[EBB Sightings] Common Murre IN Richmond's Hoffmann Marsh

Birders:

Today was the last of Golden Gate Audubon Society's 24 bimonthly 
censuses, intended to determine bird usage of the new Eastshore State 
Park.  At an informal gathering of census workers after today's effort, 
Ellen Barth reported finding an alcid in her area, the Richmond portion 
of ESSP.

Elizabeth Sojourner and I decided to look for the bird and, with the 
help of a birder-bicyclist on the Bay Trail, just before noon found a 
Common Murre at the location Ellen described.  The bird was very near 
the Bay Trail when we arrived, but energetically worked its way a 
couple hundred yards further inland, usually with its bill either 
submerged or just above water level as it evidently searched for food.  
The bird's appearance closely matched what Sibley illustrates as an 
adult nonbreeding bird (which closely resembles his "1st year" bird . . 
.), having a white collar that extended across its nape, only a few 
white-tipped scapulars, a few smudgy flank streaks, but a bill that 
looked to me to be an adult's full length.

To look for the bird, take the Bayview Avenue exit off I-580, 
immediately take two left turns, and park at the south end of S. 51st 
Street.  From there, walk the trail southwestward to the Bay Trail, 
then a short distance northwest along the trail to a bridge over a 
slough.  Ellen and the bicyclist saw the bird near the bridge.  While 
we were there it swam upstream as far as to where another bridge, on 
the closed-off portion of what would have been a continuation of S. 
51st St., crosses the same slough.  To reach that bridge from the end 
of S. 51st St., walk through the metal yellow-painted gate near where 
you parked and follow the pavement to the east.

What a nice way to finish the census effort!

Dave Quady
Berkeley, California
davequady at att.net