[EBB Sightings] Pinole shoreline and Meeker Slough

	F0C0E0D at comcast.net>

At 06:30 PM 3/25/2008, you wrote:
>Laura, I would love to know how you access the Surfbirds at the San 
>Pablo Shoreline.  Can you walk further north to the rocks?


Where we saw the Surfbirds last week wasn't far from the parking lot 
at the end of Pinole Shores Drive.  Take a right from the parking lot 
on the paved trail.  There is one fenced alcove missing a bench, then 
a little way further a second alcove that still has a bench.  The 
Surfbirds were seen from that alcove.  They were directly below the 
bluff along the rocks by the Amtrak line.  It was low tide.

If you continue to follow this trail east, it goes about another half 
mile.  From the end part of the trail, you can look down on more 
rocks there, and you can actually see the park at the end of Tennent 
Ave in the distance.  The only way down to the rocks is to walk along 
the railroad tracks.  You can access the tracks by going left from 
the parking lot; there is an "official" break in the fence a short 
way down on the right.  In December, we had Surfbirds on the rocks 
down in that area, where there is a point (Pt Wilson) that fishermen 
use heavily.  That area is lower, bluff-less, and more 
accessible.  Disclaimer: The Amtrak line is private property; pass at 
your own risk; etc, etc.

I have not seen the Surfbirds again since 3/20, but the last couple 
days in the afternoon, the wind and high tide have made the rocks 
along the tracks uninhabitable to any self-respecting bird. ;-)

Good birding,
--
Laura Look
Pinole, CA