Birding Laguna Lake Park

This morning I thought it was about time I birdied Laguna Lake Park in San Luis Obispo.  The last time I visited the park was January 13th when winter rains were just beginning to fill the drought stricken lake.   Link to blog of January 13, 2016.     http://birdingthecentralcoast.blogspot.com/2016/01/laguna-lake.html

At 10am the lake was beautiful and the sky very blue - marvelous conditions for birding with two exceptions.   1) There was an Ultimate Frisbee competition going on, making it impossible to bird much of the park.   2) Wind!  Strong wind!  The wind made it difficult for the smaller birds and the Hawks to reach their intended destinations.  A Red-tailed hawk, pushed by the wind was moving sideways.

Cassin's Kingbird (above), about six of them, were attempting to perch in a old California (native) Walnut tree (below), but the wind was making it difficult.  Cassin's Kingbirds are flycatchers (eat insects, also berries and fruits).  They are known to be talkative which is helpful in identification, especially when the wind is blowing them hither, thither, and yon.  

 First sighting of the morning was four American White Pelicans (below) with an 8 - 9 ft. wingspan, coming in for a landing.

They landed gracefully near a large flock of Canada Goose.  Fortunately, I was standing by the edge of the lake when they flew over - a magnificent sight!

In the Eucalyptus trees (above) were Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk.  Black Phoebe, always a favorite, was everywhere.  I think she was following me.  On the lake, American Coot, Mallard and Double-crested Cormorant - a flock, of Bushtits accompanied by a two Chestnut-backed Chickadee were flitting thru lakeside willows.  The wind eventually slowed down to a light breeze.  As I walked back to my car, I counted 8 Cassin's Kingbird in and around lakeside willows.  This was the first time I had seen a flock of Cassin's.  Perhaps they had come to Laguna Lake Park for the Ultimate Frisbee competition.  Personally, I prefer dog Frisbee.  (Google Image)

BIRDING LAGUNA LAKE

Arrived at Laguna Lake about 10:30 - the air was still, sun was bright; ideal conditions for checking out the birds.  About 100 Canada Goose (photo) were on the lake.  Separate from the Geese was a juvenile Snow Goose trailing 4 domestic white geese. Over the lake a couple of boisterous Caspian Terns were making their presence known.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets (most prevalent this year) and Yellow-rumped Warblers were flitting about in the trees.

The open space was delightful, only one doggie walker passed by.  Loggerhead Shrike ( photo), well known for its innovative use of barbed wire to impale its prey, was doing what it does best, catching insects.  A few posts down from the Shrike, was another insect eater, Cassin's Kingbird.  Saw several Meadowlarks in the fields, and circling overhead was a White-tailed Kite.  My cup runneth over.

Next stop Costco with its burgeoning population of Parking Lot-Boat-tailed Grackle.

WHITE-TAILED KITE

It was back to Turri Road this morning. Of course I wanted to check out the birds, but I was also in need of a dose of globally warmed sun. In the ponds, full due to a high tide, noticed a pair of Greater and a pair of Lesser Yellowleg. In the shrubbery along the road, a Gnatcatcher and a Wren let me know I was invading their territory. Above, looking for something to eat, a White-tailed Kite hovered (Photo by Kevin Cole) . Watching this bird hover, then to pause in mid-air, its glorious white tail spread out like slim fingers, is an amazing sight.

About 1/2 mile up the road the sun magically appeared. Between the ponds and the pea field, still in bloom and looking beautiful, managed to see immature Western Bluebird and Cassin's Kingbird feeding on tiny insects; at the rusty corral more Cassin's Kingbird, a female Blue Grosbeak, and a family of Indigo Bunting, mom dad and the kids, dashing back and forth across the road. If I were to rate today's birding, I would give it a perfect 16.

A Phenominal Week For Birding

About 2 miles east 0n Turri Road, in the area of the windmill and the pea field, birding mania was in full bloom. I believe it all began with the appearance of an Indigo Bunting in the latter part of June (see June 23 blog). Then on July 5th an Eastern Kingbird, rare to our area, was seen. Birders flocked to the site.

In the same clump of Willows, alongside the road where I had first seen the Indigo Bunting, a male (below photo) and female Blue Grosbeak had taken up residence. Two days ago the male sat at the top of the willow singing his melodious song while the female dashed back and forth across the road with insects for her brood, clasped tightly in her beak. Today, the male was singing from a tree across the road and the female was feeding 3, maybe 4 youngsters, that were waiting impatiently in the brush on the edge of the pea field - most delightful to view.

A Lazuli Bunting was feeding along the fence across from the windmill, and the song of an Indigo Bunting could be heard coming from the willows across the field (I hope I have all these names right). Up the road a few yard were several Cassin's Kingbird and a Lark Sparrow. By the old corral a female Bluebird was gathering insects for her nestlings. And perched on barbed wire was a juvenile Cassin's Kingbird fussing for food. Thank you Maggie Smith for use of yourIndigo Bunting and BlueGrosbeak photos.

As of Monday, I had yet to see the Eastern Kingbird. The most success at seeing the bird was early morning or early evening. Yesterday, I set my alarm; at 6:30 I was looking for the Kingbird and there it was sitting on the barbed wire directly across from me. I, per my usual, got a fuzzy photo, but it is proof that I saw the little darling (below photo). He was making his call sound and flying out for insects and back to his perch. Eventually he flew out of sight. I did get caught up in the birding mania and loved every minute of it. Below is a link to a video on my latest birding adventure.
http://youtu.be/fIq4fOVMcEE