Birding Around the Bay and Beyond

Morro Creek - Cannot think of a better way to celebrate the first Monday in October than to go birding.  The weather was warmish and crystal clear.  In other words a perfect beach day.  Due to human and dog activity birds were scarce in Morro creek.

Up Morro Creek a tad, were six Red-necked Phalarope (below), a lone female Northern Shoveler, and a "daggle" of Mallards.  On occasion a male Mallard will mate with Shovelers, Teal, Wigeon and Gadwal, but not all at once.  Seeing a Mallard hybrid can be mighty confusing.  When a male Mallard is in the mood for mating, keep your distance.

Morro Bay Marina - The marina was peaceful.  The only migratory water birds were five Pied-billed Grebe.

I was hoping to get a view of one of the two visiting Yellow-crowned Night Heron that have been seen recently perched on the back of boats, but they were a no show.

Fortune shined when a Caspian Tern, looking for a fish, flew into the marina.  It hovered a couple of times but never dove.  Due to its bulky size, its very red bill, and its impressive wing span, 50-55 inches, the Caspian is often easy to identify.  It also flies higher than Elegant, Royal and Forster's Tern.

Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail -  I was south of Quarry Cove, about midway along the trail, looking for Black Oystercatchers (Bloys), when I spotted seven of them perched on a shale formation that jutted into the sea.  As the weather flows from summer into fall/winter, the Mdo Oystercatchers often hang out together.  I see these gatherings as a means for the young adults to find a mate.  And more than likely they also talk about the two legged monsters that invade their territory when they are nesting and trying to raise their young.  Photo of four of the seven taken by Gary O'Neil.

Afterthought - Last week stopped by Laguna Lake.  The blue green algae looked about the same.  Across the lake were 30 or more White Pelican and a very large flock of Canada Goose.  Before I got out of the car I saw a tiny bird in a willow tree.  I had not seen a scaly-breasted munia, commonly known as Nutmeg Mannikin for at least 20 years.  They are native to tropical Asia and were popular with the pet trade.  I would classify them as cute.

                                                                          

Keep your binoculars handy because one of those little seed eaters, that we frequently take for granted, may be a Nutmeg Mannikin.