[EBB Sightings] Loggerhead Shrike & Hundreds of Geese 9/2/08

This evening, 9/2/08, I stopped by Coyote Hills Regional Park and was amazed at the flocks of CANADA GEESE in the fields on both sides of the entrance to the park. I estimated at least 650 in one field, with dozens arriving continually the entire time I was there. There are also hundreds of MALLARDS flying into the fields south of the entry kiosk and landing to feed in the fields. A small group of 12 NORTHERN SHOVELERS flew overhead as I was watching the geese move in. There is very little water in the ponds and wetlands in the park. 
  A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was perched in a tree at the end of the first parking lot. I moved around the park for a couple of hours looking for some migrant activity, but found little. The only other noteworthy sighting was a group of over 260 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS resting in a pond near Alameda Creek, that I could see from the top of the hill behind the park headquarters.

By the time I left, around 7:30 pm there had to be over 1000 geese in the fields on both sides of the road outside the main entry kiosk. I reminded me of the central valley, not the Bay Area. There was a great sunset too.

Good Birding,

George Chrisman
Burlingame, CA