This Shit Is Still Fun (Boobywatching)

I spent a good chunk of time on Eastern today.  It's always nice going over to Boobyland.  I get pretty jumpy over there every time we flush birds, because I'm always sure the next vagrant will present itself.  Nothing of the sort happened today.  But the surf was epic, extreme, and gnarly.  There were massive barrels breaking on the reef, which is probably a few miles away.  The bird counters finished counting today.  The results are in.  There are Hella birds.  Now, most of them are leaving tonight and returning to lives where they don't have to count an endless mass of Albatross forever.  

The splendor that is the Red-footed Booby at sunrise.

Massive barrels.  So epic.

Spent 

The City Of Richmond Is A Nice Neighborhood

Felonious and I took a trip around the Bay yesterday, starting at Lake Merrit and ending at Point Pinole.  We saw 90 species.  At the beginning of the day, I guessed that we would see 90 species.  This is the third time I have guessed correctly in the last 2 or 3 weeks.  I have the gift.  Felonious now owes me a drink.  I finally bought my Midway ticket. Less than 24 hrs in advance.  Which was stupid.  I am leaving at 9:00AM tomorrow. Very nervous.  Feeling like I forgot a hundred things.  Anyhow, if any of you are reading this and are in San Francisco and would like to give me a huge send-off...I am about to start drinking in the Mission.  It will be grand.  Here are two highlights from yesterday.

A young Black-crowned Night Heron scowling at the passersby, Lake Merritt.

Female Common Goldeneye, Lake Merritt.  Somehow, we missed the Tufted Duck that is supposed to be lurking about.  LIP.

To-Do List Day

I gots a ton of stuff to do today.  So much Business to TCO.  Yesterday was cool.  I birded my persy fave Calaveras birding spot, Salt Springs Valley.  Didn't have a lot, but I did see Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Lewis's Woodpecker, and Mountain Bluebird (My first for Calaveras County).  Now I've got to go hit the DMV.  Should be epic.  

This Shrike was nice enough to give me a nice close-up.

Ferruginous Hawk.  Screaming at me.