Friday, November 10, 2006

Conference and Wharfs … Tuesday October 24


Brown Pelicans, originally uploaded by J Semenza.

We got up early so we could go look for birds before the conference started. First was the Commercial Wharf. This was so fish stinky that we had to hold our noses as we rounded the end. We did see a few more birds:

  • California Gulls
  • Willet
  • Heerman's Gulls
  • Pacific Loons
  • Common Murre
  • Brown Pelicans
  • Rock Doves
  • American Crows
  • Pigeon Guillemot

And a Sea Otter

We got breakfast at the bright yellow bistro on the wharf. This bistro was my lifesaver a few years back when I had that keys & bay incident. It was still too early to get to the conference so we headed for the coast guard pier, where we saw more birds and to add to the stink, pikes of really, REALLY, stinky sea lions. One black turnstone was walking along the edge of the pier wall. He was really brave and bold and we got to see him up close.

  • Brewer's Blackbirds
  • American Crows
  • Brandt's Cormorants
  • Black Turnstones
  • Great Egrets



Sea Lions, originally uploaded by J Semenza.

Finally, we went over to the conference center for homework and workshops. “Back to the Convention Center for a day of classes and homework. Jenny and I decided this day to eat close by to the Convention center because of a short lunch time. We walked much farther than we expected and found a tiny Mediterranean diner serving the best vegetarian lentil soup.” –Melinda.

Much later we had dinner at this amazing Mexican restaurant, then drove to and walked through El Estero Park to see a few more birds. Melinda has a great picture of a goose on the water with a beautiful wake trailing after.

  • Double-crested Cormorants
  • American Coots
  • Canada Geese
  • Mallards
  • Pied-Billed Grebes

Back at the Hilton for more homework for Melinda: I watched television, played computer
games and basically rested and slept. It was fabulous.

After later
Jenny

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