[EBB Sightings] Baird's Sandpipers in Oakland

Ann McGregor dropped me back at home about an hour ago. We visited Middle 
Harbor Shoreline Regional Park at the west end of 7th Street in Oakland.

We parked near the bathrooms and walked down to the beach.  Waiting for two 
men to walk ahead of us, we eventually walked slowly to the first short 
stone jetty.  On the other side were a number of Marbled Godwits, Willets, 
Long-billed Curlews and two Baird's Sandpipers.    We thoroughly enjoyed 
watching them until a jogger came along from behind us, jumped up on the 
jetty and ran its length back to the road.

We then drove to the last parking lot next to the Estuary and walked out to 
the end of the old Western Pacific Rail Road ferry slip.  We walked back on 
the side away from the Estuary so we could see the area which was once the 
Naval Supply Center docks.  The Elegant Terns were on a longer rock jetty 
along with many Willets and Marbled Godwits.  We even walked back along the 
access road to see this jetty from a closer vantage point, trying to find 
the Baird's again, but we didn't see them.  We did see some Least 
Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper with spots and 8 Black-bellied Plovers, 
which were back on the original beach with some Godwits and a Long-billed 
Curlew.

It was a very nice couple of hours with beautiful scenery and good birds. 
Ann was especially happy, having gone to Niles earlier today with her 
husband and seeing the continuing Little Blue Heron.

Hugh B. Harvey