For two months last winter I had a small group (3-4) of male and female Cassin’s Finches using the bird bath in my Oakland hills garden and appearing, usually as a group, regularly. They last were see

A nice addition to my yard list (#101) after 30 years in the Oakland hills when the east winds blew a Sage Thrasher into the garden on June 9. Well seen from about 20' away, in profile and facing, as

FOS Hermit Thrush at our bird bath in the Oakland Hills today, about a week earlier than last year. Sylvia Sykora Melville Drive near Skyline Boulevard

The RB Grosbeak continues at Sibley, first heard, then seen easily this morning, Saturday, at the top of a large oak immediately adjacent to the Quarry Trail, on the north-west side of Round Top. The

How late do Swainson's Thrush remain here in autumn? I've had one coming to the water, morning and evening, all week, latest today, Thursday, September 1. Sylvia Sykora Oakland nr. Skyline and Castle

Just had three Red Crossbills at the bird bath here off Skyline Boulevard in Oakland, less than a mile north of the Chabot Observatory. This is the third time in 29 years I've had them here, the first

Hi Birders - Yesterday, October 18, we had a Siskin flock of about 30 birds suddenly descend on our bird bath here in the Oakland hills and after a minute or two, just as suddenly, fly off. A single b

Unusual for here, I've had two and possibly three distinct Western Tanagers visiting our bird bath since August 1 and most recently this morning. In past years we usually have a sighting a few times e

A bright male with streaky red head was seen at the bird bath yesterday and today. It held its own among the host of robins using the water at the same time. Sylvia Sykora Piedmont Pines district of O

Unmistakeable calls - but no sighting - of an Acorn Woodpecker at mid-day today at the French/West Ridge Trails intersection in Redwood Park, Oakland. I can't find a map with county lines but this is

Yesterday along the West Ridge Trail in Redwood Regional Park (COCO County) I heard what I thought was an Orange-crowned Warbler. The bird sang only once so I couldn't be sure. But just now an Orange-

Anybody else still seeing Wilson's? I've had a male at the bird bath the last two days, twice today already, which suggests he may not just be passing through. This is my latest record for a Wilson's

Hi Birders - After enormously helpful input from Jerry Ting I'd like to report a likely adult male Black-throated Green warbler - and possibly a juvenile - at my birdbath September 30, late afternoon.

Yesterday (9/11) late afternoon I had a FOS Townsend's Warbler at the bird bath that had been immediately preceded - by seconds - by a Black-throated Grey. The latter bird I've had only once before in

The last two days I've seen and heard what looks like courtship flight by a male Anna's hummer. There's a second bird in the area, and the flight pattern and sound both accord with usual courtship act

A bright Red Crossbill just landed on the bird bath for a brief drink before flying up into the olives. Haven't had one here in many years. Sylvia Sykora Oakland Hills near Castle and Skyline

After a month or more of singles, I just caught a bathing frenzy of several dozen birds dropping out of the trees and splashing into the bird bath. By the time they've finished, I'll have to fill it a

For the past month I've had an odd nuthatch that appears to combine the features of both Pygmy and Red-breasted, both of which are common at my feeders. This bird is as small and hunched as a Pygmy, h

Not seen but heard several times early this morning the unmistakeable single, flutey whistle of a nearby Varied Thrush. This beats by a few days recent past years' arrival dates here in the Oakland Hi

Recent discussions sent me back to my notebooks. My first crossbill sighting here in the Oakland Hills was on 20 February 1988. I had a total of five at the bird bath by March and three males and thre