Fall Birding - A Little Here and a Little There

Sweet Sweet Springs - The tide was high and the fog was meditating on its power to grant the people of peaceful Baywood the unique privilege of experiencing the sun's warmth.  

Nuttall's Woodpecker was active in a tall Cypress; Chickadees, Oak Titmouse were flitting through a stand of low growing oak.  In the pond numerous Mallards slept, preened and chatted about their recent travels; Song Sparrow darted through pond-side vegetation, and a great and Snowy Egret, perched high in a tall Eucalyptus, watched the action.

A noisy Belted Kingfisher (photo by Gary O'Neill) searched for lunch.

In a Channel, carved by time and tides, 26 Blue-winged Teal fed.  I consider them the "Early Birds," as every year they are the first small migratory duck to arrive in Sweet Springs.

Estero Bluffs State Park - Vila Creek - Blooming along the path to the beach and pond was Tar Weed and Mock Heather.  My friend Phoebe and I were hoping to see a migrant species that is seen only occasionally on the Central Coast, a Black-necked Stilt.  It would be a first sighting for Phoebe.

A few migratory shorebirds, Western Sandpiper, Godwit, Whimbrel and a few Long-billed Curlew were feeding along the edge of the beach.  Higher up the beach, Killdeer, a pair of Pectoral Sandpiper and four Turkey Vultures.  Numerous Snowy Plover were busy chasing kelp flies.  In the background of the top image in the collage, symbolic fencing can be seen.  The fencing, along with signage, encourages people to respect the Snowy Plover nesting grounds.   https://www.mbnep.org/2016/03/04/symbolic-fencing-helps-morro-bays-snowy-plovers/ 

We finally reached the pond where there had been several recent sightings of a juvenile Black-necked Stilt.  At the bend in the creek perched a Great Egret; a few feet out from the Egret was a pair of Mallards.  A few feet from the Mallards strode a black and white, pink legged Black-necked Stilt.  They can swim and dive but prefer to wade in shallow water.

The photo was taken by local birder/photographer Maggie Smith about two hours before we arrived at Villa Creek pond.  

Point Lobos Nesting Cormorants - May 2021

 Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Carmel Ca. - May 12, 2021 - Three years had passed since my last visit to the reserve.  I was on my first away from home outing in over a year; though in my reality, only two years had passed, as 2020 was a non-year.  - My goals for this quietly overcast morning were to enjoy the reserve's spring wildflowers and observe the nesting extravaganza of Brandt's Cormorant.

Point Lobos is a very popular tourist destination with limited parking.  By arriving early was able find parking at the Bird Island Trail Head.  Wildflowers lined both sides of the shaded trail - Sticky Monkey, Blue Dicks, Hedge Nettle, Seaside Daisy, Paintbrush, Calif. Poppy, precious Dudleya fairinosa, and the most gorgeous Lupine I had ever seen.  This Lupine was absolutely amazing!

I was in no hurry as the Cormorant's were not going anywhere for about three months.  The Gooseberry plant caught my eye.  I am familiar with a flowering Fuchsia Flowering Gooseberry, but had never seen the flower turning into a berry.  Had to be very careful while taking closeup photos due to the abundance of poison oak.  Poison Oak has a personality of its own and its goal is to catch you unaware.

Ceanothus, also known as California Lilac, was in full bloom in the more open, sunny areas of the trail.

Finally, I came to my first view of Bird Rock.  Wow!  Word had obviously gotten out that Bird Rock was the place to nest - certainly looked like a much larger colony than in 2018.   I find their choice of nest location interesting, as they range from protected depression to open windy ridge.  If you were looking for the ideal nest site to brood, feed, and care for two or three offspring, what would be your choice, and why?

The collage compares the Brands's Cormorant population of May 2018, top image, to May 2021.

Bird Rock is a magnificent example of granodiorite, an igneous rock that is similar to granite.  Historically a young rock, only 80 million years old, give or take a few million.  All the rocks in this area are composed of granodiorite.

The scene before me was idyllic - thousands of birds peacefully nesting.  Incubation takes about 30 days.  Nestlings will fledge approximately 50 days after hatching.  They do not go far after fledging,  as parents will continue feeding them for a couple more weeks.  

