Birding Villa Creek

The morning was grey, sea calm.  Villa Creek is located at the northern terminus of Estero Bluffs State Park.  Although easily accessible, it has yet to be discovered, with the exception of course, of the occasional birder.

At either end of the cove rugged promontories calm the incoming sea.

I was fascinated by the floral patterns the ebbing tide had etched in the sand.

Upon entering the beach my first sighting was of Snowy Plovers.  It is rather mind boggling how fast their tiny legs move when they are feeding on teensy, weensy black sand flies.

Not wanting to be left out, a Semipalmated Plover joined the fly feeding frenzy.

Villa Creek and its lagoon are out of sight from the beach, as the beach is lower than the lagoon.  I was birding with Mike.  He spotted an Osprey who was not the least concerned as to our presence on the beach. (Due to the zoom effect, the distant background appears closer.)

Heading toward the lagoon we saw Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew.  I admit there have been many times when I have pondered the question, "Is it a Curlew or a Whimbrel?"  Can you tell which is which?

At the narrow end of the lagoon we saw Black Phoebe, Killdeer, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Western Sandpiper, and no ducks.  Overhead flew a pair of Black Oystercatcher, Red-tailed Hawk, and Turkey Vultures.  Accessing the further reaches of the lagoon meant tromping through a tangle of vegetation that included dry grass, a favored habitat for ticks.  I decided not to walk through the grass.  Mike, on the other hand ventured forth.  No ducks, but he did confirm my tick theory when he found he had six unwanted guests.  

The finale of birding Villa Creek and its environs was watching a Surf Scoter feeding in the surf.  The collage compares an Adult Scoter with the one I observed.  It was either a juvenile or an adult in molting (eclipse) plumage.  More than likely it was a juvenile.  I do intend on returning to Villa Creek, but will wait for a sunny day.

Birding Morro Bay Beach

Morro Bay Beach - Weather coolish, cloudy and breezy.  As you can see in the photo the beach was very quiet.  I was hoping to see two winter visitors, Bonaparte's Gull and Mew Gull.  Fortunately there were only a few gulls on the beach, making it easier to spot the little migrants as they moved between a small beach pond and the edge of the surf. 
 
Bonaparte's Gull at 12-13 inches in length is the smallest gull (photo above).  Both gulls breed in Alaska and Northern Canada and winter along the west coast.  A fascinating aspect of the Mew Gull (photo below) is that it is the only gull that nests in trees.  And you will never guess who Bonaparte's Gulls are named after  -  Napoleon's brother, Charles Lucien Bonaparte who was a leading ornithologist in the 1800's. 

When trying to ID the Bonaparte's Gull and the Mew Gull keep in mind they are about 1/2 the size of a common Western Gull and are often alone or on the edge of a group of Gulls. 

Other beach birds - Feeding in the breaking surf was a mixed flock of Surf Scoter, female Bufflehead, and Eared Grebe.   Farther out was a flock of Western Grebe.   After a chilly hour of birding the beach it was time for a cup of tea.