Christmas Bird Count

Yesterday was the Christmas Bird Count at the Buena Vista Lagoon. All together we saw seventy-one different species.  Afterward, we had delicious chili.

Early in the morning, my dad and I stopped at the Vista Village Creek in Vista (which is in the watershed) to look for Hooded Mergansers. We found three; two females and a male. They've been here for most of the winter. Below are two photos of a male and a female.

Hooded Mergansers

Hooded Mergansers

Before heading over to the Nature Center, we also stopped by Hosp Grove Park. We saw Hermit Thrushes, a House Wren, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a Green Heron there. We also found a beehive. The views were very beautiful in the eucalyptus grove in the early morning light. Below are three views of the park and one of the beehive.

The sky was bright and clear yesterday, though for most of the day, it was a bit chilly and windy. There weren't many birds around at first, but as it warmed up, more came out. Below are five views around the lagoon.

One of the first birds I saw in the morning was a lone Western Grebe. Below is a photo of it.

Western Grebe

There were quite a few House Finches around, singing and eating sycamore seeds. Below is a male house Finch.

House Finch

I would have thought that there would be a lot of California Towhees behind the Nature Center, because there are a lot of other birds scratching around (white crowned sparrows, song sparrows, etc.) and there are probably a lot of bugs for them to eat, but I actually see very few California Towhees anywhere around the lagoon. I don't know why this is. I did see one California Towhee behind the center yesterday, but it soon flew away into a neighborhood. Below is a photo of it.

California Towhee

There were a lot of Anna's Hummingbirds around, singing and chasing each other. There weren't very many Allen's Hummingbirds, though. Below is a male Anna's hummingbird.

Anna's Hummingbird

There were also a lot of Hermit Thrushes, more than I've ever seen before in one place. They seemed to be everywhere, sitting or rustling in the bushes. Below is a Hermit Thrush in the bushes.

Hermit Thrush

There is a small garden area beside the Nature Center full of native plants. There are a surprising number of birds there as well, even though it's a very small space. One of the birds I saw there was a little Townsend's Warbler. It would not stay still, but it did stay fairly low in the bushes, so I was able to take a photo. Below is the Townsend's Warbler.

Townsend's Warbler

In the garden area there was also a large flock of Cedar Waxwings, which we almost never see at the lagoon. They were going back and forth between a berry bush and a sycamore tree. They were very close to us and even when I walked into the garden they didn't fly away. I don't think I've ever been so close to them before. They're very beautiful birds. Below are four photos of them.

Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings

Yesterday we saw the first American White Pelicans of the winter. There were only two, but it was nice to see that they're here again. Below is one of them flying.

American White Pelican

As it became warmer, more raptors came out. One Red-tailed Hawk we saw was being mobbed by about thirty American Crows. The Red-tailed Hawk in the photo below was lucky to not have a single crow after it.

Red-tailed Hawk

We don't often see Turkey Vultures at the lagoon, probably because they like more open spaces (not water), but we did see a couple of them yesterday. Below is a photo of one of them.

Turkey Vulture

There were a few Cassin's Kingbirds around. Below is a photo of one sitting in a tree.

Cassin's Kingbird

We headed down to the beach, where the waves seemed to be a bit higher than usual. Below are two views of the beach.

There was one Willet walking alongside the water.  It didn't seem to mind the people around or the water rushing over its feet.  Below are two photos of it.

Willet

Willet

There were five or six Eared Grebes down by the beach.  They were in their winter plumage and were all very fluffy with bright red eyes.  Below are two photos of them.

Eared Grebe

Eared Grebes

The usual American Kestrel flew in to perch on the telephone wire above us.  It must be the same kestrel every time; it perches in the same spot on the same wire every time we go down to the beach.  Below is a photo of it.

American Kestrel

There were quite a few Forster's Terns in their winter plumage (black eye-patches and black bills).  They were flying around and diving into the ocean.  Below are three photos of them.

Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

There were a couple of Brown Pelicans around that would land in the water to rest, then fly up as a wave was about to crash over them.  Then they would land again to rest, then fly up as another wave came, and they would do this over and over again. Below is one of the Brown Pelicans.

Brown Pelican

There was only one Sanderling at the beach, which was odd, since they're usually in groups.  This Sanderling also acted oddly by sudden turning around and running across the sand away from the water toward where we were standing.  It didn't pause to pick for food; it just ran around.  After doing that for several seconds, it ran back to the water and resumed its normal Sanderling behavior.  Below are two photos of it; one of it by the ocean and one of it running towards us.

Sanderling

Sanderling

Yesterday was the first time I'd ever seen a loon at a bird count.  We saw three of them; two different species.  One of them was a Pacific Loon.  Pacific Loons are found along the Pacific coast from the tip of Baja California to southern Alaska in the winter, and all of Alaska and northern Canada in the summer.  In the summer, they have white bellies, dark backs with small white patches, gray necks, and black throats.  In the winter, they have white bellies, dark backs, and white throats and cheeks.  Below are two photos of the Pacific Loon.

Pacific Loon

Pacific Loon

The other two loons were Red-throated Loons.  Red-throated Loons are found along the east and west coasts of North America from Canada and Alaska to Baja California and Florida in the winter.  They are found in northern Canada and Alaska in the summer.  In the summer, they have black backs, white bellies, gray necks, and red throats.  In the winter, they have white bellies, black backs with white speckling, black caps, and mostly white faces and necks (the pattern of black and white on their heads and necks is similar to that of Clark's Grebes).  They are similar in appearance to the Pacific Loon (in winter), but they are more slender and have much more white.  Below are three photos; one of a Red-throated Loon and a Western Grebe, and two of just the loon.

Western Grebe and Red-Throated Loon

Red-Throated Loon

Red-Throated Loon