Montaña de Oro - Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Update

Montaña de Oro State Park - Danger Sign Site - Update on Black Oystercatcher (Bloy) monitoring.  Thirty-one days have passed since I began monitoring the Bloy pair at Danger Sign.  The shale formation they are inhabiting is close to the bluff but not connected.  Most of the time, with the exception of very low tides, it is surrounded by water.  Numerous formations that jut into the sea protect the pair's rocky home from the pounding surf.

Beginning May 21, I have monitored the site eight times.  On June 10th, as I neared the site, I could hear alarm calls.  More than likely the pair were chasing off Oystercatcher intruders.  Within a couple of minutes the pair returned.  Neither of them settling onto the nest.  Perhaps there had been a successful hatching.  One of the pair flew off, soon to return with a white morsel clutched in its bright red bill.  A chick appeared for a few moments.  At the same time I thought I might have seen a smidgen of a second chick.  Yeah!!

Two days later I was back.  There were two chicks.  The parents were occupied in full-time provisioning. One was usually standing guard while their mate was off gathering food. 

My last visit was on Friday the 19th. - Two chicks - Parents bringing in the food.  One chick was visible, the other one mostly hidden.  When both parents are foraging both chicks remain out of sight.

In the above photo, this adventuresome little chick is about nine days old.  My next monitoring date is Tuesday the 23rd.  Can hardly wait.

Black Oystercatcher Monitoring

The Black Oystercatcher is considered an indicator species for intertidal health.  They live, feed and breed on rocky, intertidal shorelines that are vulnerable to rising sea levels, human interference, and predators.  Last year, at Montaña de Oro State Park Ca (MdO), only one of nine recorded nesting attempts produced a nestling that grew to maturity.

The Juvenile that grew to maturity is on the left, to the right, the proud parents of Site 7.  Note the two tone bill of the juvenile. (above photo by Gary O'Neill.)

Conservation efforts for Oystercatchers was limited by lack of baseline information.  A study was needed.  MdO nest monitoring began in 2007.  I am familiar with the MdO Oystercatcher population, having learned details on nesting habits from Sara Kelly, an experienced Oystercatcher (bloy) monitor.  I volunteered to be a nest monitor at Site 7. 

During nesting season Bloys are highly territorial, often nesting in the same location as the year before.  The nest may be in a slight depression or in a space between shale layers.  They share all nesting duties including chasing off interlopers.

9:08 am, Thursday May 21 -  My first monitoring experience began at site 7 aka "Danger Sign," on the north side of Quarry Cove.  The sign has been there as long as I have been volunteering at MdO, and that is over two decades.  I greatly doubt anyone has ever heeded the warning.

Monitoring should be done far enough away from the nest site so as not to cause the Bloy to alert.  They may abandon the nest.  Last year symbolic fencing was installed to keep people from disturbing the Bloys.  Do people climb over it?  YES!!

As soon as I arrived I took out my binocs and began monitoring.  I knew the approximate nest location (center of red circle), but only saw slabs of uplifted shale.  I assumed that hidden from view was a Bloy incubating two to three eggs.  While watching what I thought was the nest site, I took quick looks around for the mate.  About 10 minutes into monitoring a Bloy flew to a nearby
rock and began preening.

Since male and female Bloys look alike, I have named them Babbs and Bob.  Babbs was on a rock preening, Bob was hopefully on the nest.  After a few more minutes Bob rose up from a crack to the right of where I had been focused.  Babbs move in and settled down.  Through a crack in the shale I could see a tiny sliver of a bright red bill.  Now I knew where to look.!!  I had just experienced my first nest exchange. ( At the end of the blog is a youtube video of the exchange.)

The morning was beautiful, sunny, no wind.  Now, Bob was preening and Babbs was sitting on the nest.  All of a sudden chaos reigned.  Three raucous Bloy were flying over the next site.  Bob joined them and a moment later Babbs deserted the nest and flew off with the group.  I was in shock.  No one was sitting on the nest.  I felt helpless.  Fortunately, five minutes later Babbs returned to the nest.  Bob was across the cove feeding.  Later I learned this type of behavior is not unusual. 


My first monitoring experience was very interesting.  I do hope that this pair is successful.  At the present time it is the only nesting pair at MdO.
 

You may have to watch the video more than once, but you can see Babbs settle into the nest site.  From now on I will bring a real camera.

https://youtu.be/srqqWdMBgZw

Sightings While Not Really Birding

Montaña de Oro (MdO) - Bluff Trail -7:30 am -31 days since the "lock down."  The morning was absolutely exquisite!  The sun was attempting to ease its way through the clouds.

First sighting - A flock of turkeys with three males engaged in a slow turkey trot.  Nearby females were not impressed.  I found their display most impressive.

Only a few cars were parked at the Bluff Trail head.  The trail appeared to have been trimmed a bit.  I had only gone a few feet when I saw a Wrentit, a Spotted Towhee, and a bunny nibbling on a stalk of California Sage Brush.

