[EBB Sightings] Re: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pt Isabel

Tonight around 5:30 I had an all-too-brief view of the bird in Alan's
photos. It was in the flock of restless shorebirds on the flats just east
of the dilapidated pier (ie, across the breakwater and marsh from the
location Alan described last night). After about 30 seconds of distant
observation, the bird flew off by itself in the direction of Point Isabel.

 Good birding,
 Jeff Hoppes
 El Cerrito

> Hi folks,
>    I headed down to Pt. Isabel late afternoon on Saturday in hopes of
> seeing some of the recently reported vagrants.  Struck out on Dusky
> warbler, and didn't remember where the kingbird was seen so missed
> that as well.  However, I did see what I'm pretty sure was a Sharp-
> tailed Sandpiper.  Great views through my scope, but unfortunately
> couldn't digiscope with my camera so you are stuck with these:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/12341100 at N06/sets/72157607396231263/
> The bird had a very bold rusty cap and long bold white eyebrow.  The
> breast was buffy, but only streaked around the throat and near the
> shoulders.  There appeared to be some faint dark streaking on the
> margins of the undertail, although I could not always see this.  The
> bird was with a lot of semi-palm plover and some black turnstones, and
> seemed slightly larger than the plover, and taller but not quite as
> beefy as the turnstones.
> I found this bird approx 6pm at the southern corner of the small bay
> immediately north of the dog-park.  If you are on the bay trail bike
> path, its the first place heading north from the bridge by the port-a-
> potty's where there's a break in the fence and you can cross some
> footpaths to get to the bay.  It was still there as I left, foraging
> at the water's edge.  The tide was low but coming in.