Restored Richmond marsh is a haven for all kinds of birds, from rare ducks to hovering kites

"There, a 30-year Oakland birder named Clayton Anderson, the youth program manager for Golden Gate Bird Alliance, started with a short history lesson, his enthusiasm palpable as he shared how in the 1950s the park's namesake, the Rev. Richard Dotson, was among the first settlers of nearby Parchester Village. The village was close enough for his son Whitney to hop the train tracks to fish, swim, and search for frogs in the marsh. The Dotsons loved the open space so much that when developers eyed it in the 1970s, piles of cash in hand, the family led an effort to preserve it for future generations."

"Anderson occasionally paused mid-sentence, whenever a fowl caught his well-trained eye, smoothly grabbing his binoculars from around his neck and peering toward the horizon. He revealed an uncanny ability to spot the tiniest winged avian critter - whether it be a speck in the sky, water or a bush - and promptly name it. "That's a kite," Anderson said, pointing to a small black bird having a bit of a stand-off with a larger bird in the sky above a tall tree, "having a little conversation with a crow. The kite can fly circles around him. He kinda laughs and says, 'No big deal.' " The group of about six birders in Anderson's group chimed in, noting the kite's multi-directional flying skills. The bird of prey can hover like a helicopter and switch directions vertically or horizontally with ease. "It's basically a cat with wings," Anderson explained. "They eat mice continually.""

Heavy rains and flood warnings did not stop a record turnout for the annual Christmas Bird Count, with volunteers trekking miles to record species. About a dozen participants gathered at Dotson Family Marsh at 8 a.m., equipped with cameras, binoculars and field guides. Clayton Anderson, a 30-year Oakland birder and youth program manager for Golden Gate Bird Alliance, connected local history to the marsh's conservation, recounting the Dotson family's role in preserving the open space. Anderson repeatedly demonstrated exceptional spotting and identification skills, identifying a kite and describing its agile flight and hunting behavior.

Read at The Oaklandside