The wind was getting stronger and I was ready for a warming cup of coffee - a spacious Starbucks is only a mile from the reserve.  As I heading back down the trail, I noticed the Cormorants had company, two Peregrine Falcon perched in a nearby tree.

Cinnamon Teal - Spatula cyanoptera

 

Turri Road - I was immersed in the sights and sounds of Spring.  On this glorious morning, there were five pair of Cinnamon Teal feeding in the ephemeral cattle pond on Turri Road.  A week ago a friend of mine told me she had seen a group of red ducks in the pond as she passed by on her bicycle.  I really doubted that they would still be in the pond, but thought it worth a try.  And there they were a dabbling.

   

The males were aglow in their breeding finery. *

The small pond and its nearness to the road allowed for excellent views of the dabblers.  Without binoculars they would have been difficult to see.  I always keep an emergency pair in my car.  Through the twiggy trees, I had the pleasure of observing their courtship display of pre-nuptial head bobbing - not just a pair, all ten of them bobbing at the same time.  It was a real birding moment.

All the black specks in the distance are Black Angus Cattle. 

Other sighting - A few yards up from the pond a pair of Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) sallied forth, in pursuit of insects, from their perch on an old barbed wire fence.  The male's cobalt-blue coloring was stunning.  

Heard but not seen birds - Northern Flicker, House Finch, Song Sparrow, and the memorable, flute like, song of a Western Meadowlark.  Check out the link to hear its beautiful song.   https://youtu.be/Sk4S2spFdcs  

*Cinnamon Teal by Mike Baird

 

Birding Sweet Springs and . . .

Sweet Springs yesterday morning - Weather warm, no wind, and absolutely beautiful.  Silently floating on the peaceful bay were large flocks of Scaup, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck.  Below is a female Ruddy Duck.  

 I find it amazing that the adorable little Ruddy Duck nests in nest holes excavated by Northern Flickers. 

In the distance could be heard the cheerful chatter of Brant Goose.  

Perched along the edge of the channels was a pair of Northern Pintail, one lonely Cinnamon Teal, two American Widgeon, Blue-winged Teal, and the smallest of the dabbling ducks, Green-winged Teal. 

Mallards rested along the banks of the pond.  

It was a good day for seeing Passerines (perching birds).  I think the Quail may have been warming up for spring, as there was persistent calling.  Due to the abundance of native shrubs, Quail are numerous and if not seen can always be heard.  Feeding on the ground were White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Oregon Junco, and House Finch.  In the shrubbery were several Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, and a Blue-grey Gnatcatcher.  In the trees, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and the most precious bird of all, Bushtits.  Common Yellow-throat (below) was flitting along the edge of the pond.  

Now for Estero Bluffs - Lately I have been going at least once a week to the Bluffs.  Although I am focused on the rocks, there are always birds to be seen.

About half way up this multi million year old formation, Black Turnstone have found a safe haven.  The lower section of the rock is Greenstone, on the top weathered Sandstone, and possibly a little Shale on the lower right.  

Brown Pelican, Brandt and Pelagic Cormorant are packed like sardines on a huge rock formation located about 100 yards off-shore.  The composition of the rock is more than likely, Pillow Basalt (hardened lava  formed in the deep sea).  Stay tuned for more geology and birding.  And if humanly possible keep a positive attitude.

 

Birding On The Ninth Day Of Christmas

On the Ninth day of Christmas Mother Nature gave to all. . . 9 Brant a Chattering

8  Willet Flying

7  Teal a Paddling . . .

6  Tern a Standing . . . 

5  Ruddy Duck a Gliding . . .

4  Goslings a Gandering . . .

3  Vultures Feasting . . .

2  Godwit Probing . .  .

And a Bald Eagle in an Old Tree.

           Wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

                     

            

                    

Birding Morro Bay Marina and Estero Bluffs

Moro Bay Marina - The tide was high - The morning beautiful.  A Clark's Grebe, was feeding at the flooded edge of the marina - a most unusual sight as Grebes are diving birds.  She was keenly focused on the vegetation and paid no attention to my presence.  

There were three Grebes.  I believe in the below photo, the top image is of a Clark's and the lower image  a Western.   Figuring out who's who can be tricky, as they are almost identical.  Western's eye is in the black and Clark's eye is in the white; Clark's bill is more yellow than Western.  At the least I figured out they were Grebes.  Water birds were few, a small flotilla of Coots, four adorable Pied-billled Grebe, a Common Loon, and a magnificent Osprey perched on a distant mast.  

