[EBB Sightings] Hayward Shoreline

Today, I went to Frank's Dump West with Peter Dramer at high tide to check on shorebirds at 5 PM (high tide was at 5:30 PM). I have been there earlier in July 2006, several times and have not seen many shorebirds. Today was different. Many adult shorebirds were seen. This includes a Sanderling, the first Red Knots I have seen this season, a Snowy plover, and many Least Terns.  Some  normal shorebirds were in large numbers - Black-bellied Plovers, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Dowitchers (both species seen earlier in the day), Western Sandpipers, plus Avocets and Stilts. I also saw a few Least Sandpipers, Killder, Semipalmated Plovers, Whimbrel, and Greater Yellowlegs. Phalaropes were seen earlier. But the best bird of the day was a breeding plumage Pacific Golden-Plover. It was in the northern part of the pond, near the trail. It then flew north, over Sulfur Creek and was seen with other shorebirds in areas that were not under water. With this high tide being so low, there were areas of this marsh that were not under water. The high tide on Monday will be later, but I do not know the time.

Earlier in the day, at Winton Ave. the Cooper's Hawk nest had 3 young that fledged probably within a day or so.

Good Birding

Bob