Birding on the Bay

December 17, 2007 7:56 PM

Bay Area birders and photographers, let's meet at Crissy Field in San Francisco on January 26th for an afternoon of birdwatching and nature photography.

Many migratory shorebirds come to the San Francisco Bay for the winter, making this a good time for birding and photography. There are other things to see too: sailboats, kites, dogs romping in the surf, and maybe the guy who piles up rocks in a most amazing balancing act.

Let's meet at 1 pm at the Crissy Field Center at 603 Mason Street, facing the field across from the tidal marsh. We'll meander towards the Warming Hut (which recently reopened) and thaw out there at 4-ish. Going out to dinner afterwards would be fun, if anybody wants to suggest a venue.

Non-experts are welcome! Bring binoculars as well as camera gear, and field guides are helpful too.

Note: RAIN CANCELS THIS MEETUP. If it rains we'll* try to reschedule another weekend pronto.

*Your hostesses: rtha, gingerbeer, and Quietgal.

posted by Quietgal to MetaFilter Gatherings at 7:56 PM (147 comments total)

Bill Dan?
posted by tellurian at 8:12 PM on December 17, 2007

That's him! I saw him only once but evidently he's something of a regular there. His balancing stones are awesome, more so in person because you know they're not Photoshopped. Thanks for the link, tellurian!
posted by Quietgal at 8:22 PM on December 17, 2007

I haven't seen him the last couple of times we've been there, but maybe we'll be lucky at the meetup!

Y'all know you want to come. You know you do.
posted by rtha at 8:29 PM on December 17, 2007

I'll even make another batch of cookies if you ask nicely.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:41 PM on December 17, 2007

Anyone wanna fly me out? I'm severely lacking in Western birds.
posted by Stewriffic at 8:44 PM on December 17, 2007

heh! I just noticed your user number Quietgal. I don't know if you've ever played bingo but when the number is 22, the caller will say "two little ducks". So your user number is 'two little ducks, oh, two little ducks' (not that bingo numbers go up that high, but you know what I mean).
posted by tellurian at 9:13 PM on December 17, 2007 [1 favorite]

Stewriffic, anytime you make it out here, we'll buy you a beverage, feed you some cookies, and show you some excellent, excellent Western birds. though to be honest I'm pretty crap at passerines. I'm working on it, though.

Please, may we have cookies?
posted by rtha at 9:27 PM on December 17, 2007

Wow, placeholder comment in case I still live here then. I love the boids. Santa owes me binocs. While I'm here, I'd like to recommend the lovely work of this Bay Area birder and flickrer.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:59 PM on December 17, 2007

Whaddya mean in case you still live here then? It's a month from now! And I only just met you!
posted by rtha at 10:04 PM on December 17, 2007

Woohoo! I'll totally be there!
posted by hydrobatidae at 11:07 PM on December 17, 2007

So, say that I own neither binoculars nor a camera, but I do like being outside and am fine with being quiet and not disturbing other people while they fiddle around with binoculars and cameras. Would I be totally in the way, or would it be ok if I joined you? I do like birds, especially the pelicans that hang out over that way.
posted by occhiblu at 11:14 PM on December 17, 2007

I know, rtha, que tragique, non? The meetup was probably the most problematic thing since the general betterness of the Bay Area to happen to my plan to assuage situational depression by returning to Ventura, where I have a better social support system, in short. There's a lot more to that. Family details etc. We were shooting for the end of the year, but it depends on the fella's work, not mine. We drive down there once or twice a month as it is. We'd likely drive up here often too. Even faster, bat outta hell-A. Or fly, actually. Stepdad's gonna teach me how.

Ain't no estuary like a SF estuary cuz the SF estuary don't stop.

sorry to derail!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:32 AM on December 18, 2007

You just think you want to move back to SoCal.

I might make this. I have two (2) pairs of amatuer, narrow-field binocs at about 9x20 or so I'll bring. From experience, my point-and-shoot digitals will be mostly worthless, but I have a Nikon FE-2 with a zoom if anyone wants to feed it film. I also have a decent full-height tripod.
posted by loquacious at 1:06 AM on December 18, 2007

I'm good at passerines! Well, Eastern ones, anyway. Oh well. A trip isn't in the cards for me. Damn money. Anyhoo, if anyone who likes birds comes to the SE (NC specifically), lemme know, and I'll lead a birding trip here. Sigh.
posted by Stewriffic at 4:41 AM on December 18, 2007

hydrobatidae: righteous!

occhiblu: we also have a spare pair of binos you can borrow, and except for when creeping through the underbrush to observe some rare blackthroated greenbacked blahblah, birders are some of the most talktative damn people ever.

loquacious: cool, yeah, bring it all!

