Cloisters Pond - Pre-Birding

Christmas Morning - Cloisters Pond - On the 17th of January I will be leading an "Easy Birding" walk in the Cloisters Park.  My goal this a.m. was to find out what birds to expect on the day of the walk.  Due to a total lack of rain, the pond is shrinking, and the vegetation along the park paths is extremely dry and birds are scarce (nothing to eat I figure).  The park lawn and some of the plants are watered which helps in providing habitat and insects for the warblers and flycatchers; the number one attraction for the birds is the pond.  The majority of the 26 species I observed were in or around the pond or on the lawn.

The above photo was taken from the overlook; as I approached, a family that had been feeding the ducks crumbs, were leaving.  The Mallard Ducks, being more skittish, moved closer to the water which left the Sparrows pecking at the crumbs.  As I was watching the little darlings, a California Thrasher came into view - a most unusual sighting.  Ca. Thrashers are usually off in the distance singing from atop a tall bush.  I am hoping this Thrasher will appear on the "Easy Birding" walk in January.   For a 24 second, could stand improvement Thrasher video, go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hcp6sMyvFE&feature=em-share_video_user
 
 
 On my last visit to the pond I saw a male Northern Pintail Duck - a first-time Cloisters sighting (photo from wikipedia - with tailfeathers).  Male Pintails have long, pointy tail feathers, and this fellow was missing his tail.  He was probably hanging around the pond waiting for his tail feathers to grow back.  And sure enough his pointy tail feathers were sprouting, but they had a looong way to go.  I am hoping this handsome male will make an appearance in January.

Since the majority of the Cloisters birds are located in and around the pond, it looks like "Easy Birding" will be easy birding.

BOB JONES TRAIL REVISITED

Saturday, revisited the Bob Jones Trail. The weather was perfect, warmish, clear, no wind. Many walkers and bikers using the trail. I was the only birder that I could see. Saw the usual shrub and ground birds. The Acorn Woodpeckers were busy hiding acorns. They store nuts in individually drilled holes in trees, fence posts, and sign posts. The acorns are jammed in so tight that squirrels cannot pry them out. Some granary trees can have thousands of holes.

Had an excellent view of two handsome male, Hooded Merganser, chased them along the creek, catching glimpses of them between dives. Fortune shined again with a great sighting of a Hermit Thrush (photo). In an apple orchid, that obviously had not been picked, spoiling apples were an attraction to Yellow-rumped Warblers. They were everywhere - too many to count.

EASY BIRDING SUNDAY

This mornings walk was delightful. The weather was warm with very little wind. The birds were cooperative, and there were fourteen enthusiastic and cheerful birders (photo-birder, Barbara Akle) . What more could one possibly want?

Good sighting of the Meadowlark (one was attempting to sing). Great sighting of two Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Many Black-crowned Night-Heron around the pond and a couple of Great-blue Heron. As the walk was winding down, we watched two Red-shouldered Hawk diving on a Red-tailed Hawk that was perched at the top of a Eucalyptus. The Red-tailed did not seem fazed by the testy Red-shouldered Hawks. Our bird count for the morning was 27. Not bad for a 2 hour walk in the Cloister's Park.

NO ONE GAVE A HOOT

Yesterday, gave the first of two "Easy Birding" walks in the Cloister's Park. Weather was coolish with a slight breeze, and puffy clouds. Our total bird count was 21. Most exciting was the brilliant yellow breast of a Meadowlark. A flock of these fine looking birds can be found in the grass east of the playground. Many of them were posturing, with head and neck pointing up, much like a Bittern. Co-leader Sylvia (photo) and I thought the posturing was part of their mating ritual. A lovely morning, but there was a bit of a snag. No one showed up. I do hope attendance is better for tomorrow's walk.

Well, that was yesterday. On to this morning. For some unknown reason, after a cup of delicious coffee and dressed in several layers of warm clothing, and with flashlight in hand, I headed toward Sweet Springs, to listen for the gentle hoot of a Great Horned Owl. The time was 6:00a.m. In route I had a phenomenal sighting - a meteor flashed by. It was in our atmosphere. It was not a tiny dot, but a bright object moving very fast from south to north east.

The Owl was gently hooting from somewhere in Sweet Springs. No one was about. A breeze came up. Not wanting to come across a skunk or raccoons I opted not to enter the dark and spooky looking forest. I did go a few yards in but turned around when it got winder. A wise move on my part. Suddenly there was a large crash, more than likely one of the Eucalyptus falling. Fortunately it was not the tree the Owl was perched in, as he continued to hoot.

BIRDING THE PHOTOGRAPHIC HOT SPOTS

The Morro Bay Bird Festival begins tomorrow. At 8:00 Linda will be taking a group of 15 to several photographic hot spots that feature great scenery and great birding. This morning Linda and I took a trial run. We began at the Morro Bay Marina sand spit. In the marina were 2 Western Grebe and 3 Pied-billed Grebe that were being a bit feisty (the breeding season has begun). In the shrubbery we saw the usual, plus Song Sparrow, Meadowlark, Gray-blue Gnatcatcher, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Out in the mud flats were thousands of diving and dabbling ducks, cormorants, Brant, Sanderlings, Sandpipers, White Pelican.

Next stop, The Elfin Forest - The Fuchsia-flowering Gooseberry is beginning to bloom. We saw Calif. Thrasher (photo), Bewick's Wren, Gnatcatcher, Anna's Hummingbird. At the overlook (the tide was lowish), American Wigeon, Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal, Avocet, Dowitcher, Pintail, and scads of shorebirds. In the shrubbery and pine trees by the parking area were 2 Hermit Thrush and Junco.

Last stop Sweet Springs. A gentleman pointed out a Great Horned Owl. Well, that made the morning. A Kingfisher was in the area of the pond. From the overlook we could see thousands and thousands shorebirds, ducks, Terns, and a huge flock of Brant. The birding was beyond amazing. Without a doubt, Linda's photographic/birding event will be a tremendous success.