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

Pied-billed Grebe - Black Oystercatcher - Pigeon Guillemot

Update - Cloisters Pond - Good News!  At the back of the pond, a few weeks after my April 5th posting, four tiny Grebes appeared.  A week later an additional three little Grebes appeared at the font of the pond; all have grown to maturity.  Considering the hungry Hawks and Raccoons that frequent the area, their survival rate is amazing.

Update - Black Oystercatcher - Oystercatchers are nesting at Montaña de Oro.  A monogamous pair makes a nest by tossing rock flakes, pebbles, or shell fragments toward their chosen nest site.  Two eggs can be seen in a nest, located on a seamount about 100 feet from the cliff.  Only one egg is visible (nest circled in red).  Unfortunately, anytime a person walks out to the point, the Oystercatcher gets off the nest;  when the person finally moves on, the Oystercatcher returns to the nest.  The photo by Mike Baird shows the proximity of the nest to the people standing on the trail.  Unfortunately, the viability of the nest depends on how many people walk out on this popular trail and how long they spend looking at the view.  This area is also popular with fisherman.

Update - Pigeon Guillemots - The action continues - Guillemots are dashing between rocks and the water and the water and the holes in the cliff, but much to my disappointment I have yet to find a nest that I can actually recognize as a nest.  The Guillemots are numerous, so there is hope that some are nesting.   A juvenile Guillemot usually leaves the nest at night; they flutter and tumble from the cliffs to the sea.  Once in the sea, it will take another couple of weeks for their flight feathers to fully develop.  I am thinking positively that during those weeks, I will see a juvenile Guillemot before it fully matures and flies out to sea.  

I am afraid that our love of nature is taking its toll on the nature we love.

Day of the Oystercatcher

Mid morning - Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail - The resident Black Oystercatchers were carrying on something fierce - in groups of four to six, they were flying noisily between rock formations, and I do mean noisily. (above photo - Oystercatcher habitat)

Their high piercing sound, which makes them easy to identify, can be heard at a distance of at least a 1/4 mile.  The Oystercatchers were very active along the bluffs this warm, spring like morning.

Fortune shined when the opportunity arose to observe two separate flocks of four, flying between formations.  The lead pair would find a suitable rock and land. The second pair looking like they were going to land in the same area, would suddenly veer off to a nearby, but not close, rock. (Oystercatcher pair by Mike Baird)

Being a romantic at heart I thought this behavior might indicate the beginning of the breeding season, as fledged juveniles do not go off on their own until the next breeding season.  Perhaps this behavior was an indication that breeding season was near and that the juveniles now have to face the reality that adulthood is just around the next rock. (flying Oystercatchers by Mike Baird)

Today, Black Oystercatchers dominated the scene.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring. 

A Birding Change of Pace

Since June, I have been a participant in the docent rover program at Montaña de Oro State Park (MdO).  "What is that," you ask.  Roving is a fairly new program at MdO.  Rovers either rove the trails or people an information table at a trail head.  I rove the trails,  answering questions, interpreting nature, and have a cell phone if an emergency should arise with visitors or wildlife; sometimes, the visitors are the wildlife.  (click on the photo for a larger image)

 On June 27th. a dead Humpback Whale came ashore at Hazard Beach, one of the more remote beach areas of MdO.  The following morning Mike, a fellow rover, and I were down at the site.  Two whale researchers from Santa Barbara were gathering data.  It appeared that a severe wound to the tail, above the flukes, contributed to the death of this peaceful denizen of the deep.  For a brief video on my observations go to  http://youtu.be/cvSGR77Mx28

 Observing this magnificent mammal was, to say the very least, an experience of my lifetime.   A few days after the first visit I was back at the site, along with many photo taking visitors (the teens were being photographed by their mother).  News of the whale's arrival had spread fast.  In the process of decomposition, gases such as ammonia, methane, and sodium nitrate build up causing the whale to bloat and turn over; now its under side was exposed and the severity of the wound to the tail could be seen.  More than likely the humpback had become entangled - a recent study showed that entanglement in fishing gear is the primary cause of Humpback Whale death.  I have a one minute video that shows the whale in the process of decomposition.  http://youtu.be/jhUdQV6waVI

While on the beach had the pleasure of seeing a few Snowy Plover, Oystercatcher, a large flock of Heermann's Gull, Willet, Whimbrel, and a Great Egret feeding in the surf.  Oh, I must not forget the 50 or more Turkey Vultures circling over the area.