Stewriffic: We're taking an ornithology class at City College and are studying warblers right now. I hate them. They are small and yellow and have confusing plumages, plus we see practically none out here, so I get no field reinforcement. Maybe we should come visit you during spring migration and you can teach us warblers for reals.

Ambrosia: dammit! Although, it looks like there's good birding down that way, and that's really all the excuse we need.

One more thing: we might maybe be having a nonmefite among us; our friend is a bird and bee picture-taker, and he has a camera, and he rents giant lenses, and he makes pretty great pictures.
posted by rtha at 5:55 AM on December 18, 2007

Oooooh. Warblers make me so happy! And Vireos! And Kinglets! And buntings! And Flycatchers!!!

There's no better way to learn, imo, than to haul out the Sibley's and first go by yourself to a fab birding site, ID what you can, and then go back with an expert birder and ask LOTS of questions. I'm lucky to live in an area with a pretty hardcore birding community. Went on a Christmas Bird Count just this weekend. Nothing real exciting, though.

I suck at sparrows, just so you know.
posted by Stewriffic at 6:44 AM on December 18, 2007

I'm not a birdwatcher or much of a photographer, but you got me at "dogs romping in the surf." For you see, that is what my dog was put on this Earth to do. It is her calling, and she's very, very good at it. (Her specialty being figure eights at top speed.)

So barring unforeseen circumstances, I will RSVP for my dog +1.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:09 AM on December 18, 2007

I can ID raptors while zooming down the freeway at 70 mph, and I'm pretty decent at ducks, nuthatches, woodpeckers, some shorebirds, and about four sparrows. But my notes from warbler class are full of "Vagrant in CA - usu. fall", and learning birds from slides and books is sure no substitution for seeing them IRL. And I'm just not chasing all over CA for a (possible) glimpse at a vagrant Eastern warbler in juvenile or non-breeding plumage, at a time of year when it's not even singing!

just found out that "raptors" and "raptor" weren't in FF's dictionary! Shocking!
posted by rtha at 8:14 AM on December 18, 2007

And AV, I'm in the same exact boat. For the same exact reasons. So I understand. It's so awfully hard to lose your support system. I'm giving myself six months though, so I know I'll be here for this.

Okay, resume bird chatter. :)
posted by miss lynnster at 8:15 AM on December 18, 2007

I might have to borrow some binos too (since I am a poor ornithology student again which means I want expensive ones but I can't afford them so I mooch off others).

I refuse to id most warblers but I'm good at all the waterbirds. I'm hoping we'll be able to see some of the ducks that are usually way out in the bay.

I might also bring a nonmefite who's good at id'ing by sound which I should really, really learn how to do.
posted by hydrobatidae at 8:30 AM on December 18, 2007

birders: yes!
and photographers: YES!!!
Bay Area : Fuck. No.

Pity.

loq: From experience, my point-and-shoot digitals will be mostly worthless,

Unless you have direct access to a nest or want to shoot pictures of your friends watching birds, P&Ss just don't have the range you need to get the really good shots.

As my friend explained: Bird Photography: 200mm = OK. 300mm = good. 400mm = Now your getting it. 600mm = what, are you made of money? 1200mm = great, if you have a 2 man team to lug that $50,000 bastard around.
posted by quin at 8:37 AM on December 18, 2007

We've got a spotting scope, and we'll certainly bring that. It's not a $Zillion Swarovski - and my binos are Eagle Optics house brand, though I lust after the $slightlylessthanzillion Swarovski binos - but it gets the job done.

Our nonmefite photography friend often rents lenses that are so big they require shoulder mounts, like they're some sort of RPG launcher. It's cool.
posted by rtha at 8:47 AM on December 18, 2007

Hrm. I've been thinking of getting a digital SLR anyway. Off to AskMe!
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 8:52 AM on December 18, 2007

The thread is up at AskMe if anyone else is in the same position I am, which is to say interested but under-equipped.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 9:00 AM on December 18, 2007

This is an awesome idea. I want a Seattle area one too. Someone who knows more about birds than I do should decide where to go, though.
posted by librarina at 9:04 AM on December 18, 2007

Can I just say that I'm so very jealous? I wish that someone would organize something like this for the NY area! (Not me, that is; I'm too much of a birding newb to know anything like where the good places are, what the good times are, or what most of the birds are.)
posted by Godbert at 9:42 AM on December 18, 2007

While we would love you ALL to come to San Fran and see our lovely birds here, and go on this walk, if you're interested in this kind of activity and don't live here, it may be worth checking out your local Audubon chapter. Most of them sponsor regular bird walks, and it's a good way to get to know your local birding sites and meet helpful birders.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:54 AM on December 18, 2007

Oh yeah, and anyone who lives in Central NC can contact me and I'll go birding with ya! We can see the Red Cockaded Woodpecker while it's still around!
posted by Stewriffic at 10:24 AM on December 18, 2007

And if any of you other California mefite birders want to know where to go to see what, check out this list, which gathers all the posts made to the various yahoo bird lists for the state. Good times, I tell ya, good times.

