Birding the Bluff Trail

               Buckwheat - Eriogonum parvifolium
Montaña de Oro St. Pk. -  As I walked down the Badger Trail to the Bluff Trail, Spotted Towhee were singing (below).  In the distance a California Thrasher sang.  I have to admit I have a preference for birds that perch on top of a tall bush and announce their presence by singing.

Overhead two juvenile Red-tailed Hawks soared.  In the dense brush Bewick’s Wren sang.  Feeding along the edge of the trail was a family of five California Quail, two adults and three youngsters.

 

A few days ago I saw a pair of Quail with nine chicks about the size of walnuts.  California Quail lay 12 - 16 eggs.  The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground beneath a shrub.  It is amazing considering all the predators in the park, such as snake, raccoon, weasel, bobcat, and coyote that any Quail chick survives.

On the rocks South of Quarry Cove, Black Turnstone and Surf Bird (above).  A rather large appearing male American Kestrel was perched atop Grotto Rock.  They mostly eat insects and grasshoppers, but will eat small mammals and birds.  Unfortunately, within the sight line of the Kestrel was a pair of Oystercatcher with their two small chicks.

Sara, Gary, and I have been following the progress of the two hatchlings.  When the chicks are small one parent is always close.  The other parent is either nearby resting or off foraging.  On Monday the 12th, there were three black dots on the shale, a parent with the two chicks.  (center of foggy photo - click to enlarge image)

Tiny chicks are vulnerable to predators.  They can easily be snatched by Gulls or Raptors, of which there are many flying over the bluffs.  The chicks, especially when they are located close to a splash zone, can be swept away by a rogue wave.

On the 15th the chicks were missing.  In the last few days neither chicks nor parents have been seen.  So far this year at Montaña de Oro only one nestling has lived long enough to fledge.  I certainly hope that next year the Montaña de Oro Oystercatchers have better luck. 

     One of the parents.

Gary O'neill Photos - Quail, Surfbird, Black Oystercatcher with chicks, parent Oystercatcher

SUNDAY/MONDAY BIRDING

Sunday - Montana de Oro State Park - Bluff Trail. Plan on getting your shoes wet if you go out on the Bluff Trail in the next few days, as the trail has many squishy areas. I was enchanted by the little streams that were draining in to the sea.

The day was warm and gorgeous!!

Oystercatchers were in full breeding mode, in groups of four to nine, noisily flying back and forth - most amusing. There were just a few Pigeon Guillemots diving in the breaking waves. Spotted Towhees were chasing each other, and a pair Red-shouldered Hawks were nesting in the stand of Bluff Eucalyptus.

Today - Laguna Lake - In the Willow/Reed thicket along the edge of Laguna Lake had a leisurely look at a male Wilson's Warbler. His BUTTERCUP YELLOW breast was a sight to behold. If I was a female Wilson's Warbler, I would be proud to feather his nest. The only gulls were a few Ring-billed.

In the thicket of willows and reeds along the edge of the lake were a raucous group of Red-winged Blackbirds. (click on the flickr link for a sound video) Red Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

TURRI PONDS

The Turri Road Ponds are located at the corner of South Bay Blvd. and Turri Road, Los Osos. High tides bring water into the ponds. When in the area it always pays to check them out. This morning in the first pond were 6 Greater Yellowleg, a Willet, pair of Mallards, and 2 Killdeer. In the next pond were a pair of Black-necked Stilts. Their glossy black bill and back contrast sharply with white underparts and their long, spindly pink legs. It is a real treat that they were so readily viewable. In the pond next to them was a cluster of 4 feeding Snowy Egrets. Across the road a Calif. Thrasher and a Spotted Towhee where singing.