Smugglers Cove - Two years ago a pair of Peregrine Falcon attempted to nest in a horizontal hole located in Smugglers Cove.  Now, two years later, Great Horned Owls are raising two owlets in the same hole.  Yeah!  (photo of adult owl take by Gary O'Neill last Thursday)

The clouds were playing "hide and go seek" with the sun.  There were a few runners and a few walkers, but most of the time no one in sight.  A male Northern Harrier swooped low over the scrub brush.  Fiddleneck glowed in the morning light.

Islay Point - Very tranquil - Fiddleneck in the foreground -  Locoweed Center right.

Locoweed is an early bloomer and prolific along the coastal side of the Bluff Trail.  Locally it is referred to as Rattleweed.

The last time I walked by this railing a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was perched on it.  This morning three Turkey Vultures were warming their wings prior to flight.  I see Turkey Vultures as  gentle, patient and beautiful.

Located a tad north of Quarry Cove is the rock formation where a pair of Oystercatcher, successfully, raised one nestling to maturity.  To my delight the pair appeared to be establishing nesting rights.  Bloy pairs often nest in the same area as the prior year.  The two Bloys are located on the upper edge of the light beige colored rocks.

During my walk I could hear the sounds of Oystercatchers.  Pigeon Guillemot bobbed in the surf.  Despite everything that is happening, our earth continues its seasonal cycles.  Spring abounds at Montaña de Oro.

An unexpected delight - On the way out of the park, barely past the Hazard Peak Trail head, an adorable Long Tailed Weasel crossed in front of my car.  Fortunately, due to an abundance of young bunnies along the roadside, I was driving slowly.   (photo by Gary O'Neill)

Birding With a Bleak Soul

The San Luis Obispo County "stay-at-home" announcement was on March 18, 2020 - feels like that was months ago.  Like many of our residents, I take walks, making a point of keeping six feet from other humans.  Actually, I'm more comfortable at 10 - 15 feet.  People wave, smile, and at times engage in pleasant conversation.

Saturday morning I threw caution to the wind and took off for the Audubon Overlook (6 blocks from my house) and nearby Turri Road.  Total driving distance about 6 miles.

Audubon Overlook - A Song Sparrow was gaily singing as I proceeded down the path to the overlook.  The morning was without flaw.  Across the bay (upper Photo), along the edge of the pickleweed, was a sizable flock of Brant Goose, their delightful chatter carried across the bay.  Photo shows the same flock of Brant feeding in pickleweed on a foggy January day.

Other Birds: Caspian and Forster's Tern, Willet bathing, and a Black-bellied Plover in gray winter plumage.  Out on the bay floated a large flock of mostly Ruddy Duck -  Rufus Hummingbird feeding on pink flowers of a mallow shrub was a special treat.  He was a beauty!

Turri Road Ponds -  On a tiny island, in the center of the photo, perched a Greater Yellowleg.  Upper right, eleven Green-winged Teal, and three Northern Shoveler dabbled.  A dabbling duck is a shallow water duck that feeds primarily along the surface or by tipping headfirst into the water.

   Now, you know the origin of the idiom, "bottoms up."

The next stop, about a mile up the road, is one of my favorite places to bird.  I have named it the cattle pond.  In the rainy season the pond fills.  What a privileged to be here, breathing in the scenery, the scents, and the sounds of the birds.

Five male Cinnamon Teal were feeding in the far section.  Streaking over the pond were White-throated Swifts and Swallows, along the edge two Willet searched for edibles. 

West of the pond is a dilapidated cattle pen.  The corner of the pen, with its old loading chute, scruffy little tree, and aging wooden fencing was attracting three species of birds.  American Goldfinch, House Finch, and California Towhee (photo) were flying in and out of the foliage.  From a section of barbed wire fencing two Cassin's Kingbirds sallied forth in pursuit of insects.  Wilson's Warbler sang from a willow thicket.

Best sighting of the morning was a Lark Sparrow (below) perched atop an old post.  Every few minutes he sang - this was first time I had heard a Lark Sparrow sing.  During breeding season males sing from elevated perches and that is just what he was doing - made my day! 

Afterthought:  As I jotted down my thought, I realized how privileged and fortunate I am to be able to drive to a peaceful rural area and spend time thinking only of birds and the beauty of the day . . . . .

Are MdO Birds Practicing Social Distancing?

Much like humans the answer is yes, no, or sometimes.

Montaña de Oro (MdO)  -  Everything about MdO was Beautiful.  Coastal chaparral vibrant with spring growth, dramatic cloud formations, few people, precious bunnies dashing across the trail, and my favorite MdO bluff birds -  Scrub Jay (below), Quail, Thrasher, Wrentit, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren - Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorant - Oystercatcher, and the newly arrived Pigeon Guillemot.

But the beauty of the morning did little to assuage my deep concern over the welfare of MdO's birds.  Were they practicing "social distancing?"

"Yes!"  for Pigeon Guillemots.  Monogamous Guillemot pairs, obviously aware of the global pandemic, were keeping their distance from other pairs of Guillemots.  I was delighted to see they had perfected the art of social distancing.