Yahoo probably hosts similar lists for other states.
posted by rtha at 11:21 AM on December 18, 2007

I have to fess up to being a n00b at both birding and photoggerating, which is why I've posted this meetup. So I can learn from you guys!

Anyway, us n00bs can hang together for moral support while the hardcore types get their geek on.

If somebody can show me how to use my damn camera properly I will be forever grateful, will compose paeans to your awesomeness, and will buy you a beer. Any takers?
posted by Quietgal at 11:44 AM on December 18, 2007

I don't know anything about birds, but will happily hang out with the romping-in-the-surf crowd. Let's hope Crosbie gets along with miss lynnster's dachshund. He's a compact forty pounds, so his figure-eights aren't as tiny as hers, but he can make himself pretty aerodynamic when he slicks his ears back.
posted by tangerine at 12:38 PM on December 18, 2007

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but is romping in the surf allowed yet? I know Point Isabel across the bay is still taped off. The waterfowl appear to be happy to have the shore to themselves, so it might be fine for the bird watchers, but I'd check it out before hand if you don't want some very disappointed dogs.
posted by team lowkey at 2:16 PM on December 18, 2007

How can I resist boids and cookies?

Posted to Upcoming for those who have inadequate mental calendars like me.
posted by junesix at 2:19 PM on December 18, 2007

Well, according to this, the beach is open and the hotline [phone]) indicates that Rodeo Beach is the only one still closed to the public. That being said, since they were saying back in November that there's a chance of re-oiling due to winds and tides, it would make sense to check just prior to the meetup. Or they may just barricade the beach again.
posted by ooga_booga at 3:03 PM on December 18, 2007

I had read during in recent announcements (when they said fishing was okay again) that they still discouraged dogs on the beach, since it was stressful for the recovering wildlife. And though Point Isabel dog park is open, they still don't allow dogs in the water. So an open beach might not necessarily mean open to dogs. But I just noticed that this isn't until Jan. 26th. I'm sure things will be fine by then, but of course it's best to check beforehand.
posted by team lowkey at 3:48 PM on December 18, 2007

Ah, my mistake. Not having a dog, I was unaware of the distinction between the beach being open and having it be dog-romp friendly.
posted by ooga_booga at 4:19 PM on December 18, 2007

Well, first off, Tangerine don't worry... Zoe *loves* bigger dogs. She's only 15 pounds but has been known to frolick happily with 200 pound mastiffs. She thinks she's a great dane. It's pretty funny to watch, actually. She needs a ladder just to sniff their butts. :)

As for the surf, my dog doesn't actually go in the water much (which I'm glad of, last thing I want is to watch a big wave take the little thing out). She's more of a "running spazzy figure eights on the sand" girl. But I take her to Fort Funston regularly and although the spill closed it up a few times it's totally open now. If Chrissy Field isn't already open, I'd imagine it would be fine in a month. That's a ways from now.
posted by miss lynnster at 4:33 PM on December 18, 2007

I hope I can make it. I actually walked by Frjtz on Friday and looked in the window, but it was after 36 hours of straight codeing, and the small tables, white furniture and loud music were a vision from hell.

I really want to meet some SF mefites. Is there a position open for a bird-watcher watcher?
posted by Dr. Curare at 1:45 AM on December 19, 2007

Yes, you can watch the watchers, but you should probably bring your own field guide and binoculars, and remember to not get TOO close, else we all fly somewhere else. We're an excitable bunch, easily startled by fedoras and sudden movements.
posted by gingerbeer at 7:42 AM on December 19, 2007

That's too bad. My dog regularly sports pinstripes and a fedora. She has, in fact, approached (hundreds?) of men and women on city streets and tried to kiss them on the face, but 99% were grinning a mile-wide even if they said "No."
posted by miss lynnster at 9:02 AM on December 19, 2007 [2 favorites]

Bird/photo nuts, please to visit the site of the nonmefite photo friend who will be joining us. He's a nice fellow who loves to photograph birds and bees. He's happy to talk cameras and technique and stuff.
posted by rtha at 2:53 PM on December 19, 2007

Hmm, I think I'll come early and let me dog run around for a while, then leave her in the car to snooze for the bird watching part. Sasha + chasing birds = irritated bird watchers.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:53 AM on December 20, 2007

My dog doesn't like to chase birds. She does, however, enjoy chasing dogs that are chasing birds (or balls... or sticks... or frisbees... or other dogs).
posted by miss lynnster at 11:50 AM on December 20, 2007

Perhaps the dog + bot will join you. Jenn works for the Audubon society now so I suppose by association she is interested in birds.
posted by iamabot at 9:56 AM on December 21, 2007

I'm gonna show up to chase the dogs.

