LAGUNA LAKE PARK

 Open Space - The morning was glorious - Clear blue sky - Cool breeze out of the west.  To the north rocky Madonna Mountain, elevation 1,292 feet.  A pair of Turkey Vultures soared over the open space.  A vocal pair of Red-shouldered Hawks were playing a game of mating tag.

 I stopped to listen to the distant song of a Meadowlark.  Nearby was the call of an American Kestrel, North America's smallest Falcon (photo by Linda Tanner), and there it was, only a few yards away, diving out of the sky at sonic speed to snag a small mammal with its piercing talons, and off it sped. This amazing scene lasted about 3 seconds.

Walked over to the lake.  A migratory Snow Goose (photo, right) was keeping company with its city cousins, 4 large and very vocal domestic geese.  The small Snow Goose followed the foursome at a discrete distance except when stale bread appeared in someone's hand, then the Snow Goose was right in the middle of the melee.   Laguna Lake Park never disappoints.

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.

BIRDING HERE AND THERE

In the last few days have seen three species of Falcon - Peregrine, Merlin, American Kestrel. This morning spoke with Bob (Peregrine Falcon Expert) at Morro Rock. He said the Falcons are mating several times a day. As I stood looking at the rock looking for a Peregrine, the male, at Mock speed, flew over my head. Bob said the male strafes the gulls which makes them dive under water.

The Merlin was on a Eucalyptus Branch in Sweet Springs, perhaps eying the sandpipers that were feeding in wet sand as the tide receded. It had been several years since I had seen one; I was thrilled to see this little beauty.

The American Kestrel, out smallest Falcon, was perched on a fence post in the open space area of Laguna Lake (photo). I often stop by there on the way to Trader Joe's. The morning was glorious. Horses were quietly grazing on the trail (photo). They did not even look up as I passed. In the vast fields were flocks of Meadowlarks; their white outer tail feathers flashed as they fluttered about the tall grass.
On the way to Trader Joe's, directly after the Costco/Home Depot shopping area is a field which usually has horses or cattle grazing. This morning, as I sped by, I saw what I thought were geese. When traffic allowed, I turned around and pulled off by a private road that goes into the property. Definitely, Snow Goose; they were going down a berm and out of sight. Slowly I edged along the private road to get a closer look as to were they were going, and there, in a depression was a pond with Snow Goose, Canada Goose, and many Northern Shoveler. I felt like I had found the goose that laid the golden egg.
(caution to novice birders - birding while driving can be hazardous to your health)