[EBB Sightings] White-winged Scoters in San Leandro--AlaCo

Hi birders,

I spent several hours birding  the San Leandro Marina area today.  I had a 
total of 62 species over a  period of 4 hrs. or so.  The best bird was 
(annual return of) WHITE-WINGED  SCOTER.  I found two males south of the 
breakwater, seen from the parcourse  area.  I also had a MERLIN flying over the 
parking area at the south end of  Monarch Bay Dr.  On the small, rocky island 
(at lowish tide) southeast of  the breakwater, there were many Black and few 
RUDDY TURNSTONES and several  SURFBIRDS.  Unexpected, in an area with few 
oaks, was an Oak Titmouse near  Horatio's restaurant.

A disappointing note:  On the small, rocky  island (noted above), I spotted 
a clearly oiled male Surf Scoter.  The bird  had beached itself (I've never 
before seen a SUSC on land!), and it was preening  furiously.  I called the 
OWCN (Oiled Wildlife Care Network) to report this  bird, and after a 
nightmare of voicemail choices, I was provided with a phone  number to call to 
report the bird.  Directions to the bird were a bit  complicated, so I left my 
name and cell phone number, and have still yet to  receive a return call (I 
left a voicemail message at approximately 2pm, and it  is now after 8pm as I 
write this message).  If any of you folks on this  list are hooked up with 
bird rescue operations, please contact me ASAP, so I can  provide directions 
to the bird.

Good birding
Kathy  Robertson
Hayward, CA