BIRDING THE BLUFF

Montaña de Oro State Park - Bluff Trail - The day was perfect, wind silent, sky semi-cloudy.  At the small cove, often referred to as Smuggler's Cove, I was delighted to to see a pair of Black Oystercatcher (Bloy) nesting half way down from the top and a tad to the left of the cleft in the shale rock. (the happy couple in below photo)   A parent to be was sitting on the nest.  At the present time there are three nesting pair at Montaña de Oro (MdO).  Both adults incubate eggs and tend to the chicks. 

Fortunately I saw only five Pelagic Cormorant (below), as they are known to prey on Bloy eggs.

I have a special fondness for Pigeon Guillemots.  They arrive every spring to nest in holes in the eroding cliffs.  In August they will return from whence they came.  The Guillemots high pitched chatting was magic to my ears.  They feed tiny fish to their nestlings. 

In the cove Turkey Vultures were having a bit of a tiff over a well seasoned carcass.

The flowers were astounding!  In my many years at MdO I have never seen such a dense and brilliant display of Eriophyllum staechadifolium, commonly called Lizard Tail or Seaside Woolly Daisy.

Other Birds - Spotted Towhee (photo), always perched where it can be readily seen, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Common Yellow-throat singing, California Thrasher with an impressive repertoire, and hundreds of Brown Pelican flying north.  They often can be seen flying in a line, following the contours of the coastline.  Hint for the next time you are birding - Don't forget to look up.

 

Montaña de Oro - Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Update

Montaña de Oro State Park - Danger Sign Site - Update on Black Oystercatcher (Bloy) monitoring.  Thirty-one days have passed since I began monitoring the Bloy pair at Danger Sign.  The shale formation they are inhabiting is close to the bluff but not connected.  Most of the time, with the exception of very low tides, it is surrounded by water.  Numerous formations that jut into the sea protect the pair's rocky home from the pounding surf.

Beginning May 21, I have monitored the site eight times.  On June 10th, as I neared the site, I could hear alarm calls.  More than likely the pair were chasing off Oystercatcher intruders.  Within a couple of minutes the pair returned.  Neither of them settling onto the nest.  Perhaps there had been a successful hatching.  One of the pair flew off, soon to return with a white morsel clutched in its bright red bill.  A chick appeared for a few moments.  At the same time I thought I might have seen a smidgen of a second chick.  Yeah!!

Two days later I was back.  There were two chicks.  The parents were occupied in full-time provisioning. One was usually standing guard while their mate was off gathering food. 

My last visit was on Friday the 19th. - Two chicks - Parents bringing in the food.  One chick was visible, the other one mostly hidden.  When both parents are foraging both chicks remain out of sight.

In the above photo, this adventuresome little chick is about nine days old.  My next monitoring date is Tuesday the 23rd.  Can hardly wait.

Black Oystercatcher Monitoring

The Black Oystercatcher is considered an indicator species for intertidal health.  They live, feed and breed on rocky, intertidal shorelines that are vulnerable to rising sea levels, human interference, and predators.  Last year, at Montaña de Oro State Park Ca (MdO), only one of nine recorded nesting attempts produced a nestling that grew to maturity.

The Juvenile that grew to maturity is on the left, to the right, the proud parents of Site 7.  Note the two tone bill of the juvenile. (above photo by Gary O'Neill.)

Conservation efforts for Oystercatchers was limited by lack of baseline information.  A study was needed.  MdO nest monitoring began in 2007.  I am familiar with the MdO Oystercatcher population, having learned details on nesting habits from Sara Kelly, an experienced Oystercatcher (bloy) monitor.  I volunteered to be a nest monitor at Site 7. 

During nesting season Bloys are highly territorial, often nesting in the same location as the year before.  The nest may be in a slight depression or in a space between shale layers.  They share all nesting duties including chasing off interlopers.

9:08 am, Thursday May 21 -  My first monitoring experience began at site 7 aka "Danger Sign," on the north side of Quarry Cove.  The sign has been there as long as I have been volunteering at MdO, and that is over two decades.  I greatly doubt anyone has ever heeded the warning.

Monitoring should be done far enough away from the nest site so as not to cause the Bloy to alert.  They may abandon the nest.  Last year symbolic fencing was installed to keep people from disturbing the Bloys.  Do people climb over it?  YES!!

As soon as I arrived I took out my binocs and began monitoring.  I knew the approximate nest location (center of red circle), but only saw slabs of uplifted shale.  I assumed that hidden from view was a Bloy incubating two to three eggs.  While watching what I thought was the nest site, I took quick looks around for the mate.  About 10 minutes into monitoring a Bloy flew to a nearby
rock and began preening.

Since male and female Bloys look alike, I have named them Babbs and Bob.  Babbs was on a rock preening, Bob was hopefully on the nest.  After a few more minutes Bob rose up from a crack to the right of where I had been focused.  Babbs move in and settled down.  Through a crack in the shale I could see a tiny sliver of a bright red bill.  Now I knew where to look.!!  I had just experienced my first nest exchange. ( At the end of the blog is a youtube video of the exchange.)

