Sunday, December 11, 2022

Bolsa Chica State Beach & Ecological Reserve

 

We spent a week at Bolsa Chica State Beach near Huntington Beach CA
This is looking north toward Long Beach.

Large flocks of Western Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers resting 

Western Gull warning you due to bird rich environment, the camera just kept on
shooting images (a half-hearted apology for the blog length).

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Ecological Reserve across the busy Pacific Coast Highway
from our campground was extremely inviting.

Miles of diked trails provided us a list of 91 bird species.

Long-billed Curlew

Marbled Godwits flushed by Peregrine Falcon

Long-billed Dowitchers

Willet

Low Tide concentrates fish and fish-eating birds.
Double-crested Cormorants, Reddish Egrets, Snowy Egrets & Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret raises hackles - threat display to chase other egrets away



Little Blue Heron stretches 

Great Blue Heron in nesting area

Black-crowned Night-heron Juvenile

Reddish Egret reflects double

Reddish Egret on the hunt!

A trio of White-faced Ibis

American White Pelicans over-winter

Am. White Pelicans display their fishing method:  swim, surround and scoop

Brown Pelicans, year round residents

Brown Pelicans display their plunge dive fishing method

Horned & Eared Grebes fishing together

Horned Grebe, brilliant red eye

Large Western Grebe

Good numbers of songbirds - House Finches....

Belding's Sparrow (large-billed Savannah Sparrow)
Resident of Southern California Coastal Salt Marshes

Rufous Hummingbird

Urban Coyote close encounter (15 feet away)
Adapted to daily joggers, dog walkers and birders.

Checking scent marking from other coyotes

After contributing his own scent scratches turf

Eucalyptus Blossom

Lesser Scaup

Large Flocks of Lesser Scaup winter here

Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

American Wigeon

Am. Wigeons, most common duck species encountered

Searching through them all, Ah!! Something different..

Eurasian Wigeon - a rare find!

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal pair

Beautiful wingpatch - Green-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal pair

Bufflehead drake and hens

Bufflehead irridescent feathers

Ruddy Duck drake - winter plumage

Red-breasted Merganser hen

Redhead pair

Northern Shoveler drake

American Coot - large lobed feet

White-tailed Kite

Red-tailed Hawk pair - dark morph on left

Merlin

Osprey ruffles feathers.....

takes flight...

brings catch next to our RV..

with large mullet..

cannot believe it ate the whole thing.

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean, Santa Catalina Island on the left

After dark, the lighted oil rigs are still pumping through the night.

The Christmas lights are everywhere, reminding us that it is time even though it doesn't feel like it.
We see God's creation and praise Him that He sent Jesus to Earth to save us.
Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann











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