I have not been active at MdO for a couple of years and it is good to be back.

 



 

ISLAY CREEK

Unbelievable as it may seem I was on the Islay Creek Trail a tad after 8:00 a.m. In the morning there is less wind, better lighting, and the birds are active. The day was sunny with a deep blue sky.

The top photo is the view from the beginning of the trail. Actually, the trail, for the first couple of miles, is a narrow dirt and rock road.

During my walk, I was accompanied by a choir of bird songs. Swainson's Thrush, Wilson's Warbler, Wrentit, and Song Sparrow. Cliff Swallows swooped over my head. Spotted and California Towhees were everywhere. A Great Egret flew up the creek - such a beautiful bird.

Meandering through the center of the willows and oaks on its route to the sea, is Islay Creek. (see photo) Reservoir Creek Trail is on the left side of the creek and Islay Creek Trail is on the right. The dense vegetation provides nesting and resting for many species of birds, including Owls.

All along the trail and particularly in the shaded areas were wild flowers and flowering shrubs. Saw several little white-tailed rabbits. At one month of age they are ready to have a family of their own. Except for a couple of runners, I had the trail and Islay Creek to myself.

BIRDING HERE AND THERE

This lone female wild turkey at MdO (photo) is more like a pet than a wild turkey. It is not shy of people. The campers are certainly enjoying it. The other day it was on the beach to the amazement of the beach goers. (click on photo for larger image)

Yesterday went north to look at Elephant Seals. The males are coming in to establish their territory. We found three huge males on Wind Surfer Beach about a mile south of Piedras Blancas, their usual area. They were spaced about 200 feet from each other.(photo - rear view) Along the shoreline was a mixed flock of Ringed-billed gulls and Royal Terns. In the grassy area above the sand was a lone Ross's Goose feeding on grass.
Today, checked out Sweet Spring. Tide high. Feeding in the flooded pickleweed were the usual Blue-winged Teal and Mallards. There were 11 Snowy Egrets, one G.B.Heron, one Great Egret. A Kingfisher was calling, heard Yellow-rumped Warbler, No. Flicker, Junco and White-crowns. Out from the Overlook was a flotilla of Ruddy Duck with a sprinkling of Bufflehead, Scaup and three Brant Goose. The majority of the ducks are in the Eastern area of the estuary and seem to be staying away from the southern area of the bay.

MONTANA DE ORO CAMPGROUND

The MdO Campground had few campers and was delightful to walk through. Most of the action, if one could call it action, was in the back section which was closed to campers. In the cypress, pines, and willows, were numerous Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black Phoebe (photo), Several Red-shafted Flicker, two female Nuttall's Woodpecker, several Townsend's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and a first sighting of a Bay-breasted Warbler. Bewick's Wren and House Wren, Hermit Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The Gnatcatcher was being chased by a female Anna's Hummingbird. On the way into the park I had an unusual sighting, my first ever in the park, of a wild turkey (female). It was just off Pecho Road about 500 feet before the road into Camp Keep.

SOUNDS OF ISLAY CREEK

Islay Creek, Montana de Oro State Park - Yesterday morning, around 10:00 am, the creek was alive with sound. The little Nano did not capture the sound of the Flicker, but it did capture the intense singing of a Swainson's Thrush that was perched in a willow across the creek. One can also hear the single note of a male Calif. Quail. Not so distinct is the song of a Wilson's Warbler. (Calif. Quail photo by Mike Baird)