High tides cause shore birds to move east toward South Bay Blvd. In order to view these birds one has to park on the east side of S. Bay Blvd., and when the coast is clear, dash across to the bay side. There was a variety of shorebirds and ducks in the lunar landscape of the pickleweed. My favorite sighting was of the recently arrived American Avocet. Watching them feed is a delight. They thrust their bills underwater, swinging them from side to side along the bottom to stir up aquatic insects. Other birds of note, Short-billed Dowitcher and a plethora of Black-bellied Plover. Only a few ducks - Pintail, the three Teals (Blue, Green, Cinnamon), Shoveler, Am. Wigeon, and Bufflehead.In the thick brush between S.B. Blvd. and the bay were, Quail, Say's and Black Phoebe, Bewick's Wren (see above photo), Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
Next stop M.B. Marina, Caspian and Elegant Tern were diving for fish. Sitting on masts, Osprey and Red-shouldered Hawk. In the pines, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Chickadee. Along edge of the marina was a bobbing Spotted Sandpiper (photo). (I wonder if this is the same one I saw in Yosemite Valley in a marshy wetland this summer.)Across the road in the Morro Bay Campground I could hear a Steller's Jay and numerous Nuthatches. This is definitely the year of the Red-breasted Nuthatch, as they are prolific.
