Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
31 May In Oakland, a pair of Hooded Orioles were at the northwestern end of Lake Merritt, near Grand Avenue. Douglas Long24 May In Berkeley, an immature Heermann's Gull was at the Berkeley Pier. Ken Burton
17 May On San Francisco Bay somewhere between the Bay Bridge and Richmond, an alternate-plumaged Yellow-billed Loon was apparently seen and photographed. The report was unclear on the exact location, so this bird might have been in Contra Costa or San Francisco County. (Yellow-billed Loon is a California Bird Record Committee review species, so documentation of sightings should be submitted to the committee.) Unknown observer, fide Chuck Britten.
2 May Along Patterson Pass Road east of Livermore, 6 Blue Grosbeaks (5 male and 1 female) were seen. Rich Cimino
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
30 May In Richmond, the male Harlequin Duck was still at the southern end of Brooks Island, seen from Marina Bay Parkway. Five Elegant Terns were also in this area. Unknown observer30 May On Bethel Island, an adult male Indigo Bunting was singing at Piper Slough. From the north end of Bethel Island Road, walk up onto the levee and turn left. After a few hundred yards, take a small trail that cuts to the left down to the base of the levee. Continue walking in the same direction as the levee and around the left turn to where another trail comes in from the left - the bird was singing in this area. All of the standard birds here were present: Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Blue Grosbeak. Steve Glover
26 May In Martinez, a Costa's Hummingbird coninued to come to a feeder. Denise Wight
25 May In Mount Diablo State Park, a migrant warbler flock including a Hermit Warbler was at the Oak Knoll picnic grounds. J D Phillips
25 May In Richmond, 4 Elegant Terns were with the Caspian Tern colony on a spit north of Brooks Island, and 2 Least Terns were on the pilings east of the ranger's residence. A male Harlequin Duck, 5 or 6 Black Oystercatchers, a Brant, and a White-winged Scoter were also in the area. All of these birds were observed from a kayak. Don Schmoldt
24 May In Richmond, a Black Oystercatcher and a Harlequin Duck were seen on the north side of Brooks Island, visible from the park at the end of Harbor Way. Off Point San Pablo, 3 Black Oystercatchers were on The Brothers Islands. Ken Burton
15 May On Bethel Island, a male Black-chinned Hummingbird was at the north end of Bethel Island Road, and a Yellow-breasted Chat and a Blue Grosbeak were along Piper Slough levee about 0.25 mile from there. Jean Richmond
14 May In Martinez, a male Costa's Hummingbird is reported coming to a feeder. Denise Wight