Birding Oso Flaco Lake

Oso Flaco Lake is a small fresh water lake tucked inside the vast Oceano Dunes.  The lake is located about 4 miles northwest of the town of Guadalupe, California USA.  Since it is a state park there is a $5 fee, but free parking is available before the entrance.  photo - Cormorants perched on posts - the dunes are behind the trees.  The lane that leads to the lake is dense with willows and is the habitat for numerous resident and migratory species.

For the last two weeks birders and photographers have been flocking to the lake, primarily to view two species, one quite small and one quite large, Sternula antillarum, and Egretta rufescens commonly known as Least Tern and Reddish Egret.   Reddish Egret photo by Roger Zachary

The seldom seen Reddish Egret is a great attraction.  It's feeding behavior is amusing, as it runs through shallows with long strides, leaping and raising one or both wings.  It does not appear to be bothered by the birders and photographers on the boardwalk.

The California Least Tern is local and endangered.  It is the smallest Tern in North America (above - Least Tern chick).  Like the endangered Snowy Plover, the Least Tern nests in depressions in the sand dunes.  Every year the Tern chicks perch on the boardwalk railing while they wait to be fed by a parent.  Between the parents and the chicks, the sound can be quite raucous.  Below - chicks waiting to be fed.  To the right adult Terns.   

Another fun sighting was watching three Green Herons, 2 juveniles and a parent.  The juveniles were fussing at the parent who was letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that they were big enough to feed themselves.

I doubt anyone could have imagined how important a boardwalk railing would become to an endangered species.

I highly recommend birding Oso Flaco Lake, as it is one of the premier birding areas on the Central Coast.  


 

OSO FLACO STATE PARK

Weather mild with overcast gray sky - Oso Flaco Lake (skinny bear)  - 3 miles north of the farming community of Guadalupe - a delightful 35 mile drive from home.  The lake is nestled on the verdant verge of the Oceano Dunes. A riparian lane (above), dense with willow, wax myrtle, stinging nettle, and poison oak, leads from the parking area to the bridge (below) that crosses the lake, and then continues on as a boardwalk over stabilized dunes to the ocean.

Walking thru the riparian area was a treat - Immediately heard and fortunately saw, Yellow Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.  The singing was intense! The songs of Marsh Wren, Common Yellow-throat, Song Sparrow, and Yellow Warbler may be heard in the following 13 sec. video.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvdMhhMd5cU
 
I was hoping to see the smallest member (1.5oz) of the gull/tern family, the Least Tern.  They nest in the dunes and feed on small fish in the lake.  There were about 20 Least Tern dashing about, and every once in a while perching on the bridge railing (below).  The young Terns wait on the railing to be fed.  Can get quite noisy as youth and adult are constantly chattering; sounds I find most delightful.

On the lake - Rudy Duck in breeding plumage, White Pelican, Gadwall (a duck I seldom see),  4 species of swooping Swallows, a Common Moorhen, and a mom Mallard with 7 adorable ducklings. 
After 3 strenuous hours of birding, it was time for coffee and an enchilada from my favorite, down home, Mexican Cafe in Guadalupe.

BIRDING HERE AND THERE

Last weekend went on a field trip with Harry and Norma to Oso Flaco State Park located about a mile or so north of the quietly charming town of Guadalupe.

To birders, the main attraction at Oso Flaco (skinny bear) are the two lakes and the user friendly boardwalk that angles across the larger of the lakes. We were hoping to see an American Bittern. To say they blend in with the reeds is an understatement. First of all they are the color of reeds and when an observer is nearby, they will stretch their neck up, pointing their bill to the sky. As a consequence they look just like a reed. When we approached the area where the Bittern had been seen, people were putting away their scopes (not a good sign). The bird had disappeared into the reeds. We birded for about two hours and on our return we tried again for a view, but no Bittern.

What we did see delighted Norma and Harry. It was their first sighting of a Sora Rail. It was feeding along he edge of the reeds. Without effort we saw two feeding and one resting. The majority of the ducks were, of course, on the far side of the lake. We identified 20 species of the usual species. Cinnamon Teal were numerous.

The path into the lakes is lined with willows, and dense brush (photo). Yellow-rumped Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were numerous.

By the time noon rolled around were were not looking at a Menu, as they don't have one, in a unheated, down home Mexican Cafe in Guadalupe. We warmed up considerably when our delicious meal arrived. The Tortillas were home made and fantastic. The waitress was sweet and charming. I highly recommend the place, but unfortunately do not know its name. It is located in the center of town in the 900 block.

Local birding has been spectacular do to a few days of extreme high tides. As the tide moves into the pickleweed, the ducks come along for the ride - thousands of them. Along South Bay Blvd. you can to get an excellent view, as long as you do not mind cars racing by a few feet away. I could hold my binocs. stationary and watch scores and scores of Pintail, Shoveler, and Wigeon float by on the energy of the tide. Now, that is what I call fun!