[EBB Sightings] Lake Merritt/Arrowhead Marsh Friday

A Mt. Diablo Audubon Society field trip to Lake Merritt and Arrowhead Marsh 
was quite successful today.  We met at the lake before the high tide and, 
like some others, had a "6 Grebe Day," though the Red-necked Grebe was not 
cooperative, keeping its head tucked the whole time.  We had the female 
Redhead, the male Ring-necked Duck, the Green Heron and a Cooper's Hawk sat 
atop the aviary, but even with ten pairs of eyes, we could not find the 
Tufted Duck.

We knew we had a good tide at the marsh when we saw water covering the low 
spot at the last parking lot entrance.  Like others, we saw many rails and 
other birds.  In the mitigation area we also saw one Burrowing Owl on the 
backside of mound #1, viewed from the paved trail leading out of the 
handicapped parking lot.  From the same spot we also had two Phoebes, one 
Black and one Say's.

We ate our lunch at Garretson Point, where we added Greater Yellowlegs and 
two male Blue-winged Teals.  One male was hiding in the grasses in the pond 
across from the parking entrance, the other was across the entrance to Damon 
Slough.  Finally, a Spotted Sandpiper was along the water's edge across from 
the bathroom, bringing to 73 our species total for the day.

Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek