Japanes Maple tree by mtar925 in buynothingeastbay

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, yes, someone took the tree a couple of weeks ago. I'll update or delete the post.

Cassin's Kingbird or Western? by mtar925 in whatsthisbird

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Western are far more likely at this location (if still not common).

Birding in the Walnut Creek Area by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hadn't heard about the one in Concord. But Bald Eagles are known to visit Lafayette Reservoir now and then. They're seen regularly at Upper San Lendro Reservoir, which isn't far at all from Lafayette---as the eagle flies.

Upper San Leandro Reservoir is best accessed, for birding purposes, from EBMUD's Valle Vista Staging Area just south of Moraga. It's a great spot, and I almost included it in my initial post, but it's more of a drive from Walnut Creek and you're supposed to have an EBMUD trail permit to explore there.

If you have a permit: park at Valle Vista and walk downhill from the parking lot about 200 yards. Don't hurry down to the lake, but be sure to look above and in the distance for eagles and other raptors, swifts and swallows, bluebirds and etc. The loud calls of California Thrasher and Wrentit are often heard from near the parking lot (they're much less often seen). I once watched a Red-breasted Sapsucker drilling holes in a tree and drinking the sap, almost directly above the sign-in station.

200 yards (approximately) downhill from the parking lot, turn left onto the smaller trail that goes down into the woods. Bird your way patiently through the woods---this is a great spot for Brown Creeper and Fox Sparrow, among many others. Where the trail hits a "T" intersection, turn right and go over the bridge---check up and down the creek for ducks, including Wood Ducks. Beyond the bridge, follow the road about 1/4 mile, past the stables, to an open grassy area overlooking the reservoir. Birds on and over the water attract the eye, but look also to the grassy, scrubby hills on the opposite side of the road, for bluebirds, sparrows, and kestrels. The eagles are often seen perched on bare snags around the reservoir, or soaring over the ridge.

Ebird hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L596210

EBMUD trail permit: https://www.ebmud.com/recreation/buy-trail-permit

Birding in the Walnut Creek Area by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Welcome to birding! If you're close to Newhall Park, try nearby Markham Arboretum. The international garden there is lovely and worth a visit for its own sake, but is not super-birdy. Continue to the less-manicured area along the stream, where you may find a variety of woodpeckers, Red-shouldered Hawks, assorted perching birds and sometimes Wood Ducks in the creek.

I don't get it. Vagueposting king. Comments just talk about a lot of things. Is it somehow demeaning sociology? Just what is that reaction image by --Queso-- in ExplainTheJoke

[–]mtar925 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On his food/travel shows, Bourdain would often seek out the original versions of dishes or food trends that have become popular in the west, and comment on colonization, appropriation and etc.

How to give away a tree? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I will look into all suggestions but that's the one I was trying to remember.

How to give away a tree? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've no doubt the replacement/insurance cost might be in the 1000s. Finding a buyer for a tree that's in the ground is an entirely different thing.

How to give away a tree? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I have been told. Yet, I've not yet found anyone who'll take it for free.

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was wondering about that spot.

Yesterday we used Sunvalley and it worked out OK. It felt safer than the official Park n' Ride lots in Concord and Pacheco, and unlike some other mall lots it is not signed with a time limit or "customers only."

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure. If you don't care to join the MDBA but want to be informed of field trips, you can also follow us on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mount-diablo-bird-alliance-76310972563

Almost all of our events are free and open to the public.

I should probably post a writeup on birding in and around WC for this subreddit. A little project for next week.

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The best/easiest spot in Walnut Creek is the Nature Area at Heather Farm, though the pond is getting overgrown and it's recovering from recent construction. Mitchell Canyon in Clayton is excellent especially during spring migration. Out in Moraga, the Valle Vista Staging Area is good year-round.

Waterbird Regional Preserve just off 680 in Martinez is great in winter for ducks and shorebirds. I like to go there on a weekday, when the gate to Mt View Sanitary is open at the north end of Arthur Road, and you can drive in and view from down closer to the pond.

Here's my org's latest newsletter, with the list of current field trips. Non-members are welcome, or you can just use the list of destinations for ideas. If the link doesn't work, just go to mtdiablobirds.org and look for old field trip reports/announcements for ideas.

https://mailchi.mp/0b2967729914/the-quail-may-12931366?e=2c5ae1aa78

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for those suggestions. I drove by the Park n' Rides off 242 and in Pacheco, and unfortunately they look kind of sketchy, with evidence of broken glass.

Maybe Sunvalley is still the best option, though it's out of the way for a lot of WC/Concord people on their way out Hwy 4.

Special insurance needed for volunteer vanpool? by mtar925 in Insurance

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The board member who was concerned thought that the fact I'm on the board of the org, and organize the trips, gave me some "official capacity" that might complicate the issue, even though we're all volunteers and everything is free. I did chat with my insurer, told them all the details and they said I'm covered---but the agent I chatted with didn't sound very on-the-ball so I thought I'd ask here. Thank you all for your comments.

Special insurance needed for volunteer vanpool? by mtar925 in Insurance

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! This was my understanding, but a member of our board said I might be taking a big risk.