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.

Morro Bay Estuary - Return of the Winter Birds

  The photo shows the estuary as the tide is ebbing.  The marina is center left in front of the trees.

Thousands of birds winter on the Central Coast.  Primarily, the first of the winter arrivals are the shore birds.  Then come the Terns, gulls, Geese, White Pelican, water fowl, and much to the delight of the birding community, the occasional rare or seldom seen bird.  Oops, must not forget the songbirds, such as Warblers, and my favorites, the White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  By the first of October large numbers of shore birds can be seen feeding in the Pickleweed and along the edges of the bay.  

 A few days ago Mike Baird and I went to the Morro Bay Marina (above photo) to check out the birds.  The Marina is located across from the entrance to the M. B. State Park Campground. The loop boardwalk/Trail is at the east end of the parking area. The weather was delightful.  We were hoping to see a true rarity to the Central Coast, actually a first time visitor to our county, a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea).  It is thought that this Night Heron may have come up from Santa Barbara.

Last week I had seen the Yellow-crowned Night Heron perched on the stern railing (above) of one of the marina sailboats.  Mike and I checked out the boats and the Eucalyptus trees that line the parking area.  Unfortunately success alluded us in locating the Night Heron.  

From the boardwalk we observed numerous, Willet, Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, and two Greater Yellowleg feeding in the pickleweed.  Mike spotted a small flock of White Pelican.  (photo by Mike Baird)

 They appear completely white except in flight when one can see their 9 ft black and white wings - a most impressive sight. 

The Spotted Sandpiper that returns to the marina in late summer was exactly where I expected it to be.  She bobs her little behind as she walks, and there she was bobbing along the sandy edge of the marina.  I love that bird!

As we came off the trail and headed to the car 🚗 we noticed a women looking through her camera into the trees.  Her face was hidden by her hat and her camera.  We were nearing the car when she called out, “Joyce, is that the Yellow-crowned Night Heron?”  As soon as she spoke I knew who she was.  I looked into the area she was focused on and sure enough there was the Yellow-crowned Night Heron, perched nearby was a Black-crowned Night Heron.  “Yes,” I said.

 A difficult shot for my little camera.  But there he/she is, napping in a Eucalyptus tree.  Night Herons often hunt at night and sleep during the day.

Early Birds

This weekend I had the pleasure of birding the Montaña de Oro Sandspit (above) and the Marina Boardwalk.  I was looking for Early Birds, birds that breed elsewhere and come to the Central Coast for the fall, winter, and early spring.


 Sandspit - A flock of 30 Brandt's Cormorant were resting on a rocky point.  Brandt's can be seen on the central coast all year, but they have been missing from Montaña de Oro's rocky shoreline.  I was rather happy to see them.

 On the beach 40 adult and one immature Herrmann's Gull (above).  Heermann's is classified as "Near Threatened," as 90% of their breeding is confined to Isla Raza in Baja California.

 At the edge of the surf about 30 Whimbrel (above) fed, dashing hither, thither and yon. 
Whimbrel breed in Alaska and Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland.

Although the morning was heavily overcast, fortune shined.  Above the high tide line were two endangered Snowy Plover.  In the wet sand, feeding on a bird carcass, were two Turkey Vultures.  Diving in the rugged surf about 10-15 Surf Scoter.

 Marina Boardwalk - Feeding in the pickleweed was a mixed flock of several hundred Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, and Willet (above).  Many were in transition between their breeding and winter plumage.  In the center of the bay rested about 50 amazing White Pelican (below).  They can weigh 30 pounds and their wing span can exceed nine feet.  They are fabulous to see in flight.

 In the brush two Bewick's Wren were active, heard White-crowned Sparrow and House Finch.  Black Phoebe was sallying forth from her perch on the boardwalk to snatch unsuspecting insects.  I am seeing fewer birds everywhere.  Unfortunately drought and global warming is taking its toll.

Birding the Morro Bay Marina

 The morning was perfect.  The tide, having been quite high at 6:00 am was on the way out.  The pickleweed was very wet, not only from the tide but from the 1/2 in. of rain we received last night.  The mud was very wet, reflecting the sun light - ideal conditions for a variety of birds to feed. 

