[EBB Sightings] Vicarious Big Days

Hi all:

I haven't done a true "big day" for three years. Modoc
Co.  71 species by 10 a.m. Looked like world champs,
then the big fizzle.  

Today at Winton Ave, Hayward Reg. Shoreline, Frank's
Dump, we got to at least brush up against the brave
souls who get up at midnight so that they can be on
Mine's Rd. at 2, Redwood at 4, Coyote Hills at 7, and
on and on, until at 2:30 in the afternoon, they
briskly approach Frank's Dump.  Going like heck after
14 hours. Pretty impressive.  You know they're doing a
big day, when they get excited about Sanderlings. Now
Sanderlings are beautiful birds. Don't get me wrong. 
But 2:30 p.m. Sanderling enthusiasm means someone's
doing a big day. No doubt about it.  

Their initials are: BL KO and DQ.  And hopefully,
we'll hear more about their expoloits. Nice to just
dream of doing what they did.

But, I wander....  Frank's Dump keeps giving. Hard to
believe.  Today: Surfbird(s). At least 5. Probably 7,
maybe more.  When Dennis Braddy says there are
Surfbirds, I pay attention. And I'll be darned, they
were there.  Dennis, Larry Albright, and I picked out
Surfbirds, Black and Ruddy Turnstones, and about a
million: Black-bellied Plover, Marbled Godwit, and
Willets, and then representative quantities of Western
and Least Sandpipers, Snowy Plover, Semi-palmated
Plover, Dowitcher (spp), the Sanderlings, Avocets,
Black-necked stilts, Long-billed Curlew  and..... I'm
forgetting something important.

high tide: Frank's Dump. Take a friend. Take a scope.
Our Alameda Co. treasure.

Hats off to the "big day" teams,
Bob Power
Oakland, CA