[EBB Sightings] Grant Ave. Shorebirds

Hi all:

Thanks to Bob Richmond's postings and Dave Quady's
addendums/confirmations, there was a southward push of
birders between Grant Avenue and Frank's Dump today.  

Dolores Butkus, having just completed Bob Lewis's
shorebird class, instantly picked our a PECTORAL
SANDPIPER from the muddy islands of the sub-station
pond.*  Brenda Bailey, not having attended Bob's
class, settled for spotting two IBIS (ibises; asked
later which species I thought these were, I said: the
pretty species). Three LESSER YELLOWLEGS were there as
well.

At Frank's Dump* I had 6 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 1 BLACK
TURNSTONE, 1 SNOWY PLOVER, many RED KNOTS, and an
abundance of more common shorebirds.  

On the return trip to Grant Ave, there was a juvenile
BRANDT'S CORMORANT in the bay, and Emily Serkin picked
out a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER back at the sub-station pond.
Park District staff reported a SOLITARY SANDPIPER in
the channel that runs east west from the Winton Ave.
Staging area.  I can  neither confirm nor deny these
allegations.

I'd heard that Coyote Hills was "dry", but I was
unprepared for how dry it is.  All shorebirds, ducks
and white pelicans are concentrated 1/2-mile northeast
of headquarters beyond the big hill that dominates the
eastern marshlands.  The eastern marshlands are
completely dry. Completely.  Evidently they had been
maintained as a wetland via a water pump that broke
late last year.  Decisions have been made to allow
this part fo the park to return to a more natural
state.

If you're counting on these ponds for Common Moorhen,
you'd best come up with a plan B.  An OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER and a western flycatcher were in the snags
above headquarters.

Good birding,

Bob Power
Oakland, CA

*"This area is reached from Grant Ave. From the EBRPD
parking area, a 
paved trail goes north to San Lorenzo Creek and turns
west along the 
creek to the bay. The trail then turns to gravel as it
goes to the 
south. On your left is a pond that had 10 Lesser
Yellowlegs a few days 
ago (a Ruff wintered here in the late 1980's). After
that on your left 
is Ora Loma Sewage Treatment Plant. The trail then
goes over a foot 
bridge that crosses Bockman Channel. The pond the
Stilt Sandpiper was 
in is just to the south of Bockman Channel. These
ponds are private 
property, but fortunately it was in the pond closest
to the public 
trail. The other ponds may be dry."

*Frank's Dump is most easily reached via the Winton
Ave. staging area. Drive to the west end of Winton off
of Hwy.880 in Hayward. Walk due west to the bay. Turn
north and follow the bay trail for approx. .5 miles. 
The depressed wetland w/islands and dry crusty areas
on your right is "Frank's Dump".