Black Skimmers in with the terns...
This is where I left off with my last post on a day trip to the coast...this shallow pool up by the shore bird breeding area.
Once I got down to the lower part beyond that grass was a small group of Willets, with Short Billed Dowitcher and one Greater Yellow Legs. Two of these willets had one leg! They were hopping around
Up on the sign this willet seems to have a healed broken leg...
the Western Sandpiper I saw was rare, but honestly it just has not been reported...like Jen pointed out no green bars in the bar graph basically for the last 2 weeks of June and the first 2 weeks of July, but I think that is only because its hot and no one has turned in a checklist so anyway here it is!
the Western Sandpiper..
I didn't see anybody list the American Oystercatcher so I guess I got lucky and saw these two..
I hoped to see the Whimbrel, but it was no where in sight...some areas were closed. I had been up there 3 hrs and 45 minutes and I took one break but it was getting hot now and I was tired and ready to get back to the parking lot where I had my lunch waiting so I headed back...toward the jetty.
I passed by the sand spit area now under water as the tide is coming in and earlier I had seen one female Black Scoter and now there was more...
The black male and females...there was about 19 all total most were on the beach...
And this ONE Surf Scoter was with them...
I had seen both on the Oregon coast but not these good looks from the high cliffs so this was good to see! Also rare birds! My list ended up with 3 rare birds! So I head for the jetty and there's some Snowy Egret hunting along the rocks...
Some toes missing there...
The Great Blue Heron in the marsh grass blends in so well...
Brown Pelican
The walk back along the dunes has signs like this one and is roped off to protect shore bird and loggerhead turtle nesting areas...
Dogs are not allowed in this area...the high tide was occurring on my walk back so I made a brisk walk and was pretty done when I finally arrived...I had my lunch under one of the picnic shelters...
there's a crab hiding in there...here is one just peeping out of his hole..
This bush is decorated by seashells! The tide is doing the decorating...
It was so neat!!
Lunch!
Then I went to the boardwalk, but with the high tide in, I saw more waders but I had hoped for rails and sandpipers and other shore birds...I did see many Great Egrets, Double Crested Cormorants, and Anhinga's
One Tri-colored Heron,
On the way off the boardwalk spotted some Wood Stork in the trees...
then it was time to head back home...the weather was quite different when I left at 5 pm, and much hotter inland...
On the way home I saw a cloud with a silver lining!!
PEACE
Every day is a new Adventure.
Hello, I love seeing all the birds on the coast. I love your Snowy Egret photo! Congrats on the Western Sandpiper sighting. The shell tree is cute. Great post. Happy birding, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteI Had a great day I was really tired on the drive home walking in sand all day is hard...but I had my day gear with me...that shell tree was so enchanting!!
DeleteThat was the *most* amazing birding day! Incredible sightings and pictures to match. You are so good. And make me even more eager to get out and bird. Not a lot of that going on in my life lately. It will be good to get back to nature walking. Not that I’ll ever have a day like you do regularly.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun day! I enjoyed not having to pick thru the trees to find a bird..lol that's the awesomeness of beach birding!
DeleteWhat a unique enchanting character the fluffy white bird appears to be! I like the “save the birds” signage too. Along the way of saving the birds we also hopefully will save ourselves … from our own self-destructive ways.
ReplyDeleteThank you! How true save the birds and save ourselves.
DeleteGreat series of pictures. The Snowy Egret looks so dramatic with those vivid yellow feet.
ReplyDeleteI had many photos of the Snowy and this one was unique so my fav!
DeleteYou sure had a wonderful day of birding. So many beautiful birds. So happy for you to have this wonderful day. I couldn't believe how expensive the camping was OUCH!
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, this is one of the favored campgrounds in this area so people reserve way in advance for summer camping I can get there in the off season...but trust me it gets very cold there too!
DeleteWish I had been there with you. I would love to see the Scoters and all the terns! I know we will get down there together soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sis...I really hope so too!
DeleteI just realized Huntington Beach is the #1 Hotspot in our State! WaHoo!
DeleteI've just caught up on your coast posts :) It's always so lovely to be by the sea and throwing in a lifer too! The Plover and their chicks are very cute! What a shame about the Willets and their leg problems, though they seem to be managing?
ReplyDeleteYeah I felt bad for them Im sure its fishing line what cost them their legs...they hop around and when they get tired they settle down to rest. The one on the sign has a broken leg! I mis-ID this bird originally due to his smaller size and shorter bill...but the ebird reviewer set me straight :o) I talked myself right into thinking it was a young Solitary Sandpiper with dull coloration, and a less than perfect eye ring..Duh..lol
DeleteFishing line is a problem here too :( I'm always second guessing myself with ID's it's easy to do!
DeleteI've just caught up on the posts Sondra, and a nice change of scene. The tri coloured Heron is beautiful, first time I've heard of one, herons fascinate me, especially when nesting in trees, where they look so out of place. Like vultures they have incredible digestive juices. I watched one on our local reserve eat a stripped shoulder blade of a lamb which had been left out by photographers hoping to entice a fox. It took a few tries but the Heron swallowed it.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave thanks for your comment...WOW! Herons do have remarkable abilities to swallow large prey. They do look so out of place in trees I assume it's due to staying out of the reach of most prey for the chicks. Have a good weekend.
DeleteThat really looks like an awesome spot! Very cool to see scoters out and about walking around. I think I've only seen one (a surf) out of the water once ever. I like the seashell bush too. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen, I was surprised to see them out of the water, I expected to see them drifting on swells in the open water... they are sort of clumsy on land but so attractive!
DeleteAh, the coast! It’s been years since I’ve seen any of these species. You make me hungry for an excursion before I head back to the north country next spring. It won’t be long before the Whimbrels will begin migrating through my neck of the woods, one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great series of photographs here, I did enjoy them, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan