Today did anyone go looking for the gull at Clifton Ct. Forebay?
Bob RichmondAlameda

Smoke from somewhere has returned to Contra Costa Co., including Clifton Court, making gulling extremely difficult with poor visibility. These conditions probably will not change for several weeks, as that’s what happened last time we had smoke earlier this season... 
Noah

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Smoke from somewhere has returned to 

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(37.9730741, -121.5866408)
Found by max Benningfield

Ethan Monk

This (12/8/2018) morning during the Fremont Birding Circle Facebook group monthly walk, we found an adult Glaucous Gull on levee about a half mile out to the bay on No Name Trail (37.549978, -122.103561). This gull is likely the same GLGU seen last winter at this exact location.



Steve Huckabone also found a male Eurasian Wigeon in the pond north of the levee.



Here is the complete eBird checklist:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50522371 https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50522371


Happy Birding,


Jerry Ting
Fremont

Hi Folks,

I walked about 6 miles today from 8-12ish at Briones regional park. Started at Old Briones Rd trailhead, went and checked out the lagoons. Headed over the ridge on Mott peak to Black Oak trail and back via Old Briones Road.

Notable sightings:
Horned Larks (9) on the ridge on Mott Peak Trail heading away from Sindicich Lagoons.
Gadwall (6) on the pond
Lark Sparrows (3) at the intersection of Old Briones road and Black Oak Trail
Purple Finches (4) on Old Briones Road near the staging area eating Madrone fruit with a few Waxwings
Pine Siskin(2) hanging with some Lesser Goldfinches near the lagoons

Probably a couple hundred Lesser Goldfinches in the fields foraging on dried thistle with many Bluebirds. Also, loads of Meadowlarks in the fields.

Phil Georgakakos
Oakland

After over an hour in traffic I was too late for the Lesser Black-backed at Clifton Court this afternoon, but others saw it just before I arrived and Albert Linkowski showed me his photos. His best few photos seem to show a different individual LBBG than the one I found yesterday evening.
This has an implication for the EBIRD REVIEWER who will be evaluating these records: My initial report with crappy photos from last night, and Albert’s report from today with much better photos, need to be reviewed as two SEPARATE records of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Clifton Court.
Noah

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On a morning walk along the north end of Briones Reservoir, Joe Eaton
and I had two Varied Thrush. First ones I have detected this season

Two Wood Ducks were another nice treat.

    Rusty Scalf
    Berkeley, CA




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LBB Gull continued this morning. Not where Noah saw it, but on levee across water from south end of fisherman's parking lot. Large number of gulls preening and stretching at 7:30 am before flying west to landfill on top of hills. Gulls already returning to forebay now at 9:45.

John Luther
Oakland

On Dec 7, 2018, at 12:16 AM, Noah Arthur semirelicta@... [EBB_Sightings] <EBB_Sightings-noreply@...> wrote:

Here's an eBird checklist with (bad) photos and field notes on the Clifton Court Forebay LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, plus some slightly better photos of the GLAUCOUS GULL: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50482307
Note that there may have been two Glaucous, and at least one of them didn't look particularly big; it was about Herring size at most. However, it's very white and the bill is too long and sharply bicolored for it to be an Iceland; it should be easy to pick out.

Western Gulls are rare in this part of Contra Costa Co., so the Lesser Black-backed may be the only dark-backed gull on the lake and should also be pretty easy to pick out if it returns. If any Westerns do show up, they should be easily distinguished from the Lesser by their larger size (the Lesser looked no bigger than a California Gull), bulkier structure, and larger bills.
Noah

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This morning I saw a white-throated sparrow at my seed feeder. That's a first in many years of having feeders. Very exciting! This was right near the Oakland rose garden. Last year I saw a pair of white-throated sparrows in the garden, so I knew they could be around.


And then I saw a whole flock of purple finches on wires at the top of Jean St.


