Date: 4/21/24 12:10 pm From: Carter Gasiorowski via groups.io <carter.gasiorowski...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Ruddy Turnstone, San Francisquito Creek Mouth
Yesterday. 4-21-24, my dad and I met with Garrett Lau and Susan Weinstein at the San Frisquito Creek Mouth to look for shorebirds with the receding tide. We arrived when the tide was around 5.5 feet, and almost all of the debris around the creek mouth was underwater. Several WHIMBRELS and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were roosting on the Santa Clara side of the creek. For the first hour, we saw almost no birds, so I'd recommend arriving just after the tide recedes to 5 feet. When the tide was around 4.6 feet, a RUDDY TURNSTONE appeared on a piece of debris just across the county line in San Mateo County. A few minutes later it flew into Santa Clara County, landing on a raised bit of mud behind the large brown sign. As the tide dropped below 4.5 feet, flocks of shorebirds began streaming in. Most of the birds here are in San Mateo County, but a small corner is within Santa Clara County (see Adam Burnett's post linked below). We didn't spot any Red Knots mixed n with the hundreds of MARBLED GODWITS, DUNLIN, and other expected birds.
The trail that leads beyond the bench towards the creek mouth is now closed, so it is harder to view the birds without a scope.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
