Saturday 28 February 2015

California 3rd February 2015

We spent our second morning in coastal California at La Jolla. It was our first visit to rocky shoreline so we were hoping for a few new wader species. We did have a few Black Turnstones feeding amongst the resting California Sea Lions and Brandt's Cormorants. However there was no sign of any Surfbirds or Black Oystercatcher. Thankfully I had an extra week around San Francisco for a second chance at these species. We also had our first Pelagic Cormorants here along with good numbers of Heermann's and Western Gulls.

We spent the afternoon at a nearby local park where several Varied Thrushes had bee reported on eBird. We eventually managed to catch up with a few individuals but they were rather elusive in nature. California has experienced a bit of an influx of this species this winter and they are often difficult to come across in normal winters. We also had our first Califronia Towhees, White-throated Swifts, Red-shouldered Hawks and Goshawk.

Wester and Heerman's Gull

Adult summer Heermann's Gull

Adult winter Heermann's Gull

Adult Heermann's Gull

Second-winter Heermann's Gull

Adult Heermann's Gulls

Adult Heermann's Gull

Adult Heermann's Gull

Adult Heermann's Gull

Adult Western Gull

First-winter Western Gull

First-winter Western Gull
Second-winter Western Gull
Second-winter Western Gull
Third-winter Western Gull

First-winter California Gull

Royal Terns

Royal Terns

Royal Tern

Brown Pelican

Pelagic Cormorant

Snowy Egret

Spotted Sandpiper

Black Turnstone

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk
Varied Thrush

Varied Thrush

White-throated Swift


Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush
California Ground Squirrel

This caused a bit of confusion when I called Osprey.
 

3 comments:

  1. Hi Dermot. Not sure if my first comment took. Looks like a great trip. If your in San Fran I'd recommend Palo Alto wetlands. Check out the burrowing owl dire at the entrance.

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  2. I was there 2 weeks ago. Full of shorebirds and nice scrub areas around. Also recommend Rancho San Antonio in the foothills to the west of Cupertino. Have a great trip. John

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    1. Hi John, I've been back in Ireland since 19th Feb. I actually did visit Palo Alto on my first morning in San Francisco, great views of Canvasbacks.

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