[EBB Sightings] Hayward Shoreline and Shadow Cliffs - Shorebirds and WTK observations

Spent the whole day Sunday on a bird photo binge..
first stop at Hayward Shoreline to Frank's Dump.  All
my photos are at http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/new so
for those of you who are experts at shorebird ID,
please correct my numerous errors.  

There were easily several thousand birds in about
three or four major groupings.  Most slept in since
the weather was so lousy on the shoreline.  The large
groupings seemed to be DOWITCHERS (can't tell short or
long-billed) and WILLETS, with numerous STILTS,
AVOCETS, and LEAST SANDPIPERS.  Two other birders (who
probably are on this list and met me - I was the
shaved headed guy with the big white lens) cited SNOWY
PLOVERS, a PHALAROPE, and a RUDDY TURNSTONE.  

I later went to the visitor's center area and found
more of the same along with an abundance of
LONG-BILLED CURLEWS.  The visitor center bird are much
more habituated to human presence and very
photographer-friendly.

Later, at Shadow Cliffs, I was treated to the sight of
three WHITE TAILED KITES playing with each other and
chasing each other (same as Rich Cimino's?).  Two were
engaging in what is typically viewed as courtship
behavior while the third fluttered around with them. 
They did not appear to be juveniles playing, but I
don't know what the behavior means.  I believe I've
read that WTKs can court in early fall to reinforce
pair bonds so perhaps that's all it was; maybe they
were all juveniles hanging out together, and we are
seeing early adult courtship behavior developing?  The
photos were from very far away and into the sun but I
posted them anyway.

Thanks for any behavior or ID comments,

Brian


		
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