[EBB Sightings] A new experience

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Greetings Birding Friends:

On Saturday I participated in my second GGAS census at the East Shore =
State Park, in the area from University Avenue south to Emery Point.  As =
one would expect this time of year, we saw a number of both water birds =
-- mostly buffleheads with two red-breasted mergansers -- and =
shorebirds, along with a modest assortment of passerines, plus a =
fast-flying merlin.

But what impressed me most was the small unexpected delights such as the =
scalloped beaches of gray sand revealed by the outgoing tide, fresh =
looking and almost pristine.  In one particular part of the shoreline =
hidden from the freeway, landforms both in and out of the water were =
weathered stacks of old bricks like remnants of a ruined city. The tall =
dry stands of rustling anise still emitted their unmistakable odor.  =
Wintering meadowlarks were sheltered from the wind by early-blooming =
baccharus and sparrows foraged among the blades of new grass.

I had always avoided the East Bay shoreline, remembering as a child in =
the early 1930s having to close up tight the back windows of the family =
Buick to kept out the stench of raw sewage and wondering how the colony =
of people living in shacks over the water near the new Bay Bridge could =
stand living there.  Even after the sewage smells disappeared and the =
shoreline we called the Emeryville mud flats took on a certain quirky =
charm with the impromptu sculptures, my shoreline visits were limited to =
the then small marinas.

So it was with particular gratitude that I have been given the chance to =
reclaim this once ignored, and even reviled, part of my community.

Phila Rogers 
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Shore State=20
Park, in the area from University Avenue south to Emery =
Point.  As one=20
would expect this time of year, we saw a number of both water birds -- =
mostly=20
buffleheads with two red-breasted mergansers -- and shorebirds, =
along with=20
a modest assortment of passerines, plus a fast-flying merlin.
as the=20
scalloped beaches of gray sand revealed by the outgoing tide, fresh =
looking and=20
almost pristine.  In one particular part of the shoreline hidden =
from the=20
freeway, landforms both in and out of the water were =
weathered stacks of=20
old bricks like remnants of a ruined city. The tall dry =
stands of=20
rustling anise still emitted their unmistakable odor.  Wintering=20
meadowlarks were sheltered from the wind by early-blooming =
baccharus and=20
sparrows foraged among the blades of new grass.
child in=20
the early 1930s having to close up tight the back windows of the family =
Buick to=20
kept out the stench of raw sewage and wondering how the colony of people =
living=20
in shacks over the water near the new Bay Bridge could stand living=20
there.  Even after the sewage smells disappeared and the =
shoreline we=20
called the Emeryville mud flats took on a certain quirky charm with the=20
impromptu sculptures, my shoreline visits were limited to =
the then=20
small marinas.
chance to=20
reclaim this once ignored, and even reviled, part of my community.

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