[EBB Sightings] Arrowhead Marsh: 01-01-05

Hi all:

Our Golden Gate Audubon field trip got 2005 off to a
good start.  For the dozen folks who made the complete
circuit, we had betw. 72-75 species depending on
whether you saw the Black Turnstones in flight, heard
the Clapper Rails, and saw the Merlin zip through.  

Highlights were:
Common Teal
Cackling Geese and the Greater White-fronted Geese
reported yesterday by Pamela Llewelyn.
Forster's Tern
Merlin
American/Eurasian Wigeon hybrid
Loggerhead Shrike.
Peregrine Falcon 

We were at mid-tide and high tide isn't all that high
today, so the rails were limited to a couple of
choruses from Clappers.  No sign of the Nelson's
Sharp-tailed sparrow, but we didn't spend a lot of
time looking for it either.

I had both Cackling Geese and an Aleutian Canada goose
in the wetland at the north end of Edgewater at about
8:30.  

Good Birding,
Bob Power

P.s.  One of our participants had close-up views of
the Pileated Woodpecker below the Observatory at
Redwood about two weeks ago. She's not on this
listserv and I encouraged her to join and post any
future sightings.  Would be nice to track that bird's
activity.

p.p.s. First bird of the year: Rock Pigeon.  :)