BIRDING THE BEACH

Morro Strand Beach - Weather, overcast, temperature mild, no wind, and few people; in other words, Perfect!  My desire was to hone my Tern identification skills.  As far as I am concerned, definitely not an easy task. My problem is sorting the Elegant Tern from the Royal Tern.

The Elegant is larger than the Royal, and its bill is more orange-red and thicker and less down-turned; even knowing this, when I look at a flock of Terns, they look alike, unless there is a larger Royal Tern (the bigger one) standing next to the smaller Elegant Tern. Recently, a very talented birder told me, if I am remembering correctly, to look at the eye. On the Elegant Tern the black touches the eye, whereas there is a slight space between the eye and the black on the Royal Tern. In the above photo the three Terns, to the rear, appear to have a slight space between the eye and the black, so they may be Royal Terns (I think). My Tern ID skills still need honing.

Included in this flock was a most unusual Tern, one with red legs (right center). Elegant and Royal Terns have black legs. Unfortunately, I only noticed it when reviewing my photos. The sleeping birds are Long-billed Curlew (rear), Heermann's Gull (front).

Enjoyed seeing an Black Oystercatcher among a flock of Heermann's Gull.  Other birds of note - small flock of Sanderling and thousands of Sandpiper with a sprinkling of Semipalmated Plover resting on the beach. While observing the sandpiper, a small raptor sped causing the sandpipers to rise into the air in several swirling masses; they swooped back and forth in tight circular motions, much like a school of fish fleeing a predator. Just hearing the sound of thousands of tiny synchronized wings was an unbelievable treat,

BIRDING AT ITS BEST

Montana de Oro State Park - 9:00 am - The Weather was less than optimal, gray sky and drizzle. Fortunately, no wind. I had come out to see a rare migrant to our area, the Red Crossbill. This is one bird I thought I would never have a chance to see. Fortune shined!

A flock of a dozen plus were busily feeding in the Monterey Cypress on the south side of the Visitor Center. The odd shape of their bill allows them to extract seeds from tightly closed cones, such as those of the Monterey Cypress. They will feed hanging upside down like a Chickadee.

Other birds around the Visitor Center, Steller's Jay, Northern Flicker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Bushtit, Wrentit, and Western Bluebird.

The Crossbill is not the only unusual bird in our area. An American Golden Plover had been seen along the edge of the bay near Cuesta Inlet. Within a few minutes of arrival I spotted her feeding cautiously in the pickleweed. There was no one else around, no dog walkers, which was nice. I was able to look at this graceful, solitary beauty with ease. I am including a barely acceptable photo. Clicking on the photo will give a slightly better image.
The American Golden Plover is amazing. It breeds in Arctic Tundra and has a migratory route of 25,000 miles; of this 2500 miles is over open ocean. Unlike the Black-bellied Plover who forages along the edge of Morro Bay, the American Golden Plover prefers pastures and dryer areas, so having the Golden Plover visit our area is indeed a treat.

Two new species in one day; be still my heart!

ADVENTURE ON THE CENTRAL COAST

The most exciting event of the week were Whales lunge feeding at Pismo. Photo by Mike Baird. I am also including a link to Mike's slide show on the Humpback Whales feeding at Pismo.

There are thousands of birds feeding at the same time as the whales. Pelicans are diving into the water as the whales lunge up. Unfortunately, many a Brown Pelican has gone down the gaping maw of a voracious Whale. I viewed the feeding phenomena from the Pismo Pier a few days a go.
http://www.flickr.com//photos/mikebaird/sets/72157631200845758/show/

Today, from Morro Rock, observed more of this fascinating feeding behavior. The whales and birds were feeding on bait balls, which are huge masses of bait fish packed into a globular mass. I do believe there were trillions of birds, Cormorant, Pelican, Sooty Shearwater, Gull, feeding along with three whales. The action was taking place on the Montana de Oro side of the breakwater, but was able to get an excellent view with binoculars.

Back to birding - Red-necked Phalarope has returned to the Turri Rd. ponds. There were about 40 or so spinning so fast it nearly made me dizzy. Churning up the water brings their microscopic food to the surface.
Tide was just right to see a variety of birds at the Audubon Overlook - Virginia Rail, 6 Greater Yellowleg, Dowitcher, and a very difficult bird for me to identify, Baird's Sandpiper; there were three, two immature and an adult. I spent at least an hour identifying them as they look so much like Western Sandpiper. Nearly forgot about the Spotted Sandpiper at the Morro Bay Marina. Every year one adorable Spotted Sandpiper takes up residence at the marina - was delighted to see it had returned.

