RE: [SBB] Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Alviso

["Feighner, Mike" <[[email protected]]>]

The juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present this morning on
the levee north of the south-west corner Pond A-16 discovered first by
Dave Weber, seen also by Christine Wolfe, Kathy Parker, and another
birder.  The walk out there from the EEC gave us great views of
tornadoes of insects.  Yes, they really did look like tornadoes.   I
have never seen anything else like this before.  Bob Reilling and Frank
Vanslager were heading out that way as I was leaving.

Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County, working in Sunnyvale,
Santa Clara County


-----Original Message-----
From: south-bay-birds-bounces+mike.feighner=[[email protected]]
[mailto:south-bay-birds-bounces+mike.feighner=[[email protected]]]
On Behalf Of Dean Manley
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 9:00 PM
To: [[email protected]]
Subject: Re: [SBB] Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Alviso

Hi All,

Many thanks to Mike Rogers for his high energy efforts to refind and get
several of us birders on this terrific sandpiper today.  After our
excellent sighting Mike continued on his survey, the other 3 birders (at
least one from Stockton) cut over to the tracks to get back to their
car(s) and I headed for the southwest corner of A16 (after having been
considerably north of the SW corner) with thoughts of lengthy killer
views in my head.  In about 15-20 minutes I refound the juvenile
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and had my killer scope filling views for the
next hour.  This is one drop dead gorgeous sandpiper!

The key to the general southwest corner area of A16 seems to be the
extensive presence of a short reddish plant with tiny yellow-centered
white flowers.  You will notice these reddish plants from a distance, as
you approach, on both sides of the levee. For the entire hour I watched,
the Buff-breasted was foraging in these plants, plucking off insects
that were to small for me to see.  Ocassionally the Buff-breasted would
walk out on the levee road while moving a few feet to a new foraging
location.
Interestingly there were 3 LEAST SANDPIPERs also foraging in these
plants at the top of the levee.  At times one of the Least stayed  very
close to the Buff-breasted while foraging.  That was the most successful
Least forager at that point in time.  I kept thinking that the Least
might be learning from the Buff-breasted but they were probally doing
this before the Buff-breasted arrived. Hopefully the foraging is good
enough to keep this Buff-breasted around for a little while.  At 3:15 a
NORTHERN HARRIER flushed the whole area so I departed.

Dean Manley


_______________________________________________
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/mike.feighner%
40lmco.com

This email sent to [[email protected]]

_______________________________________________
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/list_fred_archives%40plaidworks.org

This email sent to [[email protected]]