Back to Birding Turri Road

Turri Road - This Morning I was birding with Linda who was on her very first birding adventure.  In mid September migratory birds are just beginning to arrive on the Central Coast.  Some stop for fuel and rest before continuing their journey, others stay through the end of the winter season.

Migrating Brant Geese by local birding photographer Mike Baird. 

We were slowly making our way up Turri Road when I noticed a white car parked in the road and a woman with a camera.  I was hoping she would be a friendly birding photographer.  Luck was with us.

I stopped beside her, "Might I ask what you are looking at?"  She replied, "Bald Eagles."  I said excitedly, "Bald Eagles," stressing the "s."  When she arrived two Bald Eagles were perched on a low hill.  Coincidentally, the hill happened to be the same one I had taken a photo of a few days earlier.  (By clicking on the photo you can see a Bald Eagle, though it does resemble a black and white blob, it is a Bald Eagle.)  Now the hill was bereft of Eagles.  The women pointed to the Sky - The Eagles were soaring over the landscape.  Linda's first sighting was a soaring Bald Eagle.

When we arrived at Hinds Summit a Meadowlark was singing.  Notice the sign, the elevation is in chains.  In the 17th century an English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter invented a distance measuring devise, a chain that was 66 feet long and had 100 links.  It was known as Gunter's Chain and was used in land surveying.  It is still in use today in Great Briton and Canada for surveying land in rural areas.

From our comfortable perch on the hand hewn bench we watched a flock of Brewer's Blackbirds.  An American Kestrel was perched on a nearby fencepost.  Although the Blackbirds were fluttering all around him, the Kestrel was not dislodged from its post.  

As we meandered downhill to the ponds we saw Cassin's Kingbird, Western Bluebird, and Lark Sparrow.

Our good luck continued.  Several Red-necked Phalarope were feeding in the pond.  I find Phalarope amusing as they have a unique method of feeding. 

They swim very fast, in tight circles, creating little whirlpools, which brings plankton to the surface where they can grab them with their bills. This unique feeding method is known as "whirling." Feeding on the edge of the pond were the less exciting, but marvelous, Western Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover.

Our final stop was the Morro Bay Marina.  We heard California Quail and the coarse ra-tat-tat of a Kingfisher; saw Great Blue Heron, two Pied-billed Grebe, and a marvelous view of an Osprey.   In the estuary were scads of Snowy and Great Egret, Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, and a variety of shorebirds.  In less than an hour and a half we identified 20 species.  Wow!  Linda definitely has great birding Karma. Can hardly wait for our next birding adventure.



               

 

Birding Tuesday

Sweet Springs -  From the East Overlook - Green-winged Teal, Willet, Godwit, Ring-billed Gull, and a large brace of Ruddy Duck with a smattering of Bufflehead.  To the west a smaller brace of Scaup.  Whether they were Greater Scaup or Lesser Scaup, I was unable to determine.  I am working on my Scaup ID skills.

From left to right, Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup (google photo)  The lesser has a narrower, purplish  head and smaller bill.  The Greater is 1.5 inches larger, has roundish, greenish head, and larger bill.  I am quite convinced some birds intentionally make identification difficult.

The Pond - Watched 20 Blue-winged Teal splash down in the pond. (above)  They immediately began a vigorous, high spirited bath that entailed much splashing and dunking.  Also in the pond, Green-winged Teal, one Pied-bill Grebe, and two pair of Pintail.

The brilliant white breast of the Pintail is most evident when they are resting along the edge of the pond.  Below a male Kingfisher let itself be known as it landed on a branch.  Their distinct call is described as a loud, dry rattle.

West Overlook - Feeding along the edge of the bay, Willet, Godwit, Western Sandpiper, Greater Yellowleg, Great Blue Heron, and two Black-bellied Plover.  Looking up is a must when you want to see a Bald Eagle or an Osprey in Sweet Springs.  Looking up this fine morning produced a magnificent Bald Eagle.  Yeah!

Montaña de Oro - Black Oystercatcher Update - The family of three continue together.  Seeing this precious family warms my heart.  The juvenile, the one with the two tone bill, is feeding in a splash zone.  Oystercatcher photos by Gary O'Neill.