We have an S3 IS. Are we scr0d for picture-taking?
posted by scrump at 8:05 PM on December 24, 2007

I'll be there to photograph scrump chasing dogs chasing birds. And then I'll post the pictures here. It's so meta!
posted by iamkimiam at 10:16 AM on December 26, 2007

FYI, free birding festival held on Mare Island, February 1-3, 2008.
More info at: www.sfbayflywayfestival.com
posted by iamkimiam at 10:36 AM on January 8, 2008

I will bring Neska, my 120-lb Great Pyrenees, who is a pretty chill dog. But she enjoys playing in the surf.
posted by vacapinta at 9:39 PM on January 13, 2008

Vacapinta! I owe you a response to a friendly and helpful note you sent me last year answering my question about dogs in bars. (No excuses; it arrived while I was out of town for a week and when I got back it just...slipped.) By way of apology I'll bring an extra treat for Neska.
posted by tangerine at 2:58 PM on January 20, 2008

I am in town then, bizarrely enough, and I think I will be there.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:08 PM on January 21, 2008 [1 favorite]

Hey, right on! What brings you to SF?

The weather all this week is looking to be crappy, though it seems it may break by Saturday. I think that heavy rain should cancel, but not drizzle. Birds don't care about drizzle, and neither do dogs.

And drizzle will make us all the much happier to go have Irish coffees or something afterwards.
posted by rtha at 9:54 PM on January 21, 2008

Hey, right on! What brings you to SF?

I'm on the steering committee for these guys and we have a once-a-year meeting on Thursday, then I've got a few more days to noodle around before I head home.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:20 AM on January 22, 2008

Cool.

Let us know if you need a lift to Crissy Field - it's not the most public-transportation-friendly spot. We have room on our car for one more - or two, if you're both kinda small and don't mind smushing.

QuietGal, you're still riding with us, yeah?
posted by rtha at 6:50 AM on January 22, 2008

Let us know if you need a lift to Crissy Field

Thanks. I probably will. Once I sort out where I'll be. MeFiMail me a phone number?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:54 AM on January 22, 2008

I'll make it if I can get my car fixed in the meantime. Meeting Jessamyn adds more incentive to find the time to get to the mechanic.
posted by special-k at 5:21 PM on January 22, 2008

I'm a sucker for dogs romping anywhere, and I might still be the area on January 26th. Can I still (possibly) tag along?
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:21 PM on January 22, 2008

Hey, a chance to watch jessamyn watching people watching dogs watching birds! And a chance to carpool to same! (Yes, rtha, I'd like to ride with you.)

Let's hope the weather cooperates this weekend. I think a light drizzle would be OK, and so far the forecast looks good.

*crosses fingers, squints at sky*
posted by Quietgal at 8:23 PM on January 22, 2008

Can I still (possibly) tag along?

Hell yeah!
posted by rtha at 11:08 PM on January 22, 2008

Is there an emergency backup plan in case the sky decides to open up just as I'm passing through the toll plaza?
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 8:08 AM on January 23, 2008

Is there an emergency backup plan in case the sky decides to open up just as I'm passing through the toll plaza?

Yes! I'm up for doing something even if it's pouring rain. I'm at 508-415-9074. If the weather looks really crappy, let's plan something else.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:57 PM on January 23, 2008

I did, however, pack my binoculars.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:57 PM on January 23, 2008

So here's a half-assed backup plan proposal: if it's clear in the morning, but starts to rain (really, truly rain) while you're on route to the Crissy Field center, just keep on keepin' on. My fellow co-hostesses and I will be there, and at the least we can have a cuppa in the little cafe there and make an alternate plan.

If it's not raining at all, and we go birding/dog-splashing/strolling as planned, we can figure out where to go after for warming (alcoholic) drinks and snacks. If we still all like each other.

Drop me a mefimail if you want my cellphone #, and feel free to call on Saturday for updates or where-are-you-guys? and whatnot.

If anybody already has good ideas about a place to have post-walk warming beverages, do chime in.

Oh - and we'll bring a couple pairs of extra binos, if people don't have their own. (good on ya, jessamyn!)
posted by rtha at 6:20 PM on January 23, 2008

Sounds like a great backup plan to me. Personally, I love going for walks in the rain, so I'm hoping for a meetup rain or shine.

As a possible alternate plan in case of pouring rain, the Exploratorium isn't too far from Crissy Field. Although it will probably be crowded on a rainy weekend, it's a blast (and warm and dry). Just a thought.
posted by Quietgal at 8:51 PM on January 24, 2008

Okay. It's looking more and more like any backup plan will have to be the real plan, because the weather forecast has gone from "Eh, it might rain a little - what, you're made of sugar?" to "Big storm! Gulf of Alaska! Wind will be windy, rainrainrainsweetrain!"

