Birdiing Around the Bay

Morro Bay Estuary - The tide was high (6.3).  The morning was beautiful and warm, almost too warm for someone who gets overheated at 70°.

During high tides the shorebirds and water fowl hang out in a hard to view area at the north end of the bay until the tide ebbs enough for them to resume their feeding.  The above photo was taken from the Audubon Overlook.  There was not a bird in sight.

The Turri Road ponds had been filled by the previous day's high tides.  Sandpipers hang out on patches of pickle weed until the tide goes out.  In the photo, left center, there are a few hundred, mostly Least Sandpiper, waiting quietly for the mud and sand to be exposed so they can go back to feeding.  Sandpipers are known to be patient shorebirds.

 Morro Bay Marina Peninsular Trail - No birds within view from the boardwalk, although I could faintly hear Brant Goose.  I believe they have much to say to each other.

The trail is about 1/2 mile loop.  At extreme high tides birds that hang out in the estuary pickleweed come into the brush, and thanks to recent rains there were ample itty bitty insects for them to eat.  Had marvelous sightings - a Savannah Sparrow, whose yellow eyebrow made it easy to identify was foraging around a Lemonade Bush, nearby was a Hermit Thrush.

An Osprey glided past the boats to the end of the Marina eventually settling onto a limb in a scraggly pine tree.  Fortunately the Osprey, looking formal in his/her white and dark brown feathered attire, was still there when I got close enough for a photo. 

It was nearing time for a coffee break when, what to my eyes should appear, but a Clark's Grebe so very near.  I have always had difficulty in identifying Clark's Grebe,  as they are nearly identical to the Western Grebe.  The obvious differences are in the eye and the bill.  Clark's eye is surrounded by white, while the Western's eye is in the black.  However as they go into winter plumage Clark's white becomes greyer and the Western's black becomes lighter.  Now, Clark's bill is in tones of yellow, while the Western's bill is more olive/greenish, but in winter plumage the bill colors are less distinct.

My previous sightings of this regal beauty have always been at a distance, such as out in the middle of the bay.  I was delighted to have the pleasure of observing a Clark's Grebe only a few yards from where I was standing.  Not only was it's eye in the white, it's bill was yellow.  (The wiggly reflections are from sail boat masts.) Needless to say I was very happy at finally identifying a Clark Grebe.

BIRDING THE MIGRANTS

First stop - Turri Road Ponds - In the farthest pond from South Bay Blvd. several hundred Least and Western Sandpiper (photo) and one Spotted Sandpiper.  It is hard to imagine, that these precious little sandpipers have recently flown in from their breeding grounds in Alaska.

Back to Baywood - I was focused on the ponds this morning and neglected to check out the action from the estuary access path at the north end of 4th St.  Wonderful sighting of 4 Black-bellied Plover in their breeding finery.  Another week or so, their breeding colors will change to a soft sand color.  Also present were Long-billed Curlew, Godwit, Willet, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, and numerous Semipalmated Plover who breed on mossy tundra from Alaska to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. (the Semipalmated Plover photo was taken on Morro Strand Beach)

Checked out the mouth of Morro Creek.  Nothing notable. Could hear the grating "karreck" of the Elegant Tern - a sound that is music to my ears.

On to the Marina Boardwalk - slim pickings - Black Phoebe and one White-crowned Sparrow, who looked like he wished it was spring again.

 Along the edge of the pickle weed, nearly lost in the fog, was a large flock of sandpipers, Dowitcher, Curlew,  and Godwit.  Further along, a huge flock of Brown Pelican and Egret.

On the way home stopped by Sweet Springs - 20 species - scads and scads of Chickadee, and a noisy Kingfisher - a pleasant end to a wonderful morning of birding.

  

BIRDING WITH BARBIE AND HELEN

 Barbie (no relation to the doll), Helen, and I birded around the neighborhood.  We stopped at 3 sites -  Sweet Springs, (photo) 3rd St., and Audubon Overlook. Even though it was overcast, we managed to identify 23 species.  Still a few winter migrants enjoying our mild climate - No. Shoveler, Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal, and a large flock of Avocet.  The Avocet  were quietly feeding when a another flock of Avocet flew in.  They became very vocal and moved toward each other as in greeting.  Below is a YouTube of their vocalizations.