PEREGRINE FALCON REHABILITATED

Yesterday I had the pleasure of participating in the release of a rehabilitated juvenile, female Peregrine Falcon. The Peregrine was found on the sandspit on June 26; one of her wings had been broken. She was rehabilitated by Jeri Roberts' at her raptor rehab center. Peregrine photo by Mike Baird. It is not the bird that was released, but could be kin.

Arrangements had been made with the Morro Bay Harbor Patrol to take the Peregrine to the area where she had been found. Jeri arrived with the Peregrine in a cooler, which was just the right size to keep the raptor confined but safe. One end is wire. The ride to the sandspit was delightful. No wind. The Peregrine exited the carrier with great power and soared across the bay. There was some speculation that she was one of the four Peregrines that fledged on the south side of Morro Rock this year. For your viewing pleasure have a less than a minute vide of the experience.  http://youtu.be/M0aC3V7fWAc

MID-SUMMER BIRDING

Morro Strand Beach - North Point - The morning could not have been more beautiful. No wind, sun breaking through the fog, tide coming in, and a variety of shore birds. What more could one ask for.

On the rock formation (photo) were two Black Oystercatcher, a Western Gull and several Black Turnstone (not visible). Counted 12 Black Turnstone feeding and preening on rocks near the shore. May take a little patience to see Turnstone, as they blend in beautifully with their rocky habitat. (Photo)

Turnstones usually travel in flocks, making them easier to see once you have finally located the first one. Another identifier is their song that sounds like a grating rattle; often calling out as they fly between feeding areas.

My birding euphoria was disturbed for a few moments as a mother videoed her son chasing the shorebirds. The boy was running after Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel, Godwit and Willet. Fortunately I was able to get a Whimbrel photo before the birds were disturbed.

During the summer months, it is nearly impossible to go to the beach without seeing an ignorant tourist.

Whew! The sun was warming the beach. Time for an iced Starbucks.

BLACK SKIMMER

A bit it of an introduction is needed to explain how this photo came about. For a couple of months I have been working on "Part 3" of what I call a "documentary" of the building of the Morro Bay State Park Marina Sandspit Boardwalk. The boardwalk is near completion and I wanted to get a few more photos of the men and women of the Calif. Conservation Corps at work.

I had told myself that I did not need binoculars, as I was going to focus my efforts, such as they are, on photography. In the distance I could hear Elegant Terns. Rounding the point I saw, along the edge of the bay, a small flock of terns. Although distant, two of them looked like Black Skimmers. In "Sibley's Guide to Birds," he describes the Black Skimmer as "unmistakeable," definitely my kind of bird. Took a photo, zoomed in, and sure enough they were Black Skimmers. Most every year a few are seen around the bay, but they are usually seen by scope.
(Photo - Black Skimmer, to the left, Elegant Tern)

What makes the Skimmer so unique is their mandible; it is sizable and a bright orange, and the lower mandible extends past the upper mandible. They forage mainly at night, flying over shallow water with the lower mandible skimming the surface. Am I lucky or not?

WHITE-TAILED KITE

It was back to Turri Road this morning. Of course I wanted to check out the birds, but I was also in need of a dose of globally warmed sun. In the ponds, full due to a high tide, noticed a pair of Greater and a pair of Lesser Yellowleg. In the shrubbery along the road, a Gnatcatcher and a Wren let me know I was invading their territory. Above, looking for something to eat, a White-tailed Kite hovered (Photo by Kevin Cole) . Watching this bird hover, then to pause in mid-air, its glorious white tail spread out like slim fingers, is an amazing sight.

About 1/2 mile up the road the sun magically appeared. Between the ponds and the pea field, still in bloom and looking beautiful, managed to see immature Western Bluebird and Cassin's Kingbird feeding on tiny insects; at the rusty corral more Cassin's Kingbird, a female Blue Grosbeak, and a family of Indigo Bunting, mom dad and the kids, dashing back and forth across the road. If I were to rate today's birding, I would give it a perfect 16.