[EBB Sightings] Greater Scaup and others

Everybody was so helpful with my white-tailed kite
inquiry last week that I thought I'd post a few
observations from the weekend - these are my first
notes so please let me know if they are too basic...
this may not be news to any of you.  But, what the
heck.  I've also included picture links for those of
you who enjoy that kind of thing.

I saw what I think is a GREATER SCAUP at Palo Alto
Baylands in the Duck Pond.  My guidebook implied that
this is relatively uncommon... I'm not sure, but
thought I'd pass it along.  This was on Saturday. 
Here are two pictures I took:

http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/image/39945922
http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/image/39945923

The BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS are beginning to gather
at the Duck Pond in the palm tree rookery.  The
numbers seem to vary significantly day to day; today I
saw one, but Saturday and Sunday there were perhaps a
dozen or more within sight.  Here are three photos I
took:

http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/image/39991090
http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/image/39991087
http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/image/39991089

Also saw plenty of NORTHERN HARRIERS flying around the
marshes of Coyote Hills all weekend, a male and
several females.  They were not shy at all about
swooping low and hunting near humans.  Here's a
photo...

http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/image/39945993

And best of all, I got my close-up to a WHITE-TAILED
KITE, a block away from my place in Dublin!  He was
devouring a large rodent in a tree.  The light was
awful at sunset so the quality is a bit lacking.  I
did not see a mate or any sign of a nest.  Here's a
picture.

http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/image/39946010 

Brian

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