Birding - California's Central Coast - August 27 - 2008 - A quick walk on the muddy edge of the bay from the Baywood Pier to the access area near the Audubon Overlook, netted the usuals and small mixed flocks of West. Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover, also a solitary, bopping to beat the band, Spotted Sandpiper and a lone Black Turnstone, and eleven Greater Yellowlegs. Scads Of Forster's Tern hanging out on the oyster beds.  I wonder how all that excrement affects the oysters.  The oyster beds are a roosting place for many species of bay birds.  Does not make the thought of eating one of those oysters appealing.
    Birding - California's Central Coast - August 25 - 2008 - Nothing like being behind in my birding blog.  Today, around 4:00 Linda calls and wants to know if I am game for a little, spur of the moment, birding.  Of course!  We  checked out the Red-necked Phalarop in the Turri Road Ponds, then onward to the Estero Bluffs.  We entered at the fig tree which is the next turn out after the windmill.  We could hear and see the birds from the parking area.  A wild feeding frenzy was in progress.  Cormorants, Terns, Pelican, Gulls were going for the smelt.  On the beach and rocks were Turnstones, a Long-billed Curlew, Killdeer, Black Phoebe.  In the brush we saw a couple of Savannah Sparrow.  What I really liked about this Frenzy was the sounds of the birds.  The weather was almost too warm with just a little breeze, and we were the only ones out there observing this amazing phenomenon.

On the way home we swung by Windy Cove, and lo and behold another intense feeding frenzy was in full swing, and I do mean intense.  Today's tide was quite high and at Windy Cove the water comes nearly into the parking area.  We sat on a log and just a few feet from us Terns were diving for and catching and eating smelt.  In this frenzy there were Cormorants, Gulls, Pelicans, Elegant and Royal Terns, Harbor Seals and cavorting Sea Lions.  Along the shore were Great and Snowy Egrets.
    Birding - California's Central Coast - August 10 - 2008 - Morro Strand State Beach - One week after my last beach walk.  Many fewer people but more surfers.  Only saw 3 Semipalmated Plover, no Whimbrel.  Elegant Tern was very noticeable and vocalizing which I find delightful.    There were several flocks on the beach.  What alarmed me were two dead, Common Murr (I think) and several dead Brown Pelican.  Is this normal or not???
              
    Birding - California's Central Coast - August 8 - 2008 -  Birding around the edge of Baywood this morning, tide low - 2 Black-bellied Plovers still in breeding plumage (always a treat) - 2 Western Sandpiper, numerous Willet and Godwit, a few Long Billed Curlew, numerous Forster's and several Elegant Tern.  One Brant Goose.  The migrants are returning.
      Birding - California's Central Coast - August 2 - 2008 -  Finally got out for some birding on Morro Strand State Beach.  Weather mild with fog here and fog there - most delightful.  Migrants returning.  Sightings - West. Sandpiper - Whimbrel
Semipalmated Plover - Snowy Plover (the precious darlings). Heermann's Gull - Royal and Elegant Tern - Long-billed Curlew.  One Am. Oystercatcher resting  on the beach - Gr. Egret feeding in the surf (always a treat). B
            Below - Heermann's Gull                         
    Birding - California's Central Coast - July 8 - 2008 -  I can't believe how far behind I am in birding.  Well, I am back in the groove.  Checked out the Cloisters Pond and Park.  First birds I saw were two Tricolored Blackbirds among a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.  In the reeds around the pond were numerous Black-crowned Night Herons,  a Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Grackles.  The Grackles are much calmer now that the mating season is winding down.  The usual birds were in the dunes, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Am. Goldfinch, Bushtits.  Walked out to the beach - 40 Long-billed Curlew - most were sleeping.  Perhaps they had just arrived.  Herrmann's Gulls and lots of Surf Scoters.  Brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants.  Did not see an Plovers.
   Birding - California's Central Coast - June 25 - 2008 - Cloister's Pond - Morro Bay - Male Grackles chasing females.  Most amusing and noisy.  Five otters in the Morro Bay Channel.  Quiet around the rock except for Gulls and Cormorants.
    Birding - California's Central Coast - June 22 - 2008 - Morro Strand State Beach - North Point - Very Low Tide - wonderful for observing the tidepool critters.  Four Mature Black-crowned Night Herons feeding in the surf and one Great Egret.   Caspian and Royal Tern passing by.  Small clusters of Herrmann's Gull at surf's edge.  Exquisite morning.
                   
 
                         

 

home