[Sightings] ALBANY CRESCENT WANDERING TATTLER, ET AL.

I birded the Albany Crescent this morning with friends and yesterday with my 
husband.  Today two WANDERING TATTLERS along with several BLACK TURNSTONES 
were sitting on what remains of the pier west of the race track.  At the 
mudflats, the tide was a little higher yesterday, so that the birds were not as spread 
out, but there were many species to see on both days.  The BLACK-BELLIED 
PLOVERS were knockouts in their alternate plumage and worth the trip.  Other 
shorebirds seen were WHIMBREL AND LONG-BILLED CURLEW, MARBLED GODWIT, WILLET, LEAST 
AND WESTERN SANDPIPERS, DOWITCHER (sp), GREATER YELLOWLEGS, AMERICAN AVOCET, 
and SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER.  A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON flew over.  Also seen 
were several "regulars," including DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, SNOWY EGRET, 
SAVANNAH SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, BARN SWALLOW and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, etc.  The only 
bird seen yesterday but not today was a lone SPOTTED SANDPIPER at the end of 
the Bulb.

To reach Albany Crescent, take I-580/80 to the Albany/Buchanan exit.  Turn 
west on Buchanan and go straight under the freeway.  You can park along the curb 
immediately on your right to view the mud flats, then further down to the 
parking area on your left before walking out to the pier and/or Albany Bulb.

Marilyn Trabert
Walnut Creek