So, rather than everyone either bagging it entirely or heading to Crissy despite the dubious forecast I think we should try to figure out somewhere else to meetup. Somewhere warm and dry and with beer and snacks and not too many people. Because jessamyn's in town, and we should show her how fun we are, and also because I was looking forward to seeing alla y'all.

Anyone's thoughts on this?
posted by rtha at 5:58 AM on January 25, 2008

I'm not really up on SF pubbery, but I've been to the 21st Amendment a couple times and it seems pretty good. Not sure about the "not too many people" aspect, though.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 6:54 AM on January 25, 2008

The forecast says:

Tomorrow: A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 53F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.

We're cancelling a bird watching meetup because of *showers*?
posted by jasper411 at 9:45 AM on January 25, 2008

All the smart birds will be inside, where it's warm and there's beer.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:07 AM on January 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

Yeah, y'know, I spent 10 hours doing a Christmas Bird Count in the Headlands on a "showery" day, and it was heinous, visibility was terrible, and birds, when I found them, were very hard to ID because of the water on my bino lenses. And the forecast I saw (on sfgate) says Rain. Highs in the mid 50s. Southeast winds 15 to 30 mph. And the NWS says Rain - 90%. Bleh.

So how's this, y'all: if it's Not Raining, Crissy Field as planned. If it is Raining (and it will be), then...21st Amendment? It's a longish walk from Montgomery BART, or not quite as long from the 2nd and King MUNI stop (at the baseball park). Or somewhere Mission-y, which is reliably BART-able.

Continue to send me mefimails if you want my cellphone #, and we can do on-the-go updates or something tomorrow as well.
posted by rtha at 11:26 AM on January 25, 2008

I was looking forward to this but I think the rain may keep me away. Any possibility of a reschedule, regardless of whether people decide to meet anyways (at 21st Amendment or elsewhere)?
posted by vacapinta at 11:31 AM on January 25, 2008

Oh my GOD is it wet here. I'm in the Mission, so a place local to here would be super for me but I'm holding out hope that somehow it will be birding weather. I have rtha's cell so as long as she knows where we're going, I can go there too.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:10 PM on January 25, 2008

I go to the 21st every Friday with a group of co-workers, so they kind of know me, and I'll be going there about an hour from now. I can see if they'll make arrangements to reserve some space upstairs for a large group, if that's what you guys want to do. Still looking for around 1PM?
posted by team lowkey at 12:23 PM on January 25, 2008

I'll be seeing you, in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces all day through. In that small cafe, the park across the way, the children's carousel (ZOMG SJ meetup. crazy.), the chestnut trees, the wishing well!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:43 PM on January 25, 2008

Why don't we all just go to a cool old movie instead, it'll be dry and warm in the theater!

Here's your invite.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:07 PM on January 25, 2008

Movie starts at 7 by the way, so it could be an after-drink thing for people too.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:08 PM on January 25, 2008

team lowkey, you're the most excellent of excellent folk. Yes, around 1pm.

Okay, so let's make this all official-like: 21st Amendment. 1 pm. unless team lowkey posts back and says that 21st amendment is all "NO!", in which case we'll make other arrangements.

For those of you BARTing: You can get of at Montgomery st. and head East on 2nd st - it's a longish walk. Or, get off at Embarcadero; follow the signs to the MUNI part of the station and take any train heading to Mission Bay or Cal Train. Get off at 2nd and King and walk down 2nd st. Here's a map.

If anybody still doesn't have my cell but wants it, mefimail me.

jessamyn and Quietgal: gingerbeer and I may drive - haven't decided yet, or even talked about it - but if we do, and y'all want a lift, we will leave word here, and memail you, and probably call you too.

And yes, I want to reschedule the birding portion of this meetup, because two of my favorite things (birds, mefites) in one place? Awesome.
posted by rtha at 1:33 PM on January 25, 2008

Cool. I'm in the Mission at 17th & Guerrero more or less. I can easily BART if no one is driving and maybe my shoes will dry out by then.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:37 PM on January 25, 2008

A meetup? Half a mile from my house?

How could I say no?
posted by aubilenon at 2:07 PM on January 25, 2008

I'll likely go, likely drive from the Castro. Email me at MeFi or profile email for cell phone number.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 2:28 PM on January 25, 2008

Well, the folks at 21st said they have some motocross group has booked the upstairs space, so they aren't taking any reservations. We can still go, and it will probably be fine, but 1PM is the worst possible time. People start packing in at 12 and they are fairly full until 2. So they said if we show up between 12:00-12:30, or after 2:00, there shouldn't be any problem, but if we show up at 1:00, we just have to take our chances with the crowd.
posted by team lowkey at 3:25 PM on January 25, 2008

Everyone who can give me a ride seemed like they were running late anyhow. Maybe two is better. My shoes should be dry by then.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:33 PM on January 25, 2008

Alrighty. Let's say 2pm, then.

