[EBB Sightings] Short-eared Owl and other goodies

I started the day off at Garretson Point but came up empty on the
Blue-winged Teal.

The day got much more interesting at Arrowhead Marsh, where I ran into Chris
Harbard. He was kind enough to point me to a SHORT-EARED OWL on the ground
out in the marsh beyond the boardwalk. I was so tickled, I took him over to
where the BURROWING OWL has been reported recently and he picked it out
pretty quickly. We also noted a couple PEREGRINE FALCONS in the area.

Up to that point, I had pretty much let Chris do all the work but I was able
to pick out a first-winter THAYER'S GULL in the flock in the first pond and
we eventually found 2 more, along with Mew Gulls and the usual suspects.

The 2 of us then moved south to Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline, where we
scoped the gull flocks at the Davis Street Transfer Station, hoping for Bob
Richmond's Glaucous Gull. No luck there but we did find a TRI-COLORED
BLACKBIRD among the throngs of Starlings and Red-winged Blackbirds.

At San Leandro Marina, a Black Turnstone flock loafing with the Willets also
included a couple RUDDY TURNSTONES. No sign of a Tattler or White-winged
Scoter. Chris and I parted ways at that point.

At Winton Avenue, I came up empty on the Tropical Kingbird but got away with
my windows intact. My consolation prize was White-throated Swifts overhead
and a White-tailed Kite.

Back at Garretson Point, still no Blue-winged Teal.

At Estuary Park, I missed the Palm Warbler (again) but located the
RED-THROATED LOON and a Spotted Sandpiper.

Bird on,

Bruce Mast
Oakland