATTLERS was foraging out on the exposed rocks near the wall, giving the whole group stunning views from 15 feet away. The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continued in the garden, and everyone got great looks at the male YELLOW WARBLER near the tennis courts – it’s beginning to get a little striping on its breast.

Salton Sea
January 13, 2018
Leader(s): Eddie Bartley and Noreen Weeden
# of participants: 17
# of species: 100

100 species of birds seen by 17 GGBA members on a beautiful day at the Salton Sea.  Salinity is rising meaning less fish so the bird distribution is changing.  Less fish-eating birds. Large number of Redhead ducks, Snow Geese, Sandhill cranes. Best birds Stilt Sandpiper, both American and Least Bittern.  We saw the expected desert species plus new for the trip, Sage Thrasher.

Shadow Cliffs Regional Park
January 13, 2019
Leader(s): Steve and Carol Lombardi
# of participants: 20
# of species: 53

20 or so enthusiastic birders put up with the foggy, chilly, windy weather to bird with us at Shadow Cliffs Regional Rec. Area in Pleasanton today. In spite of the lousy weather, we saw pretty much the expected species, although the woodland birds were pretty quiet and skulky. We walked from the swimming beach east along the shoreline, then up the levee to the east (rookery) end, returned through the woods along the ponds, then west along the levee to the end of the park, and returned to the parking lot. View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S41882471

Tilden Nature Area
January 5, 2018
Leader(s): Alan Kaplan
# of participants: 31
# of species: 25

We walked, as usual, to Jewel Lake and back again; on the boardwalk going north to the Lake, and then back to the Little Farm by way of the Loop Road and Jewel Lake Trail steps. Light rain much of the time. The birds were the usual suspects; good birds included Fox Sparrow, Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush and Brown Creeper.

Hilltop Lake Park
January 3, 2018
Leader(s): Cathy Bleier
# of participants: 10
# of species: 31

Ten of us walked around Hilltop Lake in Richmond, despite the forecast of rain later in the morning.   It was a relatively quiet day bird-wise, except for the lake which was chock-full of Ring-necked Ducks, Gadwalls, American Wigeons, Buffleheads and Coots.  Still, with the usual suspects, we saw 31 species.  Nice walk, as ever.

Arrowhead Marsh Bicycle Trip
January 1, 2018
Leader(s):Kathy Jarrett
# of participants: 8
# of species: 61

Some fine birds were found today, including Burrowing Owl, Merlin, American Pipit, Say’s Phoebe, Blue-winged Teal, Ridgway’s Rail and Sora.