Birding Cottontail Creek Road

 When we first arrived at Cottontail Creek Road we turned East.  A short distance along the road the Creek flows under a small bridge.  From the extremely dense vegetation came a variety of bird songs.  It was rather overwhelming.  Singing was a chorus of Warbling Vireo, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, and Wilson's Warbler.  Chasing after insects at the creek's edge were two Black Phoebe.  In a nearby field were American Robin and Western Bluebird.  Perched on barbed wire fencing was a Cassin's Kingbird.

 Above the creek was a huge oak were Nuttall's and Acorn Woodpecker and an Oak Titmouse family were active.

The West side of Cottontail Creek Road gently meanders along Whale Rock Reservoir and rolling ranch land dotted with grazing Black Angus Cattle. 
 
We (friend Mike and I) never saw another car nor another person - the only sounds, the birds and the breeze - a birding paradise.  After turning off Old Creek Road the car rumbled over a cattle grate.  In less than a 1/4 mile the reservoir appeared; we pulled over where we could see the gnarly oak trees.  A few years ago I had seen two Bald Eagles perched on the tree; unfortunately no Eagles were visible.

 In the reservoir we saw Coots, and Double-creasted Cormorant.  Overhead dashed Cliff and Tree Swallow.  Mike spotted the Bald Eagle.  Our national bird was soaring above us.  For several minutes we watched it soar.  Oh my gosh, what a treat.  It gained altitude as it soared, eventually disappearing over the hills.  Due to our lofty position above the lake, the only birds we could identify on the reservoir were Western and Pied-billed Grebe and juvenile Double-creasted Cormorant.  We had a marvelous sighting at the old cattle corral of a Red-tailed Hawk coming up from the ground with a snake clutched in its beak.

The most exciting part of the morning was yet to come.   After a couple hours of birding we were ready for a coffee break.  Not wanting to miss anything, we were moving at a snail's pace.  To our left were the hills dotted with rocky outcrops, when what to my eyes should appear but our Bald Eagle perched on an outcrop.  I pulled over, got out of the car.  Walking very slowly managed to get a photo.  Far from perfect, but it is my very first Bald Eagle photo.

I knew as soon as it sensed my presence it would fly off and it did.  Fortunately the Eagle flew down to the water, circled around a few times, dove down to the water, came up empty handed, and once again flew out of sight.  A fitting end to a perfect morning of birding the central coast.

Birding There but Mostly Here

Atascadero Lake, Atascadero Ca.  A short jaunt over the hill, about 25 minutes, brings you to Atascadero Lake Park. The photo was taken three years ago when the lake was full.  Last year due to the drought the lake dried out, as a result all the feathered inhabitants moved on.  Fortunately this October rains filled the lake enough to bring back some of the birds.

The air was crisp when my friend Mike and I arrived.  We went for a brief walk to check out the best spot for viewing, as there is quite a bit of vegetation along the edges.  Upon returning to the car we spotted Roger Zachary, one of the top birder/photographer in the county, setting up his scope.  Oh my gosh, what great fortune to come across Roger who had been posting to the slobirding yahoo group the birds he had been observing at the lake.

 Roger took the scope down near the edge of the water to show us 5 Common Snipe that were feeding in a slightly moist area along the weedy fringes of the lake.  Prior to Roger's arrival we had been looking for them but to no avail.  We also had fabulous sightings of Ring-necked Duck, male and female. 

The memorable sighting of the morning was of a Bald Eagle as it flew over the lake.  Photo was taken by Roger Zachary at Atascadero Lake.

 Birding the King Tides in Morro Bay - Very high tides cause the migratory shore birds to seek out higher areas when they can wait till the tide goes out.  Thousands of shore birds are densely packed on thin strips of pickleweed far out in the bay.  Most of the water fowl are in the shallower areas where it is difficult to view them.  As the tide goes out the birds move into their favored feeding areas.  The tide was at its highest when I arrived.  From the Marina boardwalk could be seen about 40 Brant Goose and a few Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveler.  Many Snowy and Great Egret were feeding along the edges of the high tide.  There were 20 Avocet close enough to get a great photo, if only one had remembered to bring her camera.

                                 Morro Bay Marina
On the narrow boardwalk a cluster of birders were taking photos of the seldom seen Nelson's Sparrow whose habitat is somewhere out in the pickleweed.  The Nelson's only comes into view when the tide is extreme.  A photo of a Nelson's Sparrow is a feather in a birder's cap. 