I've been reading their beer list and it's making me .....mmmmm......beeeeeeeer...
posted by rtha at 4:01 PM on January 25, 2008

I was really looking forward to the birding and picnic-like activities. Not sure what boy and I are up to now, but we may end up at 21st amendment. If they still had their chef that made those shoestring sweet potato fries it'd be cinched, but unfortunately that dude set the bar pretty high.
posted by iamkimiam at 6:14 PM on January 25, 2008

I hate to even bring this up or point this out, but the forecasts are now (or again) calling for occasional rain/showers tomorrow. The weather report on the 6 o'clock news has the rain moving to the North Bay by noon, and non-rainy to the south (which apparently definitely includes San Mateo, but may or may not include San Francisco.

I'm nervous about (re:)proposing Crissy Field at 1pm if it's not raining, and 21st Amendment at 2pm if it is raining. Thoughts? Votes? Consensus?
posted by rtha at 7:08 PM on January 25, 2008

Luverly.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:38 PM on January 25, 2008

If it's raining, I'll definitely be at 21st Amendment. If not, Crissy Field would be a maybe. But I'm just a Johnny-come-lately from the south bay, so don't let my words sway anything.
posted by zsazsa at 8:35 PM on January 25, 2008

Sounds good to me: no rain = Crissy at 1, rain = 21st at 2.

Who's on first?
posted by Quietgal at 8:55 PM on January 25, 2008

Our entire homestead has the death flu. Me, raar, miniscrump, both cats, etc.

GOD DAMN IT.

We'd come, but we're definitely infectious, and that kind of sharing just isn't good.

*sigh*
posted by scrump at 9:49 PM on January 25, 2008

Good morning!

Hey! Look! IT"S NOT RAINING! In fact, the sunrise was pretty damn pretty.

Since it's NOT RAINING, I think we're meeting at Crissy at 1pm, right? (Except scrump - sorry you're sick!).

jessamyn and Quietgal - I'll call you both later this morning, around 11, to make pick-up plans.

Birds first, then beer.
posted by rtha at 7:29 AM on January 26, 2008

Yay! Cloud cover is continuous but high, which suggests no rain (if I remember my amateur meteorology). I'm keeping my fingers crossed anyway.

scrump, dude, I plowed through A Game of Thrones just so I could discuss it with you at this meetup, and you go and get the flu instead! Dude!
posted by Quietgal at 9:50 AM on January 26, 2008

jessamyn and Quietgal - I'll call you both later this morning, around 11, to make pick-up plans.

Operators are standing by.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:07 AM on January 26, 2008

I hate birds. Where are you going afterwards, and when?
posted by aubilenon at 10:40 AM on January 26, 2008

Hates...birds...

I'm not sure I understand these words when they are together like that in a sentence. Anyway, don't you like walking? On or near the beach? With mefites? You can pretend there aren't any birds!

I dunno what we're doing after, or where. I suppose 21st amend. is still possible.

Someone on this Crissy Field thing will surely have a blackberry or iphone or something like that, and will post the post-birding location (if there is one) when we figure it out, unless it gets figured out here in the next hour or so.

I'm mefimailing you my cellphone #, aubilenon, so call me later if you want.
posted by rtha at 11:11 AM on January 26, 2008

So how about 21st Amendment at 3:30 pm, then, for the bird haterz (you know who you are). We'll meet you there!
posted by gingerbeer at 11:22 AM on January 26, 2008

Oh, and if we get totally rained out, we'll just head there when it gets too wet for the binos and cameras and birds. So if it's pouring by 2 pm, and you're in need of a drink, head to 21st Amendment. We'll be the really damp folks with binoculars and cameras hanging around our necks.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:23 AM on January 26, 2008

What gingerbeer said.
posted by rtha at 11:33 AM on January 26, 2008

You can call/SMS me for updates on our exact location (phone # upstream someplace) and be amused by my lack of knowledge on where anything is. I feel confident giving my phone number out because it doesn't work at all when I am at home in Vermont.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:08 PM on January 26, 2008

So we are still at Chrissy Field, testing our ability to walk and talk at the same time. Our ETA is probably closer to 4 pm.
posted by gingerbeer at 3:17 PM on January 26, 2008

Well, I'm here, and rumor has it that everyone else will be coming in like 10 minutes. I'm by the host station with my laptop, if anyone is lurking.
posted by team lowkey at 4:17 PM on January 26, 2008

Well, I suck... I really wanted to go to Chrissy Field and the movie night, but I didn't make it to either due to a lost dog crisis. Hope you all had fun! I'll make it to the next one...
posted by doubtful_guest at 7:59 PM on January 26, 2008

Aw, hope you found the dog.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 8:04 PM on January 26, 2008

I hope you found your dog as well! I took a few photos, not many of the actual beer-drinking part of the meetup, but I did get a good one of the hummingbird.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:27 PM on January 26, 2008

Back home, damp, slightly tipsy, and very happy from a lovely (long!) meet-up. Wonderful to see/meet you all, and hang out, and see birds and drink beer and everything. Awesome to meet and hang out with jessamyn. (hey, cortex! it's your turn to show up at the next SFBayArea meet-up!)

