I went to Rosario Head, and Green Point today and had a great time!
I wanted to thank Gary Bletsch for the suggestion. I didnt see anything rare or out of the ordinary but some of the highlights for me were: red-breasted mergansers, all 3 cormorant species!, lots of buffleheads and goldeneyes, surf scoters, red-throated loons, possibly a pacific loon(I may post a pic later to see if anyone can confirm id), red-necked grebe(in breeding plumage), and my day ended with 2 black oystercatchers foraging on green point at sunset! I also saw 3 seals, and one was quite close. I know these are probably regular sightings for everyone else but since I'm new to the area, everything's exciting for me.

QUESTION: there are some species I would really like to seek out, and so any tips would be appreciated. Please remember in new to the area, so i will need directions to any places that don't pop up by name in google maps.
I really want to see alcids. So anywhere that I could see murres, murrelets, auklets or guillemots - I would love to know about.
Also any tips about places to see eiders, white-winged scoters, black scoters, and any other pelagic birds - w/o having to take a boat.
Also where to see turnstones, whimbrels, curlews, godwits, surfbirds, sanderlings, western & least sandpipers and any other spots for migratory shorebirds.
Also are phalaropes ever regularly seen anywhere?
I know this is a very long list, but if you have any tips for spots where I could pick up a few of these I would be very appreciative!
Thank you!

Ashley

(sorry for such a long rambling post!)