Cinnamon Teal - Spatula cyanoptera

 

Turri Road - I was immersed in the sights and sounds of Spring.  On this glorious morning, there were five pair of Cinnamon Teal feeding in the ephemeral cattle pond on Turri Road.  A week ago a friend of mine told me she had seen a group of red ducks in the pond as she passed by on her bicycle.  I really doubted that they would still be in the pond, but thought it worth a try.  And there they were a dabbling.

   

The males were aglow in their breeding finery. *

The small pond and its nearness to the road allowed for excellent views of the dabblers.  Without binoculars they would have been difficult to see.  I always keep an emergency pair in my car.  Through the twiggy trees, I had the pleasure of observing their courtship display of pre-nuptial head bobbing - not just a pair, all ten of them bobbing at the same time.  It was a real birding moment.

All the black specks in the distance are Black Angus Cattle. 

Other sighting - A few yards up from the pond a pair of Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) sallied forth, in pursuit of insects, from their perch on an old barbed wire fence.  The male's cobalt-blue coloring was stunning.  

Heard but not seen birds - Northern Flicker, House Finch, Song Sparrow, and the memorable, flute like, song of a Western Meadowlark.  Check out the link to hear its beautiful song.   https://youtu.be/Sk4S2spFdcs  

*Cinnamon Teal by Mike Baird

 

Where are the Dabbling Ducks?

Thursday morning at 10:00 the tide was very high (6.5).  At the Sweet Springs Preserve the extreme tide covered nearly all the pickleweed, filled in the channels and the ponds, with the exception of the tiny wetland where the springs bubbles forth. 

Usually coming into Sweet Spring on the incoming tide, dabbling ducks such as Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Green and Blue-winged Teal (above) and Cinnamon Teal adapt their dabbling to finding tasty morsels in the flooded pickleweed.

For comparison, the above photo shows the flooded pickleweed at an average tide.” 

As I entered the preserve two female deer were feeding in the new grass growing along the edge of the boardwalk.  Both of the deer alerted to my presence.  In a few moments they disappeared into the brush. 

Coots were feeding in the grass.  I guess they wanted a change from the Sea Pines Golf Course where they usually hang out.  What I did not see were dabbling ducks.

Searching the pond I noticed a mixed flock of about 20 Teal, sound asleep on the edges of the wetland.  Perhaps they were exhausted from their flight to Morro Bay.  Usually ducks notice a close human presence.  These little darling did not even blink.

Scanning the far side of the flooded pickleweed I spotted a few more Teal,  but where was the bounty of dabblers I had been expecting?  For several years I've noticed that fewer water fowl are wintering in Morro Bay.

From the photo, taken at Sweet Springs in January 2007, there is no doubt in my mind that fewer ducks are wintering in Morro Bay.     Can you find the Eurasian Wigeon?

  I am hoping that the missing dabblers are busy feeding in another area of the bay.

Birding Arizona - Tres Rios Wetlands Corridor

The "Tres Rio Regulating Wetlands" - Reclaimed water flowing out of a Phoenix Treatment Plant has created a premier birding area in the Sonoran Desert, consisting of large ponds filled with a variety of water fowl.  In the many tall Cottonwoods nest Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, and Egrets.  The ponds, out of bounds to the public, may be viewed if one does not mind looking thru chain link fencing.  Water from the pond system flows into a wetland corridor, dense with birds.  After about a mile the water that has passed thru the wetland corridor pours into a riparian channel.  For your viewing pleasure, a 12 second video on the reclaimed water flowing into the desert.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER_mr9gWxmo&feature=youtu.be
Miles later the water will settle into a vast wetland restoration project where the Salt, Gila, and Aqua Fria Rivers converge. 

In the photo, the wetland corridor is on the right.  Many open areas in the reeds allowing for excellent bird sightings.  On the other side of the fence is the pond system (second photo) 

Before I get into bird sightings, I want to share how the unexpected can color one's day. 

Arizona Gun Laws - 1) A person over the age of 21 may legally carry a concealed firearm without a permit .  2) A person must be at least 18 years of age to possess or openly carry a firearm.

I was walking on an elevated berm 300 feet south of the wetland corridor and about 30 feet above a putrid creek dense with brush, trash, and trees (not a pretty sight), when I noticed an old SUV meandering slowly along a rough track.  My first thought was hunters; I had noticed shotgun shells littering the ground.

The SUV stopped in a open spot and a man and woman got out, walked around as if looking for something.  The woman came back to the vehicle and placed a hand weapon on the back seat.  They're looking for a place to shoot, I thought.  Time to announce my presence.

"Hi there," I called out. "Just wanted to let you know I'm up here."
"We're not shooting," the woman said.
"What kind of birds are you looking for," said the man.
"Anything with feathers.  Have a nice day," I replied and walked quickly back to the wetland area.

On a previous visit one of the workman told me that illegal hunting was a problem in the area.

Before the distraction I had just watched an Osprey, clutching a fish in his talons, land in a tree (top photo - the Osprey is the little center dot in the dead tree), and prior to the Osprey sighting observed a Canyon Towhee (first time sighting), similar to the California Towhee, scratching in leaf litter.

Saw many great and a few memorable birds.  The most memorable were an Abert's Towhee and a soaring Black Vulture.  Yellow-headed, Tricolored, and Red-winged Blackbirds were in the thousands.  Sora and Moorhen were numerous, here and there clusters of Cinnamon Teal (photo  sleeping Cinnamon Teal). Total Species seen 74.

Great-tailed Grackle were doing their boisterous best to impress the ladies.   Fencing can be very useful to birds.  The Grackle, a large blackbird, is posturing while Great Blue Heron appears to be using the fence for spotting something to eat. Twice I had seen, the usually secretive, Green Heron,  perched on the fence.

   Posturing is part of the male Grackle's breeding répertoire. 

What I find most amazing about the Tres Rios Reclaimed Water Project is how it has transformed a dessicated area of the Arizona desert into a haven for birds. 

Birding South to North

This morning's bird-a-thon began at the Baywood Pier.  A great Egret was checking the Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal, two Greater Yellowleg were in attendance.  Nearby were 16 Brant Goose.  A few days ago a Brant count was taken, a total of 163, a drastic decline from the typical numbers of 2,000 - 3,000.

Sweet Springs 32 species.  Favorites were - Wigeon, Black-bellied plover, and a noisy Kingfisher.

Continued my bird quest south a mile or so to the ponds at the Sea Pines Golf Course.  At the larger pond were two female Common Goldeneye, an A+ sighting; the smaller pond held 5 species, Mallard, Shoveler, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, and Pied Billed Grebe.  On the grass were several hundred coots or more. The local eagle has a taste for Coots.

Next stop,  El Chorro Park, 5 miles south/east of Morro Bay.  The numerous pepper trees were loaded with plump red berries.  America Robin, some with very deep red/orange breasts, were indulging in a berry frenzy; counted 50 Robins in and under this one pepper tree (photo).   Among the Robins were, Golden and White-crowned Sparrow, Hermit Thrush and several pair of Western Bluebird.   

 A few days ago birded Estero Bluffs with Harry and Norma Catchpole.   Our feathered friends were abundant -   Pelican, Cormorant, Turnstone, Surf Scoter, Western Grebe, Whimbrel,  etc.  At Villa Creek, the northern end of Estero Bluffs we experienced a lengthy sighting of a Pectoral Sandpiper, a first for the Catchpoles.  It was concentrating on eating flies and was not alarmed by our presence.  The best sighting of the day, and probably of the month was a male Peregrine Falcon diving on a poor little Forster's Tern; the Tern managed to elude the Peregrine (yeah for the little guy).   Happy Birding!


 

BRANT HUNTING ON MORRO BAY BEGINS NOV. 8

 The Black Brant hunting season is upon us, beginning Saturday the 8th to December 7th.  Waterfowl season opens concurrent with the Brant season and goes through January 25.  Waterfowl includes all  species   https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Waterfowl   

Below is a photo of Green-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal.  Morro Bay is officially designated as a bird sanctuary and a nature preserve.  I find that difficult to believe, especially when I hear the shotgun blasts.  Heaven help all the migratory Geese and Waterfowl that come to Morro Bay for sanctuary.

A TIME OF TRANSITION

The majority of the winter migrants have left for their breeding grounds. The Blue-winged Teal (photo) from my observation are often the last to go. They breed throughout the western U. S. Their preferred nesting habitats include marshes and shallow ponds.

Teals are dabblers. They feed in shallow water, either skimming the water or dabbling below the surface. This lovely morning, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, and Northern shoveler were feeding out from the Audubon Overlook. In the shallower water a large flock of Avocet fed, bills swaying rhythmically. Many in transition to their breeding colors - their head and breast turning from white to a deep cinnamon.

On the bay was an Eared Grebe, looking exotic in its breeding plumage. Total species for this morning's birding, 27. Sweet Spring was alive with sound. Heard Pacific-slope Flycatcher (a spring migrant), Kestrel, Chickadee, Common Yellowthroat, and Kingfisher. The Kingfisher will soon be heading out. They usually nest in a tunnel which they excavate into a riverbank.

I have done much fiddling with youtube. Here goes another try. This movie is a semi-humorous attempt at birding around the Phoenix waste water treatment facility. Some of the photos are fuzzy (due to using an iTouch), but the music is jolly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCB7K3sZzAI