The best time to bird the Morro Bay King Tides is an hour or two after the tide begins to ebb. 

The Bald Eagle of Sweet Springs

I was at the Sweet Springs overlook this morning focused on the dark rufous head of an Eurasian Wigeon, a seldom seen winter migrant, when suddenly the shore birds, who had been peacefully feeding in the mud, took flight.  A mature Bald Eagle (photo by Roger Zachery) had catapulted out from his/her hidden perch in a large Eucalyptus on the edge of the bay. (expand below photo - perch noted by yellow arrow)  The Eagle soared low over the Bufflehead and Teal who did not seem the least bit concerned that a fierce predator was passing overhead.

 The Eagle was focused on a lone Eared Grebe.  As it neared the Grebe, the Eagle, preparing for his dive, circled to gain altitude, then he/she dove, but the delicate Grebe sensing danger plunged under the water, and just in the nick of time.

This magnificent predator was not to be defeated by a mere Grebe.  Circling and diving was repeated several times with no success.  Eventually the Eagle headed back to his/her perch.  About 10 minutes later, I had the pleasure of watching a repeat performance.   My conclusion from this observation -   the little Eared Grebe did not want to end end up as a Bald Eagle's breakfast. 

SATURDAY MORNING BIRDING

Cottonwood Creek Road above Whale Rock Reservoir. (photo - one of the many Turkey Vultures that were perched in a Sycamore Tree)

The weather could not have been finer. I was in paradise! The only sounds were the songs and tweets of many species of birds. After I turned on to Cottonwood Creek Road, crossed over the cattle guard (cattle wander freely), I stopped by a grove of huge old Oaks. A couple of House Wrens were in full mating mode, singing their beautiful song. Had no trouble seeing them as they were directly in front of me. Up the road a bit was another pair of House Wrens. I really like their cheeky nature.

Saw 30 species as I meandered about two miles up the road. Two mature Bald Eagles were perched in their usual oak tree by the water (Major Treat!).

The reservoir is about 80% full. On the water, near the reeds, were about 25 Western Grebe. Hopefully they will nest this year. The past few years the water has been too low for the Grebes to nest.

About a mile along the road is an open barn and corrals. A pair of Western Bluebird were once again nesting in an old post. An Ash-throated Flycatcher (a most fabulous bird) Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
was attempting to hang out in the same area as the Bluebirds. He/she was chased off several times by the Bluebirds. The Flycatcher finally realized, this was Bluebird territory.

List of sightings: Bald Eagle, West. Bluebird, Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbird, Coot, Double-crested Cormorant, Calif. Quail, Say's Phoebe, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, West. Grebe, Am. Goldfinch, House Finch, Wrentit, Calif. Towhee, Wilson's Warbler, Bewick's and House Wren, White-crowned and Song Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Red-trailed Hawk, Ash-throated and Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Acorn Woodpecker, Scrub and Steller's Jay, Cliff Swallow, many Turkey Vulture. Conspicuous by its absence was Black Phoebe.

On the way home stopped by Morro Rock to get a Peregrine Falcon update. There was a biting cold wind. In the channel were Eared Grebe and Common Loon both in breeding plumage, also a pair of Surf Scoter. Bob, the Peregrine guy, said that at about day 30 the Peregrine pair abandoned their nest, mated again, and are in a new nesting site located below the first nest site. I have included a Flickr link to the location of the new nest. Peregrine Falcon Aerie #2 - | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

RETURN TO THE "ROCK"

Met up with Kevin and Mike at Morro Rock this morning. They had come to photograph a surfing competition. About an hour and a half before my arrival they heard a large commotion emanating from the rock. Thousands of gulls were taking to the sky. Causing it was a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) giving chase to a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Not a sight one sees every day or ever. (Once again I missed the action) The guys had to scramble for their cameras. (photo by Mike Baird)

Bob, the Peregrine Falcon guy, was missing from the south side of the rock, so could not get an update. I do know that the eggs have been laid and the nest is located in the "mail slot" which is located under and to the left a tad, of the "diving board" which was last year's nest.
below is a flickr link that show the location of "the mailslot."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/docentjoyce/4639832013/in/set-72157624012777973/

While on the south side of the rock heard White-throated Swift. Followed the sound and found they are nesting in a dark crevice (center right) a bit south west of the Peregrine nest.
Will continue on my quest to see the Bald Eagle.