The morning was beautiful, sunny, no wind.  Now, Bob was preening and Babbs was sitting on the nest.  All of a sudden chaos reigned.  Three raucous Bloy were flying over the next site.  Bob joined them and a moment later Babbs deserted the nest and flew off with the group.  I was in shock.  No one was sitting on the nest.  I felt helpless.  Fortunately, five minutes later Babbs returned to the nest.  Bob was across the cove feeding.  Later I learned this type of behavior is not unusual. 


My first monitoring experience was very interesting.  I do hope that this pair is successful.  At the present time it is the only nesting pair at MdO.
 

You may have to watch the video more than once, but you can see Babbs settle into the nest site.  From now on I will bring a real camera.

https://youtu.be/srqqWdMBgZw

Sightings While Not Really Birding

Montaña de Oro (MdO) - Bluff Trail -7:30 am -31 days since the "lock down."  The morning was absolutely exquisite!  The sun was attempting to ease its way through the clouds.

First sighting - A flock of turkeys with three males engaged in a slow turkey trot.  Nearby females were not impressed.  I found their display most impressive.

Only a few cars were parked at the Bluff Trail head.  The trail appeared to have been trimmed a bit.  I had only gone a few feet when I saw a Wrentit, a Spotted Towhee, and a bunny nibbling on a stalk of California Sage Brush.

Smugglers Cove - Two years ago a pair of Peregrine Falcon attempted to nest in a horizontal hole located in Smugglers Cove.  Now, two years later, Great Horned Owls are raising two owlets in the same hole.  Yeah!  (photo of adult owl take by Gary O'Neill last Thursday)

The clouds were playing "hide and go seek" with the sun.  There were a few runners and a few walkers, but most of the time no one in sight.  A male Northern Harrier swooped low over the scrub brush.  Fiddleneck glowed in the morning light.

Islay Point - Very tranquil - Fiddleneck in the foreground -  Locoweed Center right.

Locoweed is an early bloomer and prolific along the coastal side of the Bluff Trail.  Locally it is referred to as Rattleweed.

The last time I walked by this railing a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was perched on it.  This morning three Turkey Vultures were warming their wings prior to flight.  I see Turkey Vultures as  gentle, patient and beautiful.

Located a tad north of Quarry Cove is the rock formation where a pair of Oystercatcher, successfully, raised one nestling to maturity.  To my delight the pair appeared to be establishing nesting rights.  Bloy pairs often nest in the same area as the prior year.  The two Bloys are located on the upper edge of the light beige colored rocks.

During my walk I could hear the sounds of Oystercatchers.  Pigeon Guillemot bobbed in the surf.  Despite everything that is happening, our earth continues its seasonal cycles.  Spring abounds at Montaña de Oro.

An unexpected delight - On the way out of the park, barely past the Hazard Peak Trail head, an adorable Long Tailed Weasel crossed in front of my car.  Fortunately, due to an abundance of young bunnies along the roadside, I was driving slowly.   (photo by Gary O'Neill)

Birding the Bluff Trail

               Buckwheat - Eriogonum parvifolium
Montaña de Oro St. Pk. -  As I walked down the Badger Trail to the Bluff Trail, Spotted Towhee were singing (below).  In the distance a California Thrasher sang.  I have to admit I have a preference for birds that perch on top of a tall bush and announce their presence by singing.

Overhead two juvenile Red-tailed Hawks soared.  In the dense brush Bewick’s Wren sang.  Feeding along the edge of the trail was a family of five California Quail, two adults and three youngsters.

 

A few days ago I saw a pair of Quail with nine chicks about the size of walnuts.  California Quail lay 12 - 16 eggs.  The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground beneath a shrub.  It is amazing considering all the predators in the park, such as snake, raccoon, weasel, bobcat, and coyote that any Quail chick survives.

On the rocks South of Quarry Cove, Black Turnstone and Surf Bird (above).  A rather large appearing male American Kestrel was perched atop Grotto Rock.  They mostly eat insects and grasshoppers, but will eat small mammals and birds.  Unfortunately, within the sight line of the Kestrel was a pair of Oystercatcher with their two small chicks.

Sara, Gary, and I have been following the progress of the two hatchlings.  When the chicks are small one parent is always close.  The other parent is either nearby resting or off foraging.  On Monday the 12th, there were three black dots on the shale, a parent with the two chicks.  (center of foggy photo - click to enlarge image)

Tiny chicks are vulnerable to predators.  They can easily be snatched by Gulls or Raptors, of which there are many flying over the bluffs.  The chicks, especially when they are located close to a splash zone, can be swept away by a rogue wave.

On the 15th the chicks were missing.  In the last few days neither chicks nor parents have been seen.  So far this year at Montaña de Oro only one nestling has lived long enough to fledge.  I certainly hope that next year the Montaña de Oro Oystercatchers have better luck. 

     One of the parents.

Gary O'neill Photos - Quail, Surfbird, Black Oystercatcher with chicks, parent Oystercatcher