Estero Bluffs State Park - This dense cluster of Eucalyptus is a bird magnet.

Although the Eucalyptus tree is non-native and often thought of as an invasive species; on Estero Bluffs it is the only place where an assortment of roosting birds can roost.  The Eucalyptus is located above San Geronimo Creek and due to dense vegetation is, fortunately, isolated from the public.

In the month of October I have been to Estero Bluffs five times.  There are three primary reasons for the multiple visits, very few people, great birding, and fascinating rocks.  On a recent visit there was an Osprey, five Double-crested Cormorant, Brewer's Blackbird, and a Great Egret roosting in the Eucalyptus at the same time.  On another visit, Mike and I were below the tree at the mouth of San Geronimo Creek watching Coots harassing four Canada Goose when suddenly a dozen plus Black-crowned Night Heron sped out of the Eucalyptus to disappear up the creek.  A few minutes later there was another exodus of Herons.  To say the least it was a rather unique sighting. 

Estero Bluffs - Saturday morning birded Villa Creek beach with Mike and Jerry.  The sea was rugged, tide coming in and the birds cooperative.  The Honeycomb Sandstone is one of my current favorite rocks.  The holes are the result of the interaction of physical and chemical weathering over a loooong period of time.  Watching the feeding shore birds was a delight.

 Godwits were organized and very busy - They only had a few seconds to feed before the next wave.  It never ceases to amaze me how fast their delicate legs can move.  Nearby was a Black-bellied Plover and a couple of Killdeer.  Higher up the beach, where kelp is located, were quadrillions of kelp flies that Western Sandpiper and the adorable Snowy Plover (below) were feeding upon.  The little Plovers were nearly close enough to touch.

Little did we know a surprise awaited us in the rocks.

Four Pacific Golden-Plover - A most unusual sighting.  I was only able to photograph one as I was distracted by the incoming tide and the kelp flies around my face.  The Plovers breed from northern 

Siberia to the coast of Alaska.  They winter from southern Asia to the Pacific Islands and occasionally the Central Coast.  Birding was cut short by fierce wind and blowing sand, but I can guarantee I will be returning to the Estero Bluffs.   

Birding Estero Bluffs Pocket Beach

Estero Bluffs State Park Ca. stretches north four miles from Cayucos to villa Creek.  I was meeting Mike at the Villa Creek parking area.  The morning's goal, a small pocket beach, a tad south of the creek.

As we progressed through the park numerous delightful trails led to views of Estero Bluffs' dramatic, rocky coastline.

The pocket beach was full of surprises.  We had a marvelous view of the beach and the birds from our perch on the bluff.  The darker birds in the damp sand are adult and juvenile Heermann's Gull; the grey and white birds, Western and Ringed-billed Gull; the white birds, Elegant and Caspian Tern, and more than likely there were one or two Royal Tern.  Two of the Caspian Tern can be seen in the below photo.  Look for a very red bill.

Here and there, particularly on and around the kelp, were Black Turnstone (below).  They become nearly invisible when feeding on kelp.  

Black Turnstone was not the only one with a taste for kelp flies and their larva.  Joining in on the feast were Willet, Whimbrel, Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, Killdeer, Black and Say's Phoebe, and an American Pipit.

Kelp flies breed on decaying kelp.  A female lays five clutches of 80 eggs each, a total of 400 eggs; the larva feeds on bacteria coming from the decaying kelp.  The warmer the weather, the faster the kelp decays, the quicker the eggs hatch.  Their life cycle is about 30 days.

A tad south of the pocket beach, a Black Oystercatcher was feeding as a wave broke over her.  She flew out of the surf and onto a higher rock.  Although a rare happening, Black Oystercatchers are capable of swimming.

The rocks the Oystercatcher was feeding on have eroded out of the Franciscan Complex which dates back about 140 million years to the late Jurassic Period.  It was rather mind boggling when I realized the Oystercatcher was feeding on a rock that was created during the late Jurassic, and that under my feet were 140 million years of geologic history. 

Like all the state parks on the Central Coast, Estero Bluffs is free and well worth a visit.