[EBB Sightings] Blue-winged Teal at Garretson Point

Hi EBBers,

This morning at Garretson Point in Oakland Deborah Fitzpatrick and I 
observed four Blue-winged Teal.  These teal were in the vernal pool east of 
the parking lot with several other duck species including Green-winged and 
Cinammon Teal.   As we watched the ducks feeding there, a Peregrine Falcon 
arrived and flew back and forth over the pond trying to scare up some of the 
birds - to no avail.  After several passes it packed up and flew south out 
of sight.   Next door, in the slough of East Creek (the down stream portion 
of Lion Creek) we heard a chorus of Virginia Rails go off.

We walked south along the bay side trail over to Arrowhead Marsh.  In San 
Leandro Bay alongside the trail there must have been 1000+ mostly Greater 
Scaup and our first-of-fall Common Goldeneye.  The tide was receding at the 
time and we looked over to the projection of Arrowhead Marsh into San 
Leandro Bay and watched four Clapper Rails feeding along the margin of the 
marsh.  The Clapper Rails were also quite noisy, with several choruses 
issued from the marsh area.

Good birding,
Bob Battagin
Oakland