SATURDAY BIRDING

9:00 a.m., Morro Strand State Beach (photo). Weather overcast, mild, no wind. Tide on the way out. Heermann's Gull in large flocks. Feeding along the surf line were Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel, Godwit, Willet, and 4 Black-bellied Plover. A few Surf Scoter could be seen in the ocean.

Cloisters Park - In January, for the Morro Bay Bird Festival, I will be leading 2 "Easy Birding" walks. I was delighted to see that fall birds had arrived in the park. In the large field south east of the lawn were Bluebird, Red-winged Blackbird, Meadowlark, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow. Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron were numerous around the pond. In the shrubbery were Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, Bewick's Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and one Orange-crowned Warbler.

My last stop was Pecho Willows. Without too much effort saw the Black and White Warbler, a most magnificent bird. (Before I got into birding, I thought all Warblers were yellow.) Nearby were two vocal Hermit Thrush. What I really wanted to see was the Canada Warbler, as I had never seen one before. After about an hour of wending my way through the tangles, doing my best to avoid poison oak, and eventually, with help from a fellow birder, got a great look at this beautiful fast moving darling. At times it was directly in front of my face. Needless to say, that made my day.

MONTANA DE ORO

The time was nearly 5:30. Sun well hidden by dense fog. Dashing about in the Cypress trees, in front of the Visitor Center, were 3 pair of Western Blue Bird, numerous Yellow-rumped Warbler and a pair of Townsend Warbler. They were finding insects (invisible to my eyes) on the tree trunks, on the ground, and in the air. I think these little insect eaters were gobbling down as much as they possibly could before night set in.

Earlier I had driven into the Campground. Two crows were chasing a tiny field mouse around the wide base of a Cypress. Eventually the mouse was caught by one of the crows, who then flew to the top of the Cypress and ate the little darling. First time I had observed this behavior. I knew Crows were scavengers but did not know they were hunters.

HIGH TIDE BIRDING

This mornings 6.4 high tide caused the shore birds in the estuary to head for dryer ground. There were many hundreds of Least Sandpiper in the furthest pond on Turri Road (see photo). There was only a sheen of water on the pond. Many of the little peeps were settled into the clumps of pickleweed. None were feeding. When the tide goes out they will return to their feeding along the bay.

The weather was clear, windless and hot. We occasionally get 2 or 3 days of summer in October. At the Morro Bay Marina I walked east along the edge of the brush. The tidal water, moving swiftly into the estuary, cause the larger shore birds to move closer and closer to the edge of the estuary which makes them easy to observe. The Savannah Sparrow, who spends most of it time out in the Estuary Pickleweed, comes into the brush; they were numerous. Shorebirds were in the thousands: Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Wimbrel, Godwit, and Elegant and Forster's Tern. Ah, birding paradise!

On my return trip I stopped at a pullout on South Bay Blvd. to see what ducks had arrived. I was delighted at seeing, for the first time this season, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and Northern Shoveler. May have seen Green-winged Teal, but uncertain due to the distance. It makes my heart glad to know that, once again, these marvelous travelers have graced us with their presence.

WEEKEND BIRDING

Saturday birded with a couple of friends. Best birds at Islay Creek in Spooner's Cove (photo): Brewer's Sparrow and Willow Flycatcher. Up by the Visitor Center there were 6 plus Western Bluebirds dashing back and forth across the road. We really enjoyed their antics. We also observed 3 Wrentits chasing each other.

Only one Greater Yellowleg at the Turri Road Ponds. Most of the ponds have dried out. It takes a very high tide to fill them up. About a mile down the road we watched 4 or more Kingfishers chasing each other. A behavior none of us had seen before.

From the Marina Sandspit we observed a wild feeding frenzy out in the bay, saw and heard a flock of 20 White-fronted Geese fly in from the north and land out in the estuary; also sighted, flying over the west side of the bay, a med. size flock of Brant Geese. Bob, the sea otter, that comes into the marina on the incoming tide, was snoozing peacefully in his bed of kelp.

This afternoon, near the largest pond at Sea Pines Golf Course were 6 White-fronted Geese and at the smaller back pond, 20 Canada Geese. I was hoping to see a warbler or two in the willows by the putting green but no such luck.

CUESTA INLET CLEANUP

Cuesta Inlet is an excellent area to find migratory water fowl and shorebirds. Over the years the inlet had become an eyesore with numerous derelict water craft and trailers. Notice went out that on Sept. 25, the inlet would be cleaned up. Many Los Osos residents, and young men from the Grizzly Academy in S.L.O. participated in the event. Below is a video on the cleanup - please pardon the bloopers.

TURRI ROAD PONDS

Turri Road Ponds - Yesterday morning went to the ponds to see the Black-necked Stilt and Wilson's Phalarope. Saw both of them plus about 100 resting Semipalmated Plover. They rest in and on the edges of clumps of pickleweed and are very had to see.

Stilts are a real treat to observe as they seldom visit our area. They have very long red legs. In fact they have the second-longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird, exceeded only by the flamingo. Wilson's Phalarope is the largest of the Phalaropes. It does not have fully lobed toes and rarely swims. Its habitat is shallow, muddy or grassy pools and mudflats.

I had not taken any photos yesterday, so this morning was out at 7:00 (before the sun was fully up) to get a couple of pond photos . Could not find the Stilt but the Phalarope was in the same pond and it was feeding in close proximity to three Mallards, our largest dabbling duck (top photo - Phalarope in center). This was the first time I had observed this feeding strategy. My theory was, the dabbling behavior of the Mallards and the constant movement of their feet churned up the water thereby bringing to the surface the minute food items the Phalarope fed upon, which made easy pickings for the Phalarope.

Before going home for breakfast stopped at the Baywood Pier. My first sighting, this season, of Blue-winged Teal (lower photo), about 30, feeding non-stop in the shallow water by the pier. This seems to be a favorite feeding area for the Blue-winged Teal. Again saw the light-colored Godwit. I have never observed this bird with other of his species.

BAYWOOD BIRDING and BEYOND

Audubon Overlook at 4th St. Long-billed Curlew (photo), 2 Spotted Sandpiper. Always a treat to watch their bobbing. Godwit, large flocks of Western Sandpiper, 6 Greater Yellowleg, one Kingfisher. Forster's Tern and Elegant Tern diving for fish. Close to the Overlook are flowering Mallow bushes. Had a great look at a Rufus Hummingbird.

Around 4:00 walked out the Morro Bay Marina Sandspit with Linda. Fog was coming in. Saw a Spotted Sandpiper, 3 Pied-billed Grebe, and a seldom seen Common Murre preening itself in the marina. I have never had such a great view of a Common Murre. Even though it was foggy, fortune shined.