From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Thu Jul 8 14:38:32 2004 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i68LYLsI009817 for <[[email protected]]>; Thu, 8 Jul 2004 14:34:24 -0700 (PDT) Received: from imo-d23.mx.aol.com (imo-d23.mx.aol.com [205.188.139.137]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i68LW0QC009739 for <[[email protected]]>; Thu, 8 Jul 2004 14:32:01 -0700 (PDT) Received: from [[email protected]] by imo-d23.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v37_r2.6.) id t.37.4a39c90e (3996) for <[[email protected]]>; Thu, 8 Jul 2004 17:32:02 -0400 (EDT) From: [[email protected]] Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 17:32:02 EDT To: [[email protected]] MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: 9.0 for Windows sub 5113 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5b1 Subject: [SBB] Least Terns, Salt Pond A2E X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5b1 Precedence: list List-Id: South Bay Birding List-Unsubscribe: , List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Errors-To: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I had at least seven LEAST TERNS in Salt Pond A2E. Most of the LETE were on the boardwalk that bisects the pond but one or two of the terns joined a small feeding frenzy located much nearer the western dike (and us). All of the LETE that were well seen were adults. Earlier we had a LESSER YELLOWLEGS feeding near GREATER YELLOWLEGS and "peeps" in Crittenden Marsh. Somewhat later we had a pair of alternate plumaged BLACK SKIMMERS (the male larger with a much longer and deeper lower bill than the female) on a small island in the northeastern corner of Salt Pond B1. At the mouth of Stevens Creek we had a single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and a couple BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS in addition to the "usual suspects." (We're in the process of checking out a new tide program so that we can properly time the falling tides. We were way too late this morning). Finally we did a quick check of Salt Pond A4 which was slow and Little Blue Heron-less. While we were at the mouth of Stevens Creek we talk with someone involved with making "all" of the Salt Ponds tidal once again. They are apparently, initially installing various types of tide gates and will most likely eventually remove some portion of the existing dikes. Frank and I saw them working on a large gate along Alviso Slough in the vicinity of Salt Pond A7 (possibly A8) last Thursday and today they were working on the northern edges of Ponds B1 and A2E. I, for one, hope that this changeover occurs over a long time with significant studies to determine the effects that this has on the bird life. Just making the bay "natural" sounds good but it's been this way for a long time and many species seem to depend on the "Ponds." The guy we were talking with was expecting a TV crew today so I assume that we'll soon be hearing more about the process. BTW: A good quality scope and a bit of luck are required to view the Least Terns. Take care, Bob Reiling _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. south-bay-birds mailing list ([[email protected]]) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: http://www.plaidworks.com/mailman/options/south-bay-birds/south-bay-birds-archive%40plaidworks.com This email sent to [[email protected]]