Birds

After my climb at Mt. Beacon in New York, I decided I needed to practice climbing hills here in San Diego.  The seaside town next to my home has just those type of hills, so I walked to Ocean Beach, which I consider to be an eclectic community and worth a visit.  It has residential streets that run East from the beach through the business area to the top of a ridge and continue down into Point Loma.  On the way, along West Point Loma Boulevard towards the Famosa Slough, I noticed a Snowy Egret up in a tree one block short of the Slough (bird refuge).  See photo below. 

As I neared the entrance of the Slough (West side), I checked out a large tree where I had seen a Night Heron in late August.  As I looked up, there it was.  Of course, I had to take a look to see what other shore birds I might see.  Near the reeds in the Slough, I spotted what might be a juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron.

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Black-Crowned Night heron

Juvenile Night Heron

When I reached the town of Ocean Beach, I embarked on the hill.  I don't know how high I walked, but it was quite a climb.  After my uphill walk, I made my way down the local streets until I reached the Famosa Slough.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that I hadn't missed the bird migration.  Swimming near the front of the East side of the Slough, were two Western Grebes with strikingly long white necks.  I always hope to see a bird I haven't seen before, so this filled the bill, no pun intended.

Western Grebe

Western Grebes

A Bevy of Terns

I was happy to see killdeers but they were too far away to get a good photo  They have two stripes across their chests, giving the appearance that they are wearing sweaters.  Hearing an abrupt flutter,  I turned to see a flock of terns taking off.  In another part of the Eastern side of Famosa Slough (near West Point Loma Blvd.) I saw a group of Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets, as well as a Great Blue Heron.  An aloof Night Heron was posted on the incline above....like it was overseeing the group.  Except for a few Snowy Egrets, they were all getting along.  I've previously observed that Snowy Egrets are very territorial.   In the two years I've been visiting the Slough, this is the first time I've seen this many so close together.

Check out the wingspan

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                               
Thus, I concluded my enjoyable three hour walk.
 

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Fall in NY

Two Butterflies

Butterfly in Fishkill NY near Hudson River

The Butterfly bush in Fishkill, NY, had more visitors.  Quite lovely and enjoyable to view.



 I spotted a Great Blue Heron during a walk at Long Dock Park in Beacon, NY on the Hudson River.  Catching it in a graceful flight was gratifying.

Great Blue Heron near Long Dock in Beacon, NY

A neighbor of my daughter's in Beacon has a bird station where I saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker (lower left).  Treading softly on the "Rail Trail" in LaGrange helped me photograph a Black-capped Chickadee (lower right).

                                                                                   

On September 30, I attended the Spirit of Beacon Parade.  Various organizations, as well as the schools marched.  The marchers, in photo to the left, were dressed beautifully in their colorful gowns.  As I walked along the parade route, I spotted a happy crowd encircling a stage, waiting to hear Pete Seeger sing.  The parade was enjoyed by many residents.

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Bird Watching

When visiting my son and daughter-in-law in Redondo Beach, CA in early June, I discovered a Hummingbird's nest.  I took a picture of the empty nest to show how small it is.  Later the Hummingbird returned.  The second picture shows the bird sitting on the nest.  A while later, my son told me that three birds hatched and the children enjoyed watching the small birds from their window.

                                             



I was at the Famosa Slough in San Diego recently where there was little bird activity.  Then, I spotted what I think was a young Great Blue Heron right in front of me.

The Heron shown at the left below was just hanging out.  Then, along came another Heron.

After a few minutes, the second Heron took off, followed by the first.   They landed in a little island in the center of the Slough, where it appears to be nice and quiet.

Walked to the Famosa Slough twice this week.  On the first trip, a bird popped out of a fir tree about a block from the Slough.  The bird just stood on the cement wall long enough for me to whip out my camera and take its picture.  The bird was a Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk.  I had been looking for a hawk for my photo collection and was so surprised that it lingered long enough for me to take four photos.  Then, just a quickly, it popped back into the fir tree.

Juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk

On Saturday, I returned to the Famosa Slough to attend a monthly Nature and Bird Walk.  I benefit from these walks because the bird watchers usually can identify a bird for me, since I'm such a "newbie."  I usually pore through pictures on the Internet to match the image I've photographed, but sometimes, I just can't find anything similar.  That's where these experienced bird watchers are such a resource.   Also, they are gracious and quite accommodating in helping a "newbie" in identifying birds.

On each visit, I had been watching for a Night Heron, but never found one.  However, this time, the tour leader pointed out a Juvenile Night Heron.  I had to take the photo through a chain link fence.  I've learned that you can't wait for perfect circumstances.

Juvenile Night Heron     

We proceeded to the other side of West Point Loma Blvd to see what we could find.  At the end of the property near the "8" (a major highway) were several Great Blue Herons, Great White Egrets and Snowy Egrets.  They were seemingly oblivious to the highway traffic nearby.  While I watching them, I spied a very small butterfly.    

As we returned to the east side of West Point Loma near the chain link fence, the Juvenile Night Heron had departed and in it's place was the "territorial" Snowy Egret that I wrote about months ago.  He apparently has no problem protecting what he considers his property.

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Famosa Slough Visit

I visited the Famosa Slough here in San Diego last week.  Since it's a wetlands frequented by resident and migratory birds, I like to check out any new birds that might stop by.  I've photographed the Snowy Egret a number of times, but to have seen it getting its meal was quite a coup.

Snowy Egret Fishing for Lunch

Snowy Egret Owns the Place

Little Blue Heron with Lunch

A Little Blue Heron came by for his lunch but he had to work harder.  Apparently after the Little Blue Heron succeeded in getting lunch, the Snowy Egret came to remind him whose yard it was.

A Great Blue Heron was quite a distance from me, but I was able to get a picture as it took off.

Great Blue Heron Taking off for the Day

In an earlier article about the Cabrillo National Monument, I identified a little bird as a Pacific-slope Flycatcher.  I compare my pictures with whatbird.com since I'm learning.  Later, I decided to re-check with the Friends of Famosa Slough. An e-mail with my photograph was sent to other birders and they responded that it looked more like a Lesser Goldfinch.  These people are very gracious and helpful to a newbie. 

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