From the boardwalk one could see thousands of birds.  Feeding in the pickleweed were Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and 300 or so Brant Goose.  The Brant chat continually as they feed - a soft and pleasing sound.    Can you find the Snow Goose?

 Of course, here and there is a Great-blue Heron, an Egret, a few Canada Goose, Avocet, flocks of Sandpiper, and scads of shorebirds; on a distant sandbar 18 Harbor seals sunned themselves and I had not yet walked 20 feet. 

Much fun watching two Long-billed Curlew engaged in a heated discussion.  A Merlin was perched atop of one of the two scraggly pine trees located on the bay side of the boardwalk. Twice it flew off, returning within a few minutes to the same twig - quite a treat as Merlin sightings are not frequent.  

While focused on the Merlin, deep in the brush came a flutter of activity and the alarm call of a male ( photo) Quail - a Cooper's Hawk had swooped down on a covey of Quail.   The Cooper's Hawk captures a bird with its feet and will squeeze it repeatedly to kill it.  Fortunately for the little covey, the Hawk was not successful.  The flurry of excitement happened in just a few seconds.   

In the Marina (above) were Bufflehead, Scaup, Surf Scoter, Eared Grebe, Kingfisher, an Osprey calling, and my very special, always feeding in the mud along the edge of the Marina........my favorite,.....a......Spotted Sandpiper.  Birding the Morro Bay Marina this morning was a premium experience. 

Birding Morro Bay Marina and Sweet Springs

On the Central Coast, the fall/winter season is fantastic.  Migrating birds arrive daily - some species plentiful and other species diminished due to climate change.  Every bird that does arrive, whether a tiny Sandpiper, a Ruddy Duck or a Brant Goose, is a joy to behold. 

Morro Bay Marina - The tide was on the ebb (above).  Feeding in the soft, damp sand were Long-billed Curlew, Willet, Whimbrel, 12 tiny least Sandpiper, and my favorite winter migrant, a Spotted Sandpiper - a very dependable bird.  Every winter season, it is exactly where I expect it to be - feeding in the wet sand on the south side of the Marina.  Three Pied-Billed Grebe were constantly diving while a female Kingfisher dashed noisily back and forth.  In a tree at the east end of the Marina perched a Red-tailed Hawk.  

The high tide had inundated the pickleweed (below photo) leaving many little pools and rivulets of water.  Four Cinnamon Teal, one male, three females were feeding as they walked through the pickleweed; last year Cinnamon Teal were sparse.  Perhaps we will get more Cinnamon Teal this year. 

The scrub brush was quiet, California Quail (photo) White-crowned Sparrow, Bewick's Wren, Savannah Sparrow, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that was near enough to touch.  A great photo op. and my camera was in the car.

At Sweet Springs, earlier in the morning, a Warbler feeding frenzy was in progress.  As I entered the preserve a young woman had stopped to watch the frenzy.  She sat down by the trail and watched Yellow-rumped and Townsend Warbler dashing back and forth in pursuit of teensy flying insects that had just hatched. The Warblers landed many times in a small bush that was right beside her.  She was truly enjoying the happening.

In the pond, hanging out with the Mallards, were two pair of Green-winged Teal, the smallest North American duck.

From the overlook, a huge flock of ducks, Green and Blue-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, Wigeon, Northern Pintail (below), Northern Shoveler, and a rare bird to Morro Bay, a duck that breeds in prairie potholes,  the Canvasback - my first view of a Canvasback on Morro Bay (yeah!).

While concentrating on the ducks, I heard a familiar sound, Brant Goose (below), not the thousands that used to winter in Morro Bay, but a flock of eight. Their primary food, eelgrass has declined 97% in the last eight years.  The Morro Bay National Estuary Assoc. has an excellent article on the decline of Eelgrass in Morro Bay. 

http://www.mbnep.org/2015/09/03/understanding-eelgrass-decline-and-evaluating-restoration-activities/

It is painful to think of the Brant, as hunting season begins - Monday, November 9, and continues for 37 days.