BIRDING THERE AND HERE

Passed through Pacific Grove on the way home from a visit with relatives. (The photo is much to blue. I was experimenting with a new photo App. ) Birds were few and far between.  Although, along the road, feeding in the muck of a golf course pond sprouting numerous golf balls, was a small cluster of shorebirds - one Whimbrel, 4 least Sandpiper, and a bird I had not seen for several years, a Dunlin; it has a slightly thicker, down turned bill, and is a little larger than a Least Sandpiper.

Meandered down fog shrouded Hwy 1 -  Pulled off at Piedras Blancas.  No view of lighthouse due to dense fog.  On the beach, Godwit, Willet and a large flock of Heermann's Gull - nothing to write home about.

This morning checked out the low tide at Morro Strand North Point.  Low tide is the perfect time to see the Oyster Catchers, Turnstones and Surf Birds feeding on the rocks, but to my amazement, there were no rocks, as they had been completely covered by sand, which goes to prove the adage, "nothing stays the same."  I was enjoying the scampering of Semipalmated Plovers when a woman with a unleashed dog appeared. Obviously she missed the "No Dogs Allowed on the Beach" sign.

Oh well, I'll check out my home turf.  Along the Baywood boardwalk grows a couple stands of blooming Fennel.  Feeding in them were four Yellow Warblers.  Now that was a major treat.

Not far out from the pier, a feeding frenzy was in full progress.  Elegant, Royal, and Forster's Tern, along with Brown Pelican were diving for the little fish.  There were scads of Double-crested Cormorant, Harbor Seals, and gulls, looking for leftovers.  Sound of Feeding Frenzy http://youtu.be/j2alkP3MCLo

 If I had to rate the last few days of birding, foggy Baywood would be numero uno.  

BIRDING WITH BARBIE AND HELEN

 Barbie (no relation to the doll), Helen, and I birded around the neighborhood.  We stopped at 3 sites -  Sweet Springs, (photo) 3rd St., and Audubon Overlook. Even though it was overcast, we managed to identify 23 species.  Still a few winter migrants enjoying our mild climate - No. Shoveler, Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal, and a large flock of Avocet.  The Avocet  were quietly feeding when a another flock of Avocet flew in.  They became very vocal and moved toward each other as in greeting.  Below is a YouTube of their vocalizations.

PEREGRINE UPDATE

Yesterday Bob, the Peregrine Falcon guy (south side of Morro Rock), Peregrine Falcon Perches - So. Side Morro Rock | Flickr - Photo Sharing! told me that brooding is in its 6th day. If all goes well hatching should occur in the first week of April. The nest is located in the area called "The Diving Board." Last year's successful nest was in the mail slot. Peregrine Falcon Aerie - "Diving Board" "Mail Slot" | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (move cursor over photos)

Bob said the other day, when the wind was fierce (40-50 mile per hour), a female Peregrine flew into the area. The parents went ballistic, an aerial battle ensued. The unwanted female finally got the message and flew off. When I head the story; I wondered if the interloper could have been the female that perches in the trees behind the "Back Bay Inn." She was in her tree when I walked by this morning.

Cool, windy weather this morning. Had a heck of a good time listening to an Oak Titmouse. I heard it for many minutes before I could find it. This little bird has a variety of calls. At first I thought the sounds might be coming from a talented Mockingbird. I played a Titmouse call for about 3 seconds and the little fellow went into overdrive. The following is a brief recording of his vocalizations. OakTitmouse - Baeolophus inornatus | Flickr - Photo Sharing! Do love the perky little passerines.

THE BAYWOOD PEREGRINE

Saturday, stormy, conditions that churned up the bay (photo) did not faze our local Peregrine Falcon. She was on her usual perch near the top of a tall dead Cypress, located behind the Back Bay Inn. She can usually be seen on this perch both morning and afternoon.

