Long-Billed Curlew

Long-Billed Curlew, Mission River Preserve, San Diego, CA.

Finding Tranquility Along The Mission River (A.K.A. Bird Nerd Has Fun)

The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry for January, hitting the 70s and low 80s (F) in the daytime.  It's still been in the 40s and 50s at night, just to remind us that it is really January.  Clearly, however, there is no Polar Vortex here.  Perhaps the Polar Vortex pushed all the hot air over the Southwestern edge of the country.  

Fire danger warnings have been issued and the California Governor has also declared a drought emergency and water rationing for much of the state.  There is a huge fire raging outside of Los Angeles that forced over 3000 people to evacuate their homes.  

Still, the worries of the world seem far away when you walk in some of the many preserves here in San Diego.  These pictures are two of my favorites from today's walk in the Mission River preserve.  I hope they help you imagine the peace and tranquility of the moment.  While we didn't see any new birds (new to me anyhow), most of our favorites were there including northern shovelers, blue-winged teals, American wigeons, green-winged teals, cinnamon teals, ruddy ducks, buffleheads, northern pintails, egrets, little blue herons, great blue herons, avocets, curlews, and many more.  Days like these remind me why we live in San Diego.

 Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, stretching his wings and tail (and looking a bit fierce).  This little guy let me get close enough to get some great shots with the telephoto, occasionally flitting from one branch to another, while I snapped more pictures than I care to admit to.

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, demonstrating that ducks really can walk on water.  The feathers on the head of a Northern shoveler glow an iridescent blue-green when the sun reflects off of them.  However, in the shadows, they look a dark black.  The trick, of course, is getting the sun in just the right angle for a photo.

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, out looking for a bite on a cool but sunny new years day.

Why is a Killdeer So-Named?

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus, giving me a cautious look as it keeps its space from the goofy photographer with the big lens! Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. Killdeers are not named because they murder bambi in cold blood; they are named after the sound of their piercing call. This is a somewhat common way to name birds, particularly for many shorebirds, such as the Kerwit, Curlew, and Godwit.

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, at the Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. These adorable ducks spend the Winters in San Diego every year and can be easily recognized by their large, shovel-like beaks. They spend their summers throughout North America all the way up through Alaska and Winter in the Southern states down through Mexico. I love the way the feathers on their head glow a deep purple when the sun hits them just right, their big gangly beaks that seems too big for their heads and those funky lemon-yellow eyes.

National Bird Day - An Avocet Afternoon

American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana, feeding in the shallows at the Mission River Preserve in San Diego, California. What better way to spend the afternoon on National Bird Day than to go out and watch the migratory waterfowl at the Mission River Preserve in San Diego? As if they knew, the birds were out in full force! There were ducks, herons, egrets, grebes, cormorants and two types of pelicans plus gulls galore! The annual Winter waterfowl migration to San Diego always makes Winter days a whole lot cheerier.

Snowy Egret Contemplating Himself

Snowy egret, Egretta thula, contemplating himself in the waters of the Mission River.

Horned Grebe with Goby for Dinner

Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus, with goby, Mission River. Little mud Gobies are a favorite food for many of birds in the Mission River Preserve. For some of the smaller birds, like this Horned Grebe, swallowing them can be as tough as catching them.

Western Grebe and Reflection

Western Grebe on glassy water, Mission River, California.

Western Grebe on the Prowl

Western Grebe on the prowl for small fish in the Mission River. As I watched the grebe swim just under the surface of the water, I wondered if ancient pleiosaurs swam like it and if this little grebe was a link back to a magnificent past where the pleiosaurs ruled the seas.

Least Tern Working for a Living

Least Tern, Sterna antillarum, in Winter colors, as it emerges from a dive into the water after small fish in the Mission River Preserve.

Pelican Over Water

Pelican Over Water, Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California.

American Avocets, Winter Plumage

American Avocets, Recurvirostra americana (so named for it's upturned beak -- aka recurved rostrum), resting on an exposed sand bar in the middle of the Mission River. Yes, the Avocets are back sporting their ever so stylish black and white formal Winter plumage! I had been to the Mission River for years without ever seeing an avocet until I realized that the little guys hang out in the shallows in the MIDDLE of the river, far from feral cats and stray dogs. Now that I know where to look, they're readily visible, albeit with a huge lens or perhaps binoculars.

I also puzzled for quite a while over the funky upturned beaks, wondering how they manage to eat anything at all with such beaks. However, it became fairly obvious upon watching them feed. They sweep those upturned beaks in shallow water over the mud and sand bottom kind of like a scythe cutting through wheat. The beaks scare up small water bugs and crustaceans which, as they are trying to flee the disturbance, become the Avocet's next meal.

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. We went to the preserve to see if the ducks had made it this far South yet. They had not. There was not a duck to be seen anywhere. There were, however, lots of terns, egrets, herons and an early flock of avocets.

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus, (Winter Coloration) at the Mission River Preserve. This little migrant spends its Summers in Alaska and its Winters in Southern California and Baja. It is identifiable by the white wedge on its rump.

Just So Much Duck Food...

Eel Grass, Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. Eel grass is a favorite food for the migratory Brandt geese and many of the ducks (pintails for instance). Clearly, the eel grass is none the worse for the wear, considering that hundreds of ducks have been chowing down on it all Winter long! I snapped this picture to show the huge expanse of deep green eel grass but it really doesn't do it justice. Ironically, you have to get up on the overpass to see it since the water reflection pretty much hides it if you're looking in at a lower angle. It's a wonderful habitat for all sorts of bass, minows, crabs, clams and invertebrates and provides food for the flourishing water bird community there.

Handsome Mug

Osprey, Mission River. Now is that a handsome mug or what? Just hamming for the camera while he/she? waits for the next fish to swim by (Ospreys eat fish...).

Great Egret Doing O's

Great Egret, Mission River Preserve. A Great Egret flying low over the water making lazy O's with his reflection.

Green Winged Teal

Green Winged Teal, Anas crecca, Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. Attractive little ducks with a green eye band! These were mostly in pairs or small groups sunning on the shore.

Great Egret

Great Egret, Ardea alba, Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. These large birds are generally a little shy and will take to wing if you get within a hundred feet or so. They are fun to watch, however, as they stalk through the shallows looking for fish and crustaceans.