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Birding on Mount Diablo By Kevin Hintsa, December 1999 An Introduction to Birding on Mount Diablo April 1, 1998 Daniel Fitzgerald Introduction Mount Diablo (here defined as Mount Diablo State Park and Diablo Foothills Regional Park) is located in Central Contra Costa County and provides birders with a large public area in which to explore birds of several habitats (including chaparral, oak woodlands, grassland, and rock outcrops). Over two hundred bird species have been sighted on the mountain, and it is well known to birders for its superb examples of chaparral birds, spring migrants, numerous raptors, and such locally elusive species as Prairie Falcon, Hermit Warbler, Hammond's Flycatcher, Calliope Hummingbird, Sage Sparrow, and Black-chinned Sparrow. Mount Diablo is also known for its spectacular views, odd rock formations, fascinating geology, over seven hundred plant species (including several endemics), about seventy butterfly species, and interesting wildlife (including Bobcats and Coyotes). Preparing for your visit Before venturing on the mountain, a few words of caution. Dress for erratic weather: the park is well known for its bitter cold in winter. Fog is prevalent in winter and often persists into June. Windy weather can occur anytime and extreme heat is present in summer. Keep in mind that the summit is over 3800 feet in elevation and often has totally different weather than halfway up the mountain. Much of the area is wilderness (often with steep trails), so bring sunscreen, water, and food. The roads are narrow, often rough in spots and winding. Shoulders are often uneven and the pullouts on the lower half of the mountain should be avoided in rainy weather. Watch out for bad drivers and bicyclists. Avoid all days where there is snow on the top and try to avoid early spring weekends (unless you like crowds). Avoid climbing on rock formations. Watch for loose rocks, ticks (especially around chaparral), yellow jackets and rattlesnakes. Poison Oak is one of the most common and widespread plants in the park, so avoid going off trails. Consult a map of the mountain and read up on park rules (and leave your pets at home). Birding locations In general, the majority of good birding is in the canyons and the lower half of the mountain. Probably the three finest areas of birding are Pine Canyon, Mitchell Canyon, and the Rock City area . The best examples of chaparral birds can be found in the area from just below Toyon Picnic area to Pioneer Horse Camp and also around Muir Picnic Area . The canyon areas such as Dan Cook Canyon and Curry Canyon can provide some shade in the heat of summer but avoid these two sites in winter. The area from Curry Point to Knobcone Point has the driest trail in rainy weather (and one of the hottest temperatures in summer). All of the canyons can be terribly muddy during the rainy season. Mitchell and White Canyon can be very exciting in April and May and is perhaps one of the least demanding of the trails. Donner Canyon can be equally exciting during this same time, but it is very rugged as are most of the areas around the peaks (such as Eagle and North Peaks). The Summit area is generally very poor birding, although I have seen some good birds here (mostly during spring migration) like Black-chinned Sparrow, Hermit Warbler (sometimes common), Calliope Hummingbird, Lawrence's Goldfinch (probably regular here in late spring) and once a Cassin's Finch. Blue Oak and Oak Knoll picnic areas can be superb in May, especially for warbler flocks. If on a short driving tour of the mountain in spring, start at South Gate Road and check the areas of Rock City, Curry Point area, Junction Campground area, Wildcat Group Camp, and Blue Oak-Oak Knoll picnic areas and, if time permits, a few pullouts along North Gate Road (especially for Lark Sparrow, Rufous-Crowned Sparrow, Rock Wren, and Golden Eagle). Black-chinned Sparrow The most sought after bird in the park by visiting birders is probably the Black-chinned Sparrow. It is best found by looking for singing males in the morning from mid-May to mid-June, probably peaking soon after Memorial Day weekend. Its preferred habitat is burned-over areas of chaparral (or stunted chaparral with large gaps) that are dominated by chamise that is more than two years, but less than twenty years old. In some years the species is fairly common and in other years it is nearly absent. In recent years, the best sites have been along Fossil Ridge (hike out of Uplands Picnic Area through the gap in the grassland), South Gate Road at about two-tenths of a mile below South Gate kiosk (also park at Uplands Picnic Area and hike back down the road as there is no parking below Rock City), the area around Pioneer Horse Camp to Blue Oak Picnic Area, and Muir Picnic Area. I've also had birds (mostly far from the trail) at Wall Ridge (excellent habitat at present), Mitchell Canyon, the south side of the Fire Interpretive Trail, Prospector's Gap Road, Juniper Campground, and at various burn sites along lower South Gate