1939. Nov. 17. In the afternoon the Allen Drummer Group went to Lake Merritt and Aquatic Park - Lake Merritt at the Bergola during ducks were not abundant - Canvas backs 100-200; Ruddies 60+; Blue bills a few; Redhead; Also some Pintails and Baldpates. Eared Grebes numerous; Pied billed Grebes 2; Bonaparte's Tulls Ring-bills 100+; At the fresh water pools ducks were much more abundant than I expected for San Carlos. Then at this time of year. But as the hunting season opened on Oct. 22 perhaps they have come in earlier on that account - Pintails, Bald- pates with a few Mallards entirely filled the pen and waited nearby an hour for the feeding. (I passed this spot at 3 p.m. and found it will filled and when we returned at 3:30 they were still waiting.) Pigeons and English Sparrows were reduced in numbers. One egret had an English Sparrow in his beak, holding it as if it were a frog. A man near us told us he saw the egret pick up the bird in the pool. Unfortunately we lost sight of the Egret an instant as it went behind a stake and when it appeared on the other side the bird was gone. A lump on the throat suggested he had swallowed it but we could not be sure. One Brewer Blackbird was a partial albino. Coots were perhaps less abundant than usual. At the Aquatic Park N.R.E. Station, high tide- about 5- Red backed Sandpipers were asleep in a tight bunch - A few least also - Six Killdeer.