[EBB Sightings] Birds at Lake Merritt - most in good condition

Hi E.B. Birders,

A bird survey of Lake Merritt turned up a small number
of gulls with smudges on their breast, belly, and
face, which included a few dozen Ring-billed Gulls,
one Western Gull and one Glaucous-winged Gull.? One
adult California Gull on a nearby building had
entirely oiled underparts, but was still able to fly. 

The worst sighting, which I reported, was a female
Ruddy Duck, heavily oiled, and looking for a haul out
spot near the Rotary Science Center.? 

We estimated about 900 scaup, which looked in good
condition.? Each male we watched preen showed a nice
white under part when he turned on his side.? I looked
closely at brown feathering at the sides of many
birds, but these look good, not oiled.? Other diving
ducks looked clean, too.? Cormorants, terns, and
pelicans also looked clean.? 

We checked out the connecting channel near Laney
college, walking as far as the 880 overpass. The only
questionable bird was a Pelagic Cormorant on the
water. I just couldn't tell if it was water logged or
oiled, but it didn't look in distress.? Great to see
the orange booms across the channel, just west of 7th
street!

Denise Wight
Moraga, CA

P.S. I stopped by Point Emery about noon.? There were
bird rescue workers here, but they were unable to
reach heavily oiled bird on the small rocks, at the
end of the point.? Broke my heart.? Many of the
foraging shorebirds showed some smudging on their
breasts.? Two Surfbirds flew in, one of which was well
oiled on the breast and belly.