"No!"  for the Brandt's Cormorant.  Like some humans Brandt's are very social.  They love to party.

"Sometimes!" for the Pelagic Cormorant.  When nesting they practice social distancing.  After their chick fledge they hang out in flocks, often mingling with other species of Cormorants.

"Sometimes!" for Oystercatchers.  They nest individually, keeping all intruders at bay.  Though, in winter they often gather in flocks, sometimes with friends.  Oystercatchers do need to work on their social distancing skills.

"Yes!"  for the majority of bluff birds.  Social distancing is firmly fixed in their way of life.  After my morning observations I realized that regardless of what happens to the human population, the MdO birds will survive. 

Thought For the Day - "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives.  It is the one that is most adaptable to change."     Charles  Darwin

Birding Big Morongo Preserve

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve  - Morongo Valley Ca.  Audubon Society identifies it as one of the most important avian habitat areas in California.

I was birding with Cathy who has an in-depth knowledge of Big Morongo.  Our first sighting was a pair of soaring Cooper's Hawk.  Eventually one settled on the high point of a distant deciduous tree.  By carefully peering at the photo you may be able to see the Cooper's Hawk in the center.

Big Morongo offers six trails.  With an excellent chance of seeing a Long-eared Owl, we chose the Marsh Trail (below) that wends it's way along a stream and through a marshy area.  Stately Fremont Cottonwood, Red Willow, thorny Mesquite, and California Fan Palm with its dense skirt of fronds, provide a plethora of feeding and nesting opportunities for numerous species of birds.  A long-eared Owl would be a first sighting for both of us.

A few years ago fire burned 2,000 acres of the Big Morongo Preserve.  Last year's rain had been very helpful in the restoration of the wetlands.  Burned Willow and Cottonwood were showing signs of life.  Young Fan Palms were emerging from the wet marsh.

Thorny Mesquite, appearing singed and lifeless was sprouting new life on its blackened limbs.  The Mesquite's mistletoe had also come to life, as it had produced tiny red berries, a primary source of food for the Phainopepla.

In the preserve, the Phainopepla's diet consists primarily of mistletoe berries and insects - males are shiny black, females charcoal grey.  Both have red eyes and a handsome crest.  Their call is one plaintive note.  We had the good fortune of seeing several of these beauties. 

Phainopepla have a symbiotic relationship with desert mistletoe.  After eating berries the Phainopepla defecates.  The fertilized deposit, more than likely, landsingon a branch or twig, eventually growing into a clump of mistletoe, thereby guaranteeing a food supply and a cozy place to nest.

Male guarding his mistletoe.

The Long-eared Owl - Dan, the preserve's owl person had a nesting female Long-eared Owl in his scope.  She was looking directly at us.  She was a beauty!  Dan said the owl pair were not bothered by the people on the boardwalk.  Directly across from the nest was a bench.  Distance from bench to nest about 40 feet.  To say we had a memorable sighting is an understatement. 

Other birds along the Marsh Trail Boardwalk were Oak Titmouse, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, a mixed flock of Lesser Goldfinch, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  In other areas of the preserve were Mourning Dove, Costa's Hummingbird, and a small flock of White-winged Dove. 

Our last sighting of the day was a special, seldom seen, Gray Catbird.  They are related to Mockingbirds and share similar vocal abilities.  Among their songs is a catty mew.  It had a black cap and under tail feathers were reddish.

Birding the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve was rewarding and fun.  I'm already looking forward to the next time. 

Birding Tuesday

Sweet Springs -  From the East Overlook - Green-winged Teal, Willet, Godwit, Ring-billed Gull, and a large brace of Ruddy Duck with a smattering of Bufflehead.  To the west a smaller brace of Scaup.  Whether they were Greater Scaup or Lesser Scaup, I was unable to determine.  I am working on my Scaup ID skills.

From left to right, Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup (google photo)  The lesser has a narrower, purplish  head and smaller bill.  The Greater is 1.5 inches larger, has roundish, greenish head, and larger bill.  I am quite convinced some birds intentionally make identification difficult.

The Pond - Watched 20 Blue-winged Teal splash down in the pond. (above)  They immediately began a vigorous, high spirited bath that entailed much splashing and dunking.  Also in the pond, Green-winged Teal, one Pied-bill Grebe, and two pair of Pintail.

The brilliant white breast of the Pintail is most evident when they are resting along the edge of the pond.  Below a male Kingfisher let itself be known as it landed on a branch.  Their distinct call is described as a loud, dry rattle.

West Overlook - Feeding along the edge of the bay, Willet, Godwit, Western Sandpiper, Greater Yellowleg, Great Blue Heron, and two Black-bellied Plover.  Looking up is a must when you want to see a Bald Eagle or an Osprey in Sweet Springs.  Looking up this fine morning produced a magnificent Bald Eagle.  Yeah!

Montaña de Oro - Black Oystercatcher Update - The family of three continue together.  Seeing this precious family warms my heart.  The juvenile, the one with the two tone bill, is feeding in a splash zone.  Oystercatcher photos by Gary O'Neill.