Road. Pine Canyon Pine Canyon is located on the southwestern side of Mount Diablo. It has numerous access points, each having its own merit. My two favorite access points are Macedo Ranch parking lot (at the very north end of Green Valley Road out of Danville, self-registration parking here for two dollars) and the Castle Rock Road parking area for Diablo Foothills Regional Park and the private Castle Rock Park (free public parking just outside the kiosk for Castle Rock Park out of Walnut Creek. The public trail goes around the edge of Castle Rock Park, access through Castle Rock Park is uncertain but usually permitted if you don't linger here). It is also possible to access this area from Burma Road (at North Gate Road 3 miles up from the kiosk, this is rather short but steep and has virtually no shade) or from the Barbeque Terrace-Wildcat Group Camp area of South Gate Road (a longer hike and furthest from the best birding sections). No matter what direction you access Pine Canyon from, the best birding is the Pine Pond area and much of the lower half of the canyon. This canyon can have miserable footing from December through at least March in rainy weather (note numerous stream crossings, plus much of the soil here is clay). At present Pine Creek flows down the main fire road near Pine Pond during the winter, creating a real mess (plus the overflow from Pine Pond bisects the trail). Also a word of warning, rattlesnakes are regular in this canyon, especially by Pine Pond. The canyon can be crowded on weekends. Regular birds in the general area include Golden Eagle, Canyon Wren (difficult to actually see), Rock Wren (especially by Sulphur Spring area, the rocky area above Macedo Ranch called "China Wall", and a rocky area in the upper part of the canyon), Brown Creeper, Lawrence's Goldfinch (I've found the nest twice here), Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Willow Flycatcher (mainly mid-August through September at Pine Pond), Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Varied Thrush, White-throated Swift (mainly morning and evening), White-tailed Kite (mainly near Barbeque Terrace), Cassin's Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Hairy Woodpecker, Hammond's Flycatcher (mainly in April and early May), Bullock's Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, etc. Pine Pond and the adjacent forest is often a magnet to birds. In about 11 years we've seen nearly 150 species within a half-mile of the pond. Pine Pond has been slowly filling in over the years and seems to have fewer rarities every year, but here is often the only chance of finding waterbirds in the park. Some of the birds I've seen by Pine Pond include Wild Turkey, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora, Pied-billed Grebe, Buffiehead, Ring-necked Duck, Wood Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, White-throated Sparrow, Barn owl, Lincoln's Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, MacGillivray's Warbler, Sage Sparrow (out of their normal habitat here - probably post-breeding birds), Lewis's Woodpecker, etc. Many of these birds are quite rare here. Mitchell and White Canyon Mitchell and White Canyon are mainly accessed from Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton. This canyon is by far the easiest canyon to bird by foot. The trail can be muddy in winter and is heavily used on weekends (watch out for speeding bicyclists, ticks, and rattlesnakes). Mitchell Canyon generally lacks the water birds of Pine Canyon (though there is a small pond between Mitchell and Donner Canyon) but has more chaparral birds. In late April to mid-May, these canyons can sometimes have a massive warbler fallout (including MacGillivray's and Hermit). Hammond's Flycatcher seems to be a regular (often common) migrant here in spring. White Canyon (and sometimes middle to upper Mitchell Canyon) is by far the best site in the park for Calliope Hummingbird, mainly from late April to mid-May. Black-chinned Sparrow is sometimes seen here, and Sage Sparrow is regular here. Phainopepla has been seen at Deer Flat and elsewhere in the canyon (also check just outside of the park along Mitchell Canyon Road in winter and spring). Lawrence's Goldfinch is regular here in spring in some years. For further information on chaparral birds, check out Chaparral Birds . Also, much of the park (except Pine Canyon) is covered in Jean Richmond's book Birding Northern California published by Mount Diablo Audubon Society. A bird checklist is available for Mount Diablo from Mount Diablo Interpretive Association or the State Park. Phainopepla, Male | Dave Furseth Great Horned Owl | Brian Murphy Wild Turkey | Michael Marchiano Peregrine Falcon | Dave Furseth Bullock's Oriole | Dave Furseth Western Tanager | Dave Furseth Cedar Waxwing | Joe Oliver BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Blue Elderberry Scientific Name: Sambucus mexicana Family: Viburnacaea (Elder Family) Blooms: March - July Color: Yellow-Orange Shrub Native Berries are Blue Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa

