[EBB Sightings] Purple Martin @ Berkeley Meadow 10/5/08

This morning 10/5/08 I birded the Berkeley Meadow and adjacent Bay Frontage. Around 10:00 AM at the Berkeley Meadow, I had a female type PURPLE MARTIN circle overhead lazily for a few minutes before disappearing to the South. From a distance, it was uniformly dark above with a smokey throat and chin, and a lighter belly and black tail. At first I thought I had a Tree Swallow or Barn Swallow, but as it flew closer, I had fairly good views of the bird, definitely eliminating the Barn Swallow or others. I focused on the underside looking for the clean transition of the face and sides. The bird came directly overhead and circled slowly several times allowing me to get extended looks that confirmed PURPLE MARTIN.
  The only other noteworthy sightings at the Berkeley Marina were 3 HEERMANN'S GULLS, 3 PELAGIC CORMORANTS on the breakwater, 1 HORNED GREBE, 5 AMERICAN WIGEON in the cove behind the Seabreeze Market, and a flock of 22 BLACK TURNSTONES that flew into the cove and landed. A female BELTED KINGFISHER was also in the marina making a racket heard from the meadow.

Good Birding,

George Chrisman
Burlingame, CA