Kate Hoffman
Oakland

Here's an eBird checklist with (bad) photos and field notes on the Clifton Court Forebay LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, plus some slightly better photos of the GLAUCOUS GULL: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50482307
Note that there may have been two Glaucous, and at least one of them didn't look particularly big; it was about Herring size at most. However, it's very white and the bill is too long and sharply bicolored for it to be an Iceland; it should be easy to pick out.

Western Gulls are rare in this part of Contra Costa Co., so the Lesser Black-backed may be the only dark-backed gull on the lake and should also be pretty easy to pick out if it returns. If any Westerns do show up, they should be easily distinguished from the Lesser by their larger size (the Lesser looked no bigger than a California Gull), bulkier structure, and larger bills. 
Noah

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After spending the afternoon finding nothing unusual at Los Vaqueros, I got to Clifton Court Forebay late this evening, and started scanning the massive gull flock after sunset. However, in about 25 minutes of gulling before it got too dark, I was able to pick out an adult-type LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and at least one 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL.
They were both viewed by looking northeast into the gull flock from the end of the rounded point of land about a mile north of the parking area. 
Clifton Court is a gull roost, so gulls are probably mostly there in the late afternoon and evening. If it’s anything like the other roosts I’ve gulled, there will probably be a flock of gulls there by mid-afternoon, with numbers increasing until sunset. (Note that the parking lot is closed at 6pm, so don’t stay too far out there too late.)
I think this Lesser Black-backed is a long-overdue county first...?
Good Gulling!
Noah Arthur (Oakland)

This afternoon we had a pair of Western Bluebirds in our yard for only the second time in eighteen years.

In addition, for the past couple of weeks we have had a female Purple Finch frequenting our feeder and bird bath.

Good birding,

Paul Schorr
Antioch

The two Cackling Geese found yesterday by Elizabeth Leite were still present today with many of their larger cousins. They were on the large, mostly natural pond, fairly easy to see from the wooden railing near the parking lot. Also on the pond were 6 Wood Ducks, two males and four females. The Ring-necked Duck population was over 35 today, and three Pied-billed Grebes were also present.


South of the equestrian rings, I had an Orange-crowned Warbler, which flew as soon as I realized what it was. The Fox Sparrows seen yesterday were not seen this morning, but are likely to still be around. We often have them sporadically throughout the winter.


Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek

In my earlier posting, I neglected to mention that a scope is essential to viewing the birds on the City Reservoir. My apologies.

Paul Schorr

This afternoon (12/3) around 3PM we found 2 Cackling Geese among about 125 Canadas. Two Fox Sparrows were along the path adjacent to the natural pond on the west side.

Elizabeth Leite

Today there were two pairs double dating in the same location.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/149173800@N05/albums/72157704251067334

This afternoon there was a male Barrow’s Goldeneye among the flock of 30+ goldeneyes at Antioch City Reservoir. In addition, there were 16+ Ring-necked Ducks, 25+ Buffleheads, twelve American White Pelicans and at least two female Common Mergansers. Birding at the reservoir is challenging because of the lack of parking along the narrow road that leads to the Antioch Golf Course. If you go, please park only along the couple of shoulders that can safely accommodate a vehicle. Last year, a Barrow’s Goldeneye showed up at the nearby Contra Loma Regional Park reservoir. Hopefully, the flock of goldeneyes currently at the city reservoir will relocate to the regional park for much better viewing.

Good birding,

Paul Schorr
Antioch

Today (Mon., Dec. 3), an adult Bald Eagle cruised westbound along the Carquinez Strait past the George Miller Regional Trail about 1:00 pm. I've seen them in this area before, but notably this bird appeared to be carrying nesting material (sticks).

The George Miller Trail is part of the Bay Trail that runs between Port Costa and Martinez along the strait along the path of the missing stretch of the old Carquinez Scenic Dr.

Good birding,
--
Laura Look
Pinole, CA

The Tropical Kingbird continued near the wooden railing this morning, despite the cool temperatures. But we only had 5 Ring-necked Ducks on the large, mostly natural pond. A Green Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron were also around the pond. On the west side of the pond, a Fox Sparrow was with the White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and at least two Song Sparrows. The presence of river otters might have caused the ducks to leave.


Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek