The Seventeenth Day Of Spring 2018

 Turri Road - San Luis Obispo County - (photo taken through Windshield)

By the 17th day of Spring the majority of the Central Coast water fowl and shorebirds have taken off for their breeding grounds, but there are always a few that would rather stay on the Central Coast year round, and can't blame them.  Eventually though, they too will fly off, leaving Morro Bay with a feeling of emptiness. 

 Turri Road - Today, in the ponds that fill from high tide and seasonal rain were six Cinnamon Teal, three Green-winged Teal and a Greater Yellowlegs. 

About two miles up the road, an unexpected treat; along the bank of the roadside cattle pond, two Canada Goose accompanied by a Greater White-fronted Goose, two Mallards, and three Cinnamon Teal; dabbling in the pond, 10 cinnamon Teal with three Mallards.  Due to fencing and vegetation, photography is limited at the pond.  Can you find the third Cinnamon Teal?  

Singing in the willows across from the pond were spring migrants, Pacific Flycatcher and Wilson’s Warbler.

Turri Road gracefully meanders to a slight summit, then plummets into the agricultural area of Los Osos Valley.  Fence and field birds - hundreds of Brewer’s Blackbird, Say’s and Black Phoebe, Western Bluebird, and adding music to the bucolic scene an entertaining Meadow Lark.

BIRDING SEA PINES GOLF COURSE

While on my walk this morning I heard a flock of Canada Geese heading south in the direction of Sea Pines Golf Course.  Suddenly I remembered a Greater White-fronted Goose (photo left) and a Cackling Goose (photo right) had been seen in the vicinity of the ponds at the Sea Pines Golf Course. Hurried home - five minutes later was peering through the chain link fence at a large flock of American Coot plus two charming geese.  The geese fed in close proximity to one another; perhaps an example of cross species friendship.

In spite of the very grey morning I saw 40 species - Thousands of ducks and shorebirds.  In various pines were Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Favorite sighting of the morning was of two local photographers with their tripods and humongous cameras waiting for the Peregrine Falcon that sometimes perches in the dead cypress near the Baywood Pier.  They were not having any luck; as I continued on I spotted the Peregrine in a nearby Pine, clearly visible to the men with cameras.  I do think this Peregrine is a tease.
   
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