Date: 3/28/24 4:26 pm From: Jim Chiropolos via groups.io <jnc...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Clifton Court Forebay
I arrived at the forebay at 9:40 am and did my usual route biking around the forebay and back- with more time allotted to hopefully find Ethan’s Black Headed Gull. I found Bonaparts gulls, around 80 by Eucalyptus island (2 miles out). One possible candidate, but too far out to verify.By 11 am the gulls had moved too far out in the forebay to get good bin looks (I counted approximately 200 Bonaparts Gulls). Almost all remained way out through 2:30 pm. I concur with Ethan’s recommendation - your best chance is arriving after4 pm as by then the small gulls will hopefully move closer to shore with the added advantage of the sun at your back (morning you are looking into the dun on an already difficult ID).
Clifton is always fascinating however. Today’s bird stars were American pipits, over 100 on the leveethat have mostly molted into breeding colors with grey backs and peachy buff bellies - no streaking - and bright white side tail feathers- they look like a new species! The only obvious recent migrants were three western Kingbirds. It’s been over a week of strong winds from the north creating a migration bottleneck. When the winds shift, it will be a great day to get out!
Today’s highlight was running into a group of scientists from state fish and wildlife. They were monitoring western pond turtle population- the channels on the north side are one of their strongholds in the state. We have always worried the core of engineers would clear vegetation in this area to protect the levees, but the scientists told me this strip is important habitat and protected - good news! I also got to see a tiny turtle they had just caught 1-inch “big” - maybe a month out its shell!