Yesterday, watched her swoop down on a group of feeding shorebirds. She sped off with a medium sized bird in her deadly grip. The speed of a Peregrine Falcon is astounding. The entire episode lasted only a few seconds. (rear view of Peregrine on her lofty perch)

BIRDING BAYWOOD

Yesterday I thought I would see how many birds I could observe without binoculars. Walked about 2 miles, staying close to the bay. Saw or heard 23 species. Best birds - Caspian Tern and Kingfisher.

Saw a man looking up and stopped to talk to him. He had just seen a Bald Eagle. Dang, missed again.

This afternoon, although it was quite windy, walked to the Audubon Overlook. In front of the overlook were Cinnamon, Blue and Green-winged Teal, a pair of Pintail, and a Marsh Wren in the reeds. The large flocks were off in the distance. Can you find the Blue-winged Teal in the top photo? (click on photo for larger image)

I am experimenting with a new camera, point and shoot, of course. It only weighs a few ounces, and can be carried in a pocket. The zoom, though, is limited to 4X, but for $99, I cannot complain.

EASY BIRDING

Drizzle and more drizzle, damp and dark. Walked around the neighborhood. Near the corner of Pasadena and 3rd in a cluster of Monterey Cypress I could here the gentle chatter of Bushtits - hopefully it was a mixed flock. Sure enough, in the trees were Townsend's Warbler, Chickadee, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Bewick's Wren, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. On the bay side of the road I heard a big squawk - a Great Blue Heron had just landed on a branch. Could see nothing on the bay or around the Baywood Pier. Very quiet and peaceful morning.

BAYWOOD BIRDING and BEYOND

Audubon Overlook at 4th St. Long-billed Curlew (photo), 2 Spotted Sandpiper. Always a treat to watch their bobbing. Godwit, large flocks of Western Sandpiper, 6 Greater Yellowleg, one Kingfisher. Forster's Tern and Elegant Tern diving for fish. Close to the Overlook are flowering Mallow bushes. Had a great look at a Rufus Hummingbird.

Around 4:00 walked out the Morro Bay Marina Sandspit with Linda. Fog was coming in. Saw a Spotted Sandpiper, 3 Pied-billed Grebe, and a seldom seen Common Murre preening itself in the marina. I have never had such a great view of a Common Murre. Even though it was foggy, fortune shined.

BIRDING BAYWOOD

Beautiful, sunny morning in Baywood. First stop Sweet Springs - 17 species. Most memorable, a female Kingfisher. Local Kingfishers breed outside of the area and return in late summer/fall. Other birds of note Oak Titmouse, many Chickadees, Nuttall's and Downey Woodpecker.

Like us, birds are creatures of habit. I believe it was part of the same small mixed flock I had seen a few days ago. 6 Greater Yellowleg, 4 Killdeer, one Willet, and one light colored Godwit. At the Audubon Overlook, 8 Greater Yellowleg, two of the three Brant Goose I had seen On August 26th., and a large flock of Western Sandpiper.

BAYWOOD BIRDING

This morning's weather was cool and foggy. Most memorable birds around the Baywood Pier were: 2 Killdeer, one Ruddy Turnstone, one Short-billed Dowitcher, and one very light colored Godwit see photo). At the Pasadena Overlook were about 50-60 Western Sandpiper and a Caspian and Elegant Tern. At the Audubon Overlook: 3 Brant Goose preening, huge flock of American Goldfinch and a Selasphorus Hummer. Last stop was the Morro Bay Marina: Bob, the sea otter that comes in on the tide, was sleeping in his bed of kelp. Thousands of Willets, Long-billed Curlew, Godwit, and sandpiper in the pickleweed. Best sighting was of 6 Black Skimmer flying across the bay. Second best sighting was a Black Phoebe chasing a Western Sandpiper.

BAYWOOD BIRDING

Three species of shore birds by the Baywood Pier - one Godwit, one Greater Yellowleg, five Killdeer. To the south/east of the pier about 50 gulls, composed of Western and Ring-billed. One lonely Snowy Egret. In the distance heard several Caspian Tern. Weather breezy and cold, sun thinking about coming out - all in all, another perfect Baywood afternoon. (photo - view of Sweet Springs from near 3rd St.)