Photos tomorrow.
posted by rtha at 10:32 PM on January 26, 2008

I'm sorry I missed it. I really wanted to come, and was planning to, but I woke up sick and ... almost made it but finally decided I just couldn't deal with heading across the Bay. Can't wait to see the pictures, though!
posted by salvia at 10:56 PM on January 26, 2008

That sure was a blast! Here are some pictures.
posted by aubilenon at 1:43 AM on January 27, 2008

Much fun. Good to meet people and chat and find out what a hummingbird sounds like.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 6:53 AM on January 27, 2008

Well, phooey - none of my photos came out well enough to justify setting up a Flickr account. But it was great to see some of you again and meet others for the first time!

I hope y'all are up for some future birds + cameras + beer meetups, because this is a recipe for excellence.
posted by Quietgal at 11:14 AM on January 27, 2008

contraption put up my first and dorkiest looking shout-out picture ever.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:36 AM on January 27, 2008

good times had by all!

occhiblu if you decide to come back, you'll be welcome, harvard comma and all
posted by jewishbuddha at 12:04 PM on January 27, 2008

Well, I'm glad I made it. Fun to finally meet you, jessamyn.

If you guys want, we can reschedule and see DOA at the film festival on Thursday. Should I make up another fancy shmancy evite? One that will hopefully work better than the last one since even I didn't go? :)

P.S. -- Here's why decrepit John Fogerty, he of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame, is my own personal hasbeen rocker-dude arch-nemesis. (Everyone should have one.)
posted by miss lynnster at 12:15 PM on January 27, 2008

How/why did I miss this?
posted by sambosambo at 12:48 PM on January 27, 2008

sambosambo, because you have not yet had me chipped. Twitter ain't enough. You can have me chipped if you want. I won't need the cone.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:34 PM on January 27, 2008

Photos are up. Gingerbeer took the ones in the bar; I took the outdoor ones. We're an awfully nice, and nice-looking bunch.

Feel free to add tags and notes - I'm feeling lazy, and it may take me a bit to get around to it!
posted by rtha at 1:39 PM on January 27, 2008

Terrific meeting all you guys! What a wonderful break from the rain!
posted by jasper411 at 1:58 PM on January 27, 2008

I completely forgot to ask y'all this when we were together yesterday, but two things: we're looking for a housemate, so if anybody here is looking for somewhere to live, or knows someone (sane, nice, employed) who is, drop me or gingerbeer a mefimail. Also, we have Giants season tickets, and still have a couple of share available - mefimail one of us if you're interested.
posted by rtha at 3:06 PM on January 27, 2008

Yay! That's two of the mods in as many SF meetups. Despite my all-too-brief appearance, I had fun seeing/meeting all of you folks.
posted by ooga_booga at 4:38 PM on January 27, 2008

chipped? man... so out of the loop.
posted by sambosambo at 5:05 PM on January 27, 2008

...AND THERE WAS A PUPPY TOO?!?!?!

Aw, now I know how scrump feels about the LAST meetup...
posted by sambosambo at 5:15 PM on January 27, 2008

Sambosambo, that's how my dog felt too when he found out what he'd missed. Foolishly, I left him at home. I shouldn't have.

All of you scaups and baffleheads are wonderful company, and I'm still grinning in disbelief that the rain let up for just long enough.
posted by tangerine at 6:26 PM on January 27, 2008

Tangerine, I think you meant "scamps" and "bubbleheads", no?
posted by Quietgal at 6:55 PM on January 27, 2008

I have to stand by scaups, though whether greater or lesser I can't say; but I do have to stand corrected on buffleheads. Except ew! Why would I step on a duck?

Upon reflection, scamps and bubbleheads works fine. Might as well stick with that.
posted by tangerine at 7:42 PM on January 27, 2008

That was a whole lot of fun! Even though I'm a bird disliker (I like hummingbirds, though), I'm sorta sad I missed Crissy Field. We were hard at work on the Flying Spaghetti Monsters, though! Anyway, I finally cleaned my scanner and scanned my pictures! Enjoy.
posted by zsazsa at 8:22 PM on January 27, 2008

The flying spaghetti monsters were awesome. I am not, however, disappointed that I didn't consume one. I've already got plenty of internal demons. Didn't need yet another made out of ramen and marshmallows and gel caps.

