ML646774150

Podrobnosti k pozorování

Found early this morning by Kevin McKerighan - when he reported it, it was at the El Cerrito Creek mouth that more or less represents the Alameda/Contra Costa county line. Found by others midday. I searched for about an hour, and happily refound it about 200 yards south with about 2000 other peeps on the rising tide. Bird spent the entire 45 minutes of observation trying to sleep on a mud berm closest to the open water, mostly joined by Dunlins that were coming and going, but rarely moving or lifting its head except for twice when the rising tide submerged the bar and it had to relocate. Similar to Dunlin and initially hard to pick out, but Rock has a darker "chocolate" color, no clean breast demarcation, is slightly larger and much heavier set, and has a conspicuous chevroned pattern on the flanks - which is how I was able to pick it out of the crowd in the poor light. Only raised its head a couple of times during the hour of viewing, but we were rewarded toward the end with some flight shots showing the pale underwing that cinches the ID as Rock and not Purple. Photos.