[EBB Sightings] Blue Grouse? at Arrowhead Marsh

Yesterday (sorry I couldn't post this earlier) we were walking along the 
fence on the side of the refuge next to the parking lot for the Oakland 
Airport when a large grouse/partridge kind of bird flushed almost right 
under our feet. It had been hidden in the grass between the refuge and 
the path we were on. It flew up and across the fence to the parking lot, 
then dropped down as if it were going to land there. There are wooden 
slats in that chain link fence, so we lost the bird. When we looked on 
the pavement as soon as we could, we didn't see it.

It really looked like a blue grouse to me. Unfortunately we were 
startled, and were only able to see it for a couple of seconds, so I 
can't guarantee what it was.

I can say it was NOT a female pheasant; I know what they look like.

John