[EBB Sightings] Summer Camp birds, June 24-26, 2008

I am posting this message for Brian Fitch.  Questions or comments should 
  be sent directly to Brian at fogeggs at aol.com

This week was rather quiet, possibly because of smoke, and except for 
the continuing Pacific Loon at the Berkeley Marina, and the Northern 
Pintail at Albany, the only notable species was a very early Surfbird , 
also at Albany.  The bird was far out on the mudflats and that behavior 
along with the date left me wondering for awhile.  I've seen Surfbirds 
along the coast in molt from basic to alternate, but never the reverse, 
and the interesting mix of feathers also threw me.  It did not appear to 
be a juvenile, as there was still a lot of golden coloring in the wing, 
and after some minutes of trying to make it into a Great Knot, it flew 
closer with the incoming tide and showed its wing and tail pattern. 
Still, it was my first Surfbird anywhere in June, first on any mudflat, 
and only second for the camp's 12 years of summer birding.
Brian Fitch & Crew

next posting due in mid-July