Wildflower Mount Diablo Broadleaved Pepperweed Scientific Name: Lepidium latifolium Family: Brassicaceae Blooms: May-Jul Color: White Perennial herb Introduced Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

California Poppy by Steve Smith The Inside Scoop March 27, 2025 Dan Fitzgerald The California Poppy (Eschscholzia Californica) is our state flower, but you knew that. But did you know that it was named by a German, for an Estonian doctor, sailing on a Russian ship, exploring San Francisco Bay? German botantist and poet Adelbert von Chamisso hopped off the Russian exploration ship Ryurik in 1816 to find the hills of San Francisco gleaming with golden poppies. He collected specimens, named the flower after his friend, Estonian ship's doctor Johann Escholtz and then took those specimens back to Russia. Click here to watch a video of the story told by our own Ken Lavin. BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Branched Lagophylla, Common Hareleaf Scientific Name: Lagophylla ramosissima Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: May Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty Steven Beatty Leaf detail

Wildflower Mount Diablo Goosegrass Bedstraw Scientific Name: Galium aparine Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family) Blooms: Mar - Jun Color: White Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa

Wildflower Mount Diablo Kellogg's Yampah Scientific Name: Perideridia kelloggii Family: Apiaceae (Parsley-Carrot Family) Blooms: Jun-Aug Color: White Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald

Wildflower Mount Diablo Cotton Rose, California Fluffweed Scientific Name: Logfia filaginoides Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: Mar - May Color: White Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Ken-ichi Ueda, iNaturalist

Wildflower Mount Diablo California Western Flax Scientific Name: Hesperolinon californicum Family: Linaceae (Flax Family) Blooms: May Color: White Annual herb Native, endemic to California Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Jenn Roe

Wildflower Mount Diablo Harvest Brodiaea Scientific Name: Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans Family: Themidaceae (Brodiaea Family) Blooms: May - Jun Color: Blue-Purple Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Wildflower Mount Diablo California Milkweed Scientific Name: Asclepias californica Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family) Blooms: Apr - May Color: Red-Pink Perennial herb Native Toxicity: minor, dermatitis. Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Deer Flat Hike by Steve Smith Reprinted from the MDIA E-Newsletter December 2024 December 1, 2024 Steve Smith As wet weather and winter sets in the question arises, where to hike with limited mud? One of the best options is to head up Mitchell Canyon Road to Deer Flat (and beyond). This hike is a 7.3 mile out-and-back with 1550 feet of climbing and features a fabulous surprise along the way. Starting at Mitchell Canyon, head up the canyon for a couple of miles. It is so lovely this time of year to have the constant melody of Mitchell Creek running alongside you. Watch for pops of color from Snowberry and Toyon, or even a myriad of fungi. But the true surprise awaits you 2 miles in as you will start to notice the bare twigs and trunks have taken on a unique coating...ladybugs! In their winter 'hybernation' are millions of convergent lady beetles in huge masses of color. Enjoy them here, and perhaps have a stop at the picnic tables, before you begin your ascent up the many switchbacks. Just before you start climbing you will see a volunteer trail off to your left heading to the creek. Take this lovely spur and have a quiet moment next to the old springbox dam just 50 yards up. This is a great place for a video with full sound of the rushing waters to share later. Now comes the climb! You will start up the crookedest road on Mount Diablo as you navigate 15 or so switchbacks. No matter how many times I hike this trail I'm always convinced that the next corner is the last corner...it never is. Take breaks along the way to gaze over at Eagle Peak looming above. In the latter part of December you should start seeing the urn-like blooms of Big Berry Manzanita. As you continue to climb you will be rewarded by either the views of the valley behind you, or the quiet solitude of a fog bank enveloping you. Once you finally do navigate that last corner, you will be greeted by a rest stop at Deer Flat with several tables to enjoy, and lovely views of Eagle Peak, Black Point and Mitchell Canyon. Take a moment. Your route back from here is simple, retrace your steps back the way you came and take notice of all the things you missed with a different perspective than on the way up. Of course if you want to extend your journey there are a multitude of ways back which incorporate a loop. Buyer beware, those other routes can be a bit tricky in the winter (Eagle Peak, Back Creek, Meridian Ridge). Ladybugs Switchbacks Map of Deer Flat Hike BACK TO LIST