The Buena Vista Lagoon

It rained today, though it stopped around noon.  The rest of the day was foggy.

Yesterday it had rained at school and I heard two frogs or toads croaking in the bushes and a song sparrow singing.

I spent this morning at the Buena Vista Lagoon, which is in Oceanside and Carlsbad.  On the last Saturday of every month, there is a birding class and a bird count where we go to different places around the lagoon to birdwatch, and later count and record the species we saw.  Recording the species allows visitors to the lagoon to have an idea of what they can see, and keeps track of bird populations.

Although it rained, a lot of people came.  All together we saw forty-six different species.  If you ever happen to be near the lagoon, the monthly class and count are definitely worth going to.  Below are some photos of the lagoon and of birds at the lagoon.

Below are two views of the lagoon.

Below is a photo of a song sparrow in the cattails.

Song Sparrow

Below is a great egret that was sitting on top of a bush next to a small road.

Great Egret

Below is a snowy egret.  It was just below the great egret.  Notice the differences between it and the great egret above.

Snowy Egret

Below is a European starling in a pine tree.

European Starling

Below are two photos of a Say's phoebe.  Say's phoebes are not as common as black phoebes.  They are found in open areas in the summer on the northern and middle west coast all the way up to Alaska, and are around all year in the southern west coast.  They winter in the far southern west coast and Mexico.  They are more slender than black phoebes, and are grayish-brown on their heads and backs, and pale orange on their chests and bellies.  Also, unlike black phoebes, they making whistling noises.  The two photos below are of the same phoebe.

Say's Phoebe

 

Say's Phoebe

 

Below is a male Allen's hummingbird in the cattails.

Allen's Hummingbird