Good to meet you all.

*waves to the people at the other end of the table, who were never officially met*
posted by mudpuppie at 8:40 PM on January 27, 2008

The flying spaghetti monsters were awesome.

Indeed. Also, delicious.
posted by rtha at 9:25 PM on January 27, 2008

Wow, I look SO tired and pissy in rtha's photo! Daaaang!
posted by miss lynnster at 10:46 PM on January 27, 2008

I can tell you're glowing. Beatific.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:01 PM on January 27, 2008

And , it's superstitious, but thanks for lucky favorite today.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:05 PM on January 27, 2008

Any time!
posted by miss lynnster at 11:13 PM on January 27, 2008

It was great to see again those of you I'd met before, and to meet a few new folks. Even a few non-Mefites (unless they've signed up in the last day)! The combination of outdoor walking and birds and indoor beer and flying spaghettii monsters was perfect, as far as I was concerned. Sorry jessamyn broke your camera, zsazsa. I still like your streaky abstract photos the best.

I'm definitely expecting cortex for our next meet up.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:07 AM on January 28, 2008

Psst! rtha and gingerbeer are in the cabal - that's how they get the mods to come to their meetups. But don't tell anyone I blew their cover!
posted by Quietgal at 8:17 AM on January 28, 2008

Yeah. I gotta get Mrs. zsazsa to sign up.
posted by zsazsa at 8:32 AM on January 28, 2008

I'm definitely expecting cortex for our next meet up.

Yeah, we had mathowie and Adam Savage at the last one, jessamyn and Erin Esurance at this one. I'm curious to know what celebrity pairing we'll get with cortex!
posted by sambosambo at 9:19 AM on January 28, 2008

That's who she is! The cartoon insurance girl! I was trying to talk about her!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:06 AM on January 28, 2008

Memories are short, apparently. You know, we had a cortically enhanced meetup about a year ago, via special arrangement.
posted by tangerine at 11:38 AM on January 28, 2008

Memories are short, apparently.

Oh wow. I was so brand-n00b shiny that I'm not even sure I knew that Metatalk existed. And I would've been too shy to come to that meetup.

So, cortex! Come back to us! Come back to the city by the bay!
posted by rtha at 12:34 PM on January 28, 2008

I vote for cortex visiting!
posted by aubilenon at 2:44 PM on January 28, 2008

You know, we had a cortically enhanced meetup about a year ago, via special arrangement.

The meetup cortex attended was not in San Francisco. It was on the peninsula. The peninsula, though not entirely without merit, is where people go to work. The city is where we go to play. [Not PENINSULIST. Ok... just a little. Fine. A lot.]

The mod meetup trifecta is not complete until cortex joins us for drinking and merriment within the confines of our self-absorbed, overpriced, provincial, little plot of 49 sq miles.
posted by jewishbuddha at 3:17 PM on January 28, 2008

Yeah. I gotta get Mrs. zsazsa to sign up.

Please do, she was great fun.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:20 PM on January 28, 2008

I am so sad I missed this. Though I did see about 50 buffleheads a couple of weeks ago.
posted by Stewriffic at 3:38 PM on January 28, 2008

[Not PENINSULIST. Ok... just a little. Fine. A lot.]

Yeah, okay, fine. I live in a suburban Hell. Just rub it in whydontcha.

*Sob*
posted by miss lynnster at 7:28 PM on January 28, 2008

penis linguist what? *rubs eyes*
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:50 AM on January 29, 2008

[Not PENINSULIST. Ok... just a little. Fine. A lot.]

Hey, screw you, buddy. Not only have we imported cortex, we also rode a god damned carousel and looked at skinned naked people. It's not our fault you couldn't be arsed to drive down here.

We may be a suburban wasteland, but, dammit, we know how to throw a pretty good party.
posted by scrump at 5:40 PM on February 1, 2008

It's not our fault you couldn't be arsed to drive down here.

Haven't got a car. No need for one here...
posted by jewishbuddha at 12:23 AM on February 4, 2008

I don't think threads older than 30 days (like this meet-up thread) show up in the "Recent comments" tab. I'm pretty sure this was fixed for the individual "Recent Activity" page, but not the global view.
posted by team lowkey at 12:03 PM on February 18, 2008

oh thanks for pointing that out, we should fix that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:06 PM on February 18, 2008

Yeah, confirmed. So... you know, if anyone wanted to sail the longest of longboats, there's still a little bit of under-the-radar there.
posted by team lowkey at 12:09 PM on February 18, 2008

No rush ;)
posted by team lowkey at 12:12 PM on February 18, 2008

fixed!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:49 PM on February 18, 2008