[EBB Sightings] Pintails at Lake Merritt

One thing that has changed is that Lake Merritt no longer offers the expanse
of mud flats and shallow water that dabblers like pintails and wigeons like.
Very rarely I find a pintail or a wigeon down by the beach at 14th street
but the habitat's not inviting and they don't stay around. 

The second photo in the Calphoto series Joyce pointed us to shows the
colonnade at the Embarcadero in the background. The ducks are shown standing
around on a mudflat, which since been filled in behind a concrete retaining
wall. Now that spot is where all the scaups hang out.

Thanks to Joyce for sharing that great photo resource. I believe I've seen
similar photos of old Lake Merritt in the Oakland history room at the main
library.

Bruce Mast
Oakland



-----Original Message-----
From: sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com
[mailto:sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of Glen Tepke
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 6:18 PM
To: Sightings at diabloaudubon.com
Subject: Re: [EBB Sightings] Pintails at Lake Merritt

I wonder what's changed.  I check out Lake Merritt fairly regularly (not as
regularly as Hilary) and have never seen Pintails there.

Glen Tepke
Oakland