ADVENTURE ON THE CENTRAL COAST

The most exciting event of the week were Whales lunge feeding at Pismo. Photo by Mike Baird. I am also including a link to Mike's slide show on the Humpback Whales feeding at Pismo.

There are thousands of birds feeding at the same time as the whales. Pelicans are diving into the water as the whales lunge up. Unfortunately, many a Brown Pelican has gone down the gaping maw of a voracious Whale. I viewed the feeding phenomena from the Pismo Pier a few days a go.
http://www.flickr.com//photos/mikebaird/sets/72157631200845758/show/

Today, from Morro Rock, observed more of this fascinating feeding behavior. The whales and birds were feeding on bait balls, which are huge masses of bait fish packed into a globular mass. I do believe there were trillions of birds, Cormorant, Pelican, Sooty Shearwater, Gull, feeding along with three whales. The action was taking place on the Montana de Oro side of the breakwater, but was able to get an excellent view with binoculars.

Back to birding - Red-necked Phalarope has returned to the Turri Rd. ponds. There were about 40 or so spinning so fast it nearly made me dizzy. Churning up the water brings their microscopic food to the surface.
Tide was just right to see a variety of birds at the Audubon Overlook - Virginia Rail, 6 Greater Yellowleg, Dowitcher, and a very difficult bird for me to identify, Baird's Sandpiper; there were three, two immature and an adult. I spent at least an hour identifying them as they look so much like Western Sandpiper. Nearly forgot about the Spotted Sandpiper at the Morro Bay Marina. Every year one adorable Spotted Sandpiper takes up residence at the marina - was delighted to see it had returned.

RAIL AT THE CLOISTER'S

Morro Bay - Cloister's Pond - Time about 4:00 - Weather cool and breezy. I'm standing at the overlook looking out into the pond hoping for a glimpse of a Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola). The only birds on the pond, that I can see, are 2 Pied-billed Grebes. Red-winged Blackbirds are singing. No Rail in sight, but to my right, from a tangle of reeds and willows, came the call of a male Rail. Yeah! Persistence does pay off (have yet to see the Eagle, though). Never did see the little guy, but his call came through loud and clear. To hear the call click on the Flickr link for a 22 second sound vid.
Virginia Rail | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

SUNDAY BIRDING

We drove up Turri Road. In the ponds were 10 Greater Yellowleg and 2 Killdeer. About a mile further, on the creek side, was a flock of American Goldfinch, and in a field of peas a pair of Western Bluebirds.

Our next stop was the Morro Bay Marina. We meandered through the brush, enjoying the antics of a large flock of Bushtits (see photo). Reaching the bay we sat on a rock and feasted our eyes upon Godwit, Willet, Long-billed Curlew and a huge flock of Sandpipers flying over the bay. White Pelican and Great Egret were on a sandbar. It is wonderful to see migratory birds returning to the Central Coast.


Our final destination was the Audubon Overlook at the North end of 4th in Los Osos. Our first sighting was of a small, mixed flock of Dowitcher and Willet. Before we could figure out whether the Dowitchers were Long-billed or Short-billed, they disappeared from view. To be honest, they disappeared from view because we had become distracted by a Virginia Rail who was feeding in the mud. Virginia Rails are few and far between around Morro Bay, so this sighting was an enormous treat.