Sweet Springs Easy Birding plus Oystercatcher Monitoring Update

Sweet Springs Preserve - 9:00 to 10:00 - Heavy moist overcast.  Some people might consider a grey morning rather unpleasant and dull.  For me it was an ideal morning to bird Sweet Springs.  The bay was serene in its stillness.

Shorebirds were racing back and forth across the narrow strip of muddy sand.  Semipalmated Plover were numerous.  These tiny migrant Plovers may have just arrived from their breeding grounds in Alaska.

There were a few Least Sandpiper.  They really are tiny.  Two Greater Yellowleg were focused on probing the sand, while two handsome Black-bellied Plover, in fading breeding plumage, were strolling sedately along the edge of the bay.  I must not forget the Willet, the Marbled Godwit, and dear, faithful Black Phoebe.  A Green Heron flying into the pond area was the highlight of the morning.

      Oystercatcher Monitoring Update

July 29, 2020 - Last photo of the family.  Chicks were nearly a month old.

The last few days of monitoring - July 3 -Parents on duty, one chick visible.  I briefly saw the entire chick moments before taking the photo.

July 7 - Parents on duty, chicks absent.  They could not fly and they could not have wandered far as their rock formation was separate from the other formations.  July 10 - Parents on duty, chicks absent.  One parent flew off, returning with a food morsel clutched in her bill.  She walked down the rock face disappearing into the cracks, sadly emerging with the morsel still clutched in her bill.  I knew in my heart she was searching for her chicks.

What had taken the Oystercatcher chicks?  Was it a raptor?  Was it the sea?  In my estimation, the unforgiving sea had taken the chicks.  Between July 1 and July 6, extremely high tides, combined with a powerful storm surge, had swept them off the rocks.

I have not given up hope.  During the winter months Oystercatchers are often seen feeding along the edge of the surf in Corallina Cove, and I will be there looking for a juvenile with its two-toned bill.

Birding Villa Creek

The morning was grey, sea calm.  Villa Creek is located at the northern terminus of Estero Bluffs State Park.  Although easily accessible, it has yet to be discovered, with the exception of course, of the occasional birder.

At either end of the cove rugged promontories calm the incoming sea.

I was fascinated by the floral patterns the ebbing tide had etched in the sand.

Upon entering the beach my first sighting was of Snowy Plovers.  It is rather mind boggling how fast their tiny legs move when they are feeding on teensy, weensy black sand flies.

Not wanting to be left out, a Semipalmated Plover joined the fly feeding frenzy.

Villa Creek and its lagoon are out of sight from the beach, as the beach is lower than the lagoon.  I was birding with Mike.  He spotted an Osprey who was not the least concerned as to our presence on the beach. (Due to the zoom effect, the distant background appears closer.)

Heading toward the lagoon we saw Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew.  I admit there have been many times when I have pondered the question, "Is it a Curlew or a Whimbrel?"  Can you tell which is which?

At the narrow end of the lagoon we saw Black Phoebe, Killdeer, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Western Sandpiper, and no ducks.  Overhead flew a pair of Black Oystercatcher, Red-tailed Hawk, and Turkey Vultures.  Accessing the further reaches of the lagoon meant tromping through a tangle of vegetation that included dry grass, a favored habitat for ticks.  I decided not to walk through the grass.  Mike, on the other hand ventured forth.  No ducks, but he did confirm my tick theory when he found he had six unwanted guests.  

The finale of birding Villa Creek and its environs was watching a Surf Scoter feeding in the surf.  The collage compares an Adult Scoter with the one I observed.  It was either a juvenile or an adult in molting (eclipse) plumage.  More than likely it was a juvenile.  I do intend on returning to Villa Creek, but will wait for a sunny day.