FALL BIRDING

Fall is our summer season; we have less fog, more sun, and not much wind; perfect conditions for my favorite pastime - birding. On the weekend I ventured into Pecho Marsh (aka, Pecho Willows). To be honest I have been avoiding it, as I can spend hours and not find any of the wonderful little migrant Warblers that everyone else is seeing.

An avid birder with a scope took off on the left trail; I took the right. Not wanting to break my leg (again), I proceed carefully over the vines and fallen limbs. I was looking for a Chestnut-sided Warbler. After an hour of intense peering into the tangle of trees, vines, and Poison Oak, I saw numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers (first of season sighting), several Orange-crowned Warblers (have yet to see an orange crown), Chickadee, but not the Chestnut-sided Warbler. Wanting a change of scenery I checked out the Cypress and a willow thicket down by the bay.

On the way back to my car, the birder who had preceded me into the willows, was coming out. He asked me if I had seen anything interesting. "Nothing special," I said. He said he had seen the Chestnut-sided Warbler (3 had been sighted the day before), and told me where to find them. I took the trail to the left, walked in about 50 feet and there were two flitting about. My very first sighting of the Chestnut-sided Warbler - Yeah!

Checked out the Audubon Overlook earlier in the day - Western Sandpiper, Greater Yellow-leg, Black-bellied Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Dowitcher, Marsh Wren and Bewick's Wren. (photo - Black-bellied Plover, center; Greater Yellowleg) A word of caution - In the last two weeks I have experienced two wasp stings, one on the earlobe (not fun), the other on a knuckle. So, watch your step when you are out and about.

BIRDING BAYWOOD

Yesterday I thought I would see how many birds I could observe without binoculars. Walked about 2 miles, staying close to the bay. Saw or heard 23 species. Best birds - Caspian Tern and Kingfisher.

Saw a man looking up and stopped to talk to him. He had just seen a Bald Eagle. Dang, missed again.

This afternoon, although it was quite windy, walked to the Audubon Overlook. In front of the overlook were Cinnamon, Blue and Green-winged Teal, a pair of Pintail, and a Marsh Wren in the reeds. The large flocks were off in the distance. Can you find the Blue-winged Teal in the top photo? (click on photo for larger image)

I am experimenting with a new camera, point and shoot, of course. It only weighs a few ounces, and can be carried in a pocket. The zoom, though, is limited to 4X, but for $99, I cannot complain.

SATURDAY BIRDING

Beautiful morning after a delightful rain last night. Between 3rd. St. Coastal Access and the Audubon Overlook - Western and Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plover, Sora, 3 Short-billed Dowitcher, Godwit, Willet, Greater Yellowleg, Long-billed Curlew, Forster's Tern, Northern Pintail. In the brush and reeds Red-winged Blackbird, White and Golden-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler.

BIRDING BAYWOOD

Beautiful, sunny morning in Baywood. First stop Sweet Springs - 17 species. Most memorable, a female Kingfisher. Local Kingfishers breed outside of the area and return in late summer/fall. Other birds of note Oak Titmouse, many Chickadees, Nuttall's and Downey Woodpecker.

Like us, birds are creatures of habit. I believe it was part of the same small mixed flock I had seen a few days ago. 6 Greater Yellowleg, 4 Killdeer, one Willet, and one light colored Godwit. At the Audubon Overlook, 8 Greater Yellowleg, two of the three Brant Goose I had seen On August 26th., and a large flock of Western Sandpiper.

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.

MORNING BIRDING

(photo taken from Audubon Overlook)
Shore birds are returning to the Central Coast. From the Audubon Overlook at the North end of 4th in Los Osos, saw one Long-billed Curlew, 2 Willet, and 2 Short-billed Dowitcher. In the reeds were many male Red-winged Blackbirds and a Marsh Wren. Heard a Virginia Rail. Would like to have seen the little darling.

Next location, Turri Road, off South Bay Blvd. The ponds are filled by the tides. Saw one Killdeer, 4 Wilson's Phalarope, 2 Greater Yellowleg. Their yellow legs really show when they fly. I stopped a few times along Turri Road. Heard a Kingfisher, and Savannah Sparrow, and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. About a mile along the road saw a pair of Black-headed Grosbeak. My favorite sighting was a family of 5 Cassin's Kingbirds. The parents were very busy feeding their youngins.
(photo of Turri Road Ponds by South Bay Blvd.)