Hi all,

Managed to sneak out to Richmond a few times, with mixed success.

10/10

In the immediate aftermath of the first wave of fires I had a brief opportunity to check my new favorite West county patch, Pt. San Pablo. Not a huge number of migrants, as expected on a hot afternoon, but highlights still included:

Common Loon-1 was quite uncommon this far into the bay
Red-breasted Sapsucker-2
Red-breasted Nuthatch-4 were indications of the good fall continuing
PYGMY NUTHATHCH-1 was an exceptional sighting for Richmond, and perhaps displaced by the fires?
Golden-crowned Kinglet-1
Full eBird checklist here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39792965

10/11

Once again, managed to get out only in the afternoon, this time in the company of Dr. Michael Park. We started by working the fennel patches and shoreline at Miller-Knox with somewhat limited success, and no really noteworthy sightings to show for it.
Full eBird checklist here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39815512

We then made our way to Landfill Loop, where a few birds by the parking lot were of interest:
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW-1 with some sparrows near the start of the trail was a long overdue county bird for both Michael and myself
Tricolored Blackbird-1 was a good bird for Richmond

Full eBird checklist here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39815151

We then headed briefly over to the Sewage Ponds to check out the high tide shorebirds. Highlights and shorebirds here included:
Greater White-fronted Goose-1
Least Sandpiper-26
Dowitcher sp.-1
Greater Yellowlegs-31 was a nice count

Full eBird checklist here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39815081

10/12

With high tide, west winds, and fog into the gate I deemed conditions perfect for a Pt. Isabel baywatch. As expected, nothing on the bay was of note. However, the following birds were of interest for this site:
Black Oystercatcher-6
Black Turnstone-16
Orange-crowned Warbler-1
Common Yellowthroat-1
Townsend's Warbler-2

Full eBird checklist here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39825836

I spent the rest of the morning hitting various spots at Point San Pablo. I believe the cold temperature reduced activity, especially in the eastern side by the oaks. However, throughout the peninsula sparrow activity was very high. Highlights and high counts included:
Cackling Goose-2
White-tailed Kite-1
Sharp-shinned Hawk-1
Cooper's Hawk-2
Semipalmated Plover-8
Least Sandpiper-45
Willet-3
Eurasian Collared-Dove-3 apparent high-flying migrants
American Kestrel-1
Say's Phoebe-1 obvious migrant or potentially displaced winterer
Warbling Vireo-1
California Scrub-Jay-19 including what seemed to be a (fire-induced?) movement
Red-breasted Nuthatch-5
Brown Creeper-6 in oaks together seemed high
Golden-crowned Kinglet-3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-14
Hermit Thrush-16 formed a large part of the "montane push" today
Orange-crowned Warbler-3
Common Yellowthroat-1
Yellow Warbler-4
Townsend's Warbler-2
Fox Sparrow-14
White-crowned Sparrow-75
Golden-crowned Sparrow-65 was way up
Lincoln's Sparrow-7
Purple Finch-7

Full eBird checklist here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39828112

It will be worthwhile over the coming days to keep track of resident species and numbers in your area to monitor potential displacement movement from the fires.

Good birding,
Logan Kahle
San Francisco, CA/Ithaca, NY