[EBB Sightings] Eastshore State Park (Albany/Cezar Chavez)

Had the privilege to bird with Daniel Edelstein's "Ornithology"  class(Merrit College) at the Albany entrance to Eastshore State Park for much of today (8:30a.m. - 1:45 p.m.), finishing up at Cezar Chavez Park (2-4:45p.m.)

A total of 68 species were noted from the Albany section, 10 more added at Cezar Chavez. 

Some of the highlights at the Albany/Buchanon entrance to Eastshore:
11 species of ducks including- 
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
EURASIAN WIGEON (male)
Northern Pintail 
Northern Shoveler
Canvasback
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
RED-THROATED LOON 

Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
MERLIN
Peregrine Falcon
14 species of shorebirds -
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
American Avocet
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Dunlin (1 bird in full alternate plumage, black belly/rusty back!)
Western/Least Sandpiper
Dowitcher sp.( 4 basic plumage, showing many features of Long-billed, rounded back, long bill, straight supercilium, but never heard calling)
5 species of gull and Forster's Tern
Belted Kinfisher
American Pipits
Western Meadowlarks
Hermit Thrush (calling from stand of Myoporum)
Orange-crowned Warbler (in exotic plantings near heron statue)
Red-winged Blackbird (female, only one seen all day, with crowned sparrow flock)


The sign at the marsh overlook of Buchanon Street where the class studied shorebirds informs its readers that "11 species" of shorebird have been seen from that spot at one time. Looks like its time for an update.

In the afternoon those who stuck with the group all the way to Cesar Chavez park were rewarded with looks at continuing (3) BURROWING OWLS, Horned/Eared/Western/Clark's Grebes, COMMON LOON.

After the class took off I followed some chips around the marina parking lot across from Cesar Chavez and found a little CB Chickadee/Bushtit/RC Kinglet flock that also had an adult male TOWNSEND'S WARLBER tagging along.

Good birding,
Dominik Mosur