07-MAY-2009
Dolphin @ Laguna Beach IMG_6256.JPG
First afternoon we saw these Dolphins in the surf from the hotel room. I think they are Bottlenose Dolphin. They chased schools of small fish practically onto the sand.
07-MAY-2009
Porpoises Laguna Beach IMG_6257.JPG
These pics aren't great. I had hoped to get better but the opportunity did not arise.
07-MAY-2009
Pelican Rock Laguna Beach IMG_6266.JPG
About a half mile up the beach from the hotelwas the rock we called Pelican Island.
07-MAY-2009
Pelican Rock Laguna Beach IMG_6259.JPG
The rock was segregated, w/ Cormorants always predominating on the eastern end, pelican else where. These are mostly Brandt's Cormorants, though I did see Pelagic Cormorants there too. I didn't ID and Double Crested Cormorants here.
07-MAY-2009
Pelican Rock Laguna Beach IMG_6269.JPG
The roosting Pelicans at times looked calm and stately, dignified.
07-MAY-2009
Pelican Rock Laguna Beach IMG_6311.JPG
But when new birds flew in, which was common, peace devolved into chaos.
07-MAY-2009
Pelican Rock Laguna Beach IMG_6308.JPG
07-MAY-2009
Br Pelican flight IMG_6373.JPG
I was complulsively shooting flying pelicans but I wont show too many of the resultant pics here.
07-MAY-2009
Lost your Bro s IMG_64089.JPG
I climbed the bluff rather than wade through the rising tide on the way back. My sister took the beach path. I snapped these as she looked for me up the beach.
07-MAY-2009
Lost your Bro IMG_6391.JPG
08-MAY-2009
Blk Necked Stilt Bolsa Chica b IMG_6622.JPG
The next morning we went to Bolsa Chica.
My Mom was very patient as I shot birds there all moring. many nice shore birds and waders there including this Black-Necked Stilt.
08-MAY-2009
Blk Necked Stilt Bolsa Chica IMG_6620.JPG
For the sake of brevity, I'll try to restrict myself to two pics of each species, unless the views angles or content force me to show more.
08-MAY-2009
Common Tern Bolsa Chica IMG_6436.JPG
This Common Tern was visited periodically by another; suitor or mate?
08-MAY-2009
Common Tern Bolsa Chica IMG_6480.JPG
All around us, various terns were diving in for fish, here's one after a successful dive.
08-MAY-2009
Eared Grebe Bolsa Chica b IMG_6532.JPG
This Eared Grebe was diving for food, popping to the surface only briefly before disappearing again.
08-MAY-2009
Eared Grebe Bolsa Chica IMG_6533.JPG
08-MAY-2009
Elegant Tern Bolsa Chica IMG_6429.JPG
08-MAY-2009
Elegant Bolsa chica IMG_6644.JPG
Flybys on a predictable path; I got to shoot several.
08-MAY-2009
Elegant Terns Bolsa Chica h IMG_6427.JPG
Two w/ one shot! Oh, momma!
08-MAY-2009
Least and Forsters Terns Bolsa Chica IMG_6491.JPG
Other Terns were sitting, like these two. The Forster's Tern was being attended to and fed by another; mate, suitor, or parent?
08-MAY-2009
Least Tern Bolsa Chica IMG_6407.JPG
The Least was going after it's own food, seen here eating a small fish it'd caught.
08-MAY-2009
Red Knot Bolsa Chica IMG_6554.JPG
This Red Knot in breeding plumage was one of the highlights of the trip for me. A fine bird!
08-MAY-2009
Red Knot Bolsa Chica IMG_6542.JPG
Here it's feeding, fattening up for a still long journey to breeding grounds on the Arctic front.
08-MAY-2009
Semipalmated Plover Bolsa Chica IMG_6568.JPG
This Semipalmated Plover is also on it's way North.
08-MAY-2009
Semipalmated Plover Bolsa Chica IMG_6576.JPG
Most of it's brethren are already in Alaska by now.
08-MAY-2009
Short-Billed Dowitcher Bolsa Chica IMG_6509.JPG
This Short-Billed Dowitcher is also lingering, but it has less of a journey, only to the South Coast of Alaska probably for these birds.
08-MAY-2009
Short-Billed Dowitchers Bolsa Chica IMG_6483.JPG
I guess it won't travel alone.
08-MAY-2009
Western Sandpiper Bolsa Chica IMG_6456.JPG
Although we saw several of these Western Sandpipers, it's nothing like the flocks of thousands to be found here in winter. Very pretty, dressed in it's breeding plumage.
08-MAY-2009
Cal Towhee Bolsa Chica bc IMG_6767.JPG
Munching berries, it's apparently unconcerned with another in the parade of birders w/ big lenses trooping by.
08-MAY-2009
Coopers Hawk Bolsa Chica IMG_6793.JPG
I'm sure this Coopers Hawk got the Towhee's attention even from a distance, as it soared overhead.
08-MAY-2009
Dunlin W Sndppr Bolsa Chica IMG_6705.JPG
The Dulin here with two Western Sandpipers, is also sporting it's breeding plumage.
08-MAY-2009
Dunlin W Sndppr Bolsa Chica IMG_6728.JPG
A drab bird in winter, it's quite pretty now.
08-MAY-2009
Fence Lizard Bolsa chica IMG_6806.JPG
This female Western Fence Lizard posed on the trail. Note the lumpy lower abdomen, she's getting ready to lay eggs soon.
08-MAY-2009
GrBl Heron nest Bolsa Chica IMG_6754.JPG
The Great Blue Herons nesting here were local celebrities, and had drawn a crowd of mostly local birders watching. If you look carefully, you can just make out the fuzzy heads of a couple of the nestlings.
08-MAY-2009
GrBl Heron nest Bolsa Chica IMG_6760.JPG
I should've taken a shot of all the cameras aimed at this nest, there were about a half dozen, counting me.
08-MAY-2009
Great Egret Bolsa Chica IMG_6741.JPG
What can you say about Great Egrets, they're GREAT!
08-MAY-2009
HB sp. Bolsa Chica IMG_6787.JPG
Anna's females, like this one, don't show the overpoweringly flashy gorget of the males, but are nice still.
08-MAY-2009
Ring-Billed Gull Bolsa Chica IMG_6748.JPG
08-MAY-2009
Snowy Egret Bolsa Chica IMG_6735.JPG
The downward looking angle of this pic is different from most of my Snowy Egret shots..
08-MAY-2009
Whimbrel IMG_6824.JPG
After Bolsa Chica, we went to Back Bay Drive in Newport. Very nice and birdy area, not too many pictures. This Whimbrel was pretty far away.
08-MAY-2009
Song Sparrow on Back Bay Drive IMG_6826.JPG
...and this Song Sparrow too close!
08-MAY-2009
Some pretty rocks Dana Point IMG_6915.JPG
After dinner we went to Dana Point and saw some rocks. This rock is a Green Shore Crab.
08-MAY-2009
Spotted Sandpiper Dana Point IMG_6930.JPG
We also saw this Spotted Sandpiper.
08-MAY-2009
Spotted Sandpiper Dana Point IMG_6934.JPG
In winter, Spotted Sandpipers aren't spotted.
