Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
28 February In Oakland, a female Tufted Duck, a Ring-necked Duck X scaup sp. hybrid, and a few Barrow's Goldeneyes were near the Rotary Nature Center at Lake Merritt. Mike Peters26 February In southern Fremont, a first-winter Glaucous Gull was in the Fremont Lagoon area. Park at the south end of Fremont Blvd and take the levee out to the lagoons. Mike Feighner
18 February In north Livermore, a first-year Glaucous Gull was at Frick Lake. Gulls constantly fly in and out of this area, so several trips may be necessary. Take the Greenville Rd exit from Hwy 580 East just before Altamont Pass, turn left at the end of the ramp, then left onto Greenville Rd, go under the freeway and turn left onto the frontage road, then right onto Laughlin Rd - Frick Lake is on the right after 0.5 mile. Steve Glover
18 February In southern Fremont, 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls and a leucistic California Gull were in the tidal lagoon just north of the Newby Island dump. From Hwy 880, take Gateway Blvd to Fremont Blvd, then south to parking area at end of street. Bob Reiling
16 February In Emeryville, 8 Black Scoters, 2 Black Oystercatchers, and 3 Surfbirds were at Emery Point (near the west end of Ashby Ave). Kirk Swenson
15 February In Oakland, a Red Knot was near Arrowhead Marsh in Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline, in the marsh along Doolittle Dr. Sally Walters
14 February In Berkeley at the Berkeley Marina, a partial albino Surf Scoter was at the far eastern area of the boat slips on the northern side of the marina. John Poole
11 February In Oakland, a Eurasian Wigeon, a Blue-winged Teal, and a Clapper Rail were at Arrowhead Marsh [Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline]. A Peregrine Falcon was near the mouth of Elmhurst Creek [over the bridge east of the Arrowhead Marsh parking lot], and 20 Lesser Yellowlegs were reported to be at the mouth of San Leandro Creek. Steve Crivell
8 February In Hayward, a White-throated Sparrow was at the southeast corner of the parking lot of the Hayward BART station, on the corner of Grant & B Sts. Phil Gordon
8 February In Emeryville, 3 Surfbirds and 3 Black Turnstones were still at Point Emery. Mike Feighner
7 February In Emeryville, 5 Surfbirds were at Point Emery [near where Ashby Ave ends at the bay]. Ken Burton
2 February In Oakland, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a female Western Tanager were both still near the faculty circle on the Mills College campus. The sapsucker moves around a lot - patience is recommended. Kirk Swenson
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
15 February In Martinez, a Red-necked Grebe was at the south end of Shell Marsh [now McNabney Marsh, accessed from Arthur Rd]. Denise Wight14 February In eastern Contra Costa County, 52 Cattle Egrets were in a field on the west side of Bethel Island Rd, 1 mile north of the intersection with Cypress Rd. Two Lesser Yellowlegs were in a flooded field north of the gate on Webb Tract Rd, which runs east from Jersey Island Rd. Mike Feighner
13 February In eastern Contra Costa County, an adult female Rough-legged Hawk was at the end of Jersey Island Rd. Many Bonaparte's Gulls and Mew Gulls are in this area. 69 Cattle Egrets were along the first mile of Bethel Island Rd. George Finger
9 February In eastern Contra Costa County, a male Barrow's Goldeneye was at Clifton Court Forebay, in a small pond on the south side of Clifton Court Rd from Byron Hwy (also known as Hwy J4). Florence Bennett
9 February In eastern Contra Costa County, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs were at the end of Jersey Island Rd. Along Cypress Rd south of Bethel Island, there were 72 Cattle Egrets, and many Bonaparte's Gulls and Mew Gulls also were in the area. At the north end of Bethel Island Rd, a Red-throated Loon and a male Red-breasted Merganser were at Piper Slough. Flying over the island to the north of Piper Slough were 12 Sandhill Cranes and 14 White-faced Ibis. At Holland Tract, a "blue" Snow Goose was amidst 900 Snow Goose and Ross' Goose. At Clifton Court Forebay, there were 15 Common Merganser and a Pacific Loon. Steve Glover