[EBB Sightings] Red Knots - Frank's Dump

Hi all:

There's light at the end of the tunnel when you're in
a meeting at 5:15 on Winton Ave.  You know where
you're going next.

Bob Richmond reported "hundreds" of red knots at
Frank's Dump on 9/7.  Last year I saw a fairly large
number of red knots at Frank's Dump about this same
time, once.  One day. One day only.  Then we saw 1
(one) on a field trip to San Mateo Co.

Tonight, there were hundreds. My best estimate was
500+. The impromptu visit left me outfitted with
binoculars but no scope, so these are unaudited,
non-scoped totals.
Three in breeding plumage.  1 ruddy turnstone, 2 black
turnstones.
1100 marbled godwits. 

Apologies for asking a question that may have been
well-covered in this forum: Are these guys getting
surveyed? Or, Are there regular surveys along the
shoreline here?  Seems like a well-documented staging
area for Red Knots.  In reviewing other Red Knot
reports from around the bay, there's a handful from
Steven's Creek (1, 5, 6) and a handful from Bodega
Bay.

Seems like Frank's Dump is Red Knot central.
Watch 'em while you can, folks. Here to day, gone to
Tierra del Fuego. You all have Living on the Wind,
yes?
Value added: there was a breeze out there.

Also of note. I approached Frank's place on the
diagonal. I'd seen a swirl of shorebirds disappear in
the grasslands, and I was intrigued. Half way betw.
the parking area and Frank's dump the bull-dozers had
flattened the dirt into a dusty/sandy flat parking lot
looking area (several footbal fields wide).  A
sizeable mixed flock of Semi-palmated Plovers and
Least Sandpipers had just popped down and landed
there. No water. no food. hmmmmmm?  Probably 150 to
200 birds. If it's good for them, who am I to argue?

Good birding,
Bob Power