[SBB] Ruddy Turnstones at State & Spreckles, Alviso

Shortly after one this afternoon Frank Vanslager and I had two breeding plumaged male RUDDY TURNSTONES in the pickleweed in the pond at the intersection of State and Spreckles in Alviso. Unfortunately both birds flew northwest (direction of the Railroad tracks toward the bay) until out of sight shortly after we found them. There were numerous Sandpipers in the pond including at least 103 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, at least one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, several DUNLIN, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Lots of Dowitchers (and a couple Red-necked Phalarope) in the pond south of the entrance road to the Environmental Education Center. Three BARN OWLS were in the tree east of the center (two young standing very close together on a limb some distance above the nest box and a third BAOW was in the nest box). Earlier we had 75 Red-necked Phalarope in the Coyote Creek Field Station Waterbird Pond.