[EBB Sightings] Ducks today

Hi birders:

With only a couple of hours available for birding today, Barbara and I
were able to get excellent views of two great duck species thanks to
Mike Danzenbaker's and Bob Power's recent reports.

We started at San Leandro Marina around 9:45am (half hour after high
tide) and were rewarded quickly with three male White-winged Scoters,
all within 10 feet of the breakwater at the point.  They were directly
in front of the "Lost Boats" memorial.

On to Lake Merritt where we stood in front of the 14th Street Bridge
for a while; lots of Red-Breasted Mergansers (I counted 10 at one
point) but no Long-tailed Duck.  Steve Huckabone and several other
birders arrived.  We finally crossed the street and birded the channel
south of the 12th St. Bridge.  After a while the Long-tailed Duck
appeared diving repeatedly in the channel close to the bridge.  Most
convenient parking for this spot is probably 10th St.

Now, on to non-birding commitments for the rest of the day.  How did
that happen?

Good birding,

Bob  Brandriff
Berkeley, CA