[EBB Sightings] Parasitic Jaeger off Berkeley Pier...Brant bayside off Univ. Ave. West

>From the very end of the Berkeley pier mid-day today
in the wind and rain, I had incredible views of (my
first) PARASITIC JAEGER as it flew three sorties into
the flocks of terns and shorebirds above and around
the old wooden pier! The terns had just started
hunting when the jaeger erupted into their midst,
flying aggressively and deftly among them, looking for
a target, then going vertical right in front of the
smaller bird! The first try resulted in nothing for
the jaeger, and the bird left, flying very low and
fast across the water towards the Emeryville
shoreline.  The next time the terns were up, the
jaeger reappeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and
slammed into them, and this time, a tern gave up its
catch.  The jaeger flew down to the water, ate, and
floated there until the terns went up again.  Then, it
was up like a shot and right back into them, and this
time the tern made evasive maneuvers, and I lost sight
of them as they flew towards Alcatraz. It was
incredible!

I was the only human at the end of the pier in the
rain today, and, during the lapses between jaeger vs.
tern episodes, I noticed a tiny SANDERLING picking at
bits of leftover fish (I guess) on the pier right
behind me.  The bird had an injured leg, but it could
fly well and was not about to be captured for help. It
may have had fishing line or string around its leg.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/sing4me/100_2165.jpg

Another bird of note from today's adventure was a
BRANT on the rocks by the bay off University Avenue
just before the Sea Breeze Market.  Bill Walker
photographed and reported a "strange-looking" Brant
here back in early September. My photos aren't great,
and today's bird doesn't look exactly like the one he
photo'd, but this bird seemed atypical to me as well. 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/sing4me/100_2186.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/sing4me/100_2187.jpg

Also, in the trees near the Nature Center, I found
yellow-rumped warblers, chestnut-backed chickadees,
bushtits, and a red-breasted nuthatch.  And the common
loons and Clark's grebe were still just off the pier
today.




Stephanie Floyd
Fremont


       
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