New lifers and the chase.

The park where I live has had some residents return with vigor; at least a few Allen’s Hummingbirds, numerous swallows ( barn and violet green) as well as the California Quail. 🙂

The under-rated Cedar Waxwings frequently come in-and-out in flocks of 20 or more birds.

The last two weeks have also proven to be pretty good regarding lifers as I present to you my most recent.

#169 – Spotted Sandpiper

The wife and I did a walk from Sea Ranch to the Del Mar Landing State Marine Reserve – another beautiful coastal walk along a bluff. While there, we spotted numerous gulls, oyster catchers, cormorants and brown pelicans. I also spotted a bird that seemed out of place to me – where “out of place” means I had not seen them along the bluff trail before. Sure enough, he turned out to be a lifer for me, the Spotted Sandpiper.

#170 – Pacific Loon

Loons… and specifically the common vs red-breasted variety… have gotten me busted by the eBird police twice. But this new lifer is distinct enough that it stands on its own.

#171 – Brant

#172 – Common Murre

Both of these seabirds were seen together. They’re both fairly far off-shore; when seen with the naked eye they look like far-off birds. With my camera, I’m able to get a better visual on them.

They were both seen on ( what I call ) the southern end of the Gualala Regional Park trail – the part that goes into Sea Ranch. And this is where “the chase” begun.

Last spring and summer, we had daily Osprey fly-overs for the park, frequently with an Osprey carrying a fish. It never became boring seeing an Osprey carrying a fish, but it made me want to catch a photo of them fishing – or, more specifically, catching a fish.

Since the Osprey come back in mid-March, I’ve been seeing them sporadically at both the Gualala State Park and over our home park. Infrequently I’ve caught an individual with a fish.

More specifically, when inside the Gualala State Park, they almost always seem to be emanating from the south.

So, yesterday I decided to buck my normal walk of the “grand loop” of the Gualala State park, and venture south into Sea Ranch.

And sure enough, I found my first Osprey fishing. I say this like I’m some sort of authority on being able to suss out what an Osprey is doing, but in this case it seemed reasonable. He was fishing near a particular inlet in the ocean, continuously hovering over a couple of spots – looking intently down. Twice I saw his talons come out and he started a dive… and then aborted. Unfortunately, he moved back up the coast ( north !?! ) and I would never catch back up. But now I have at least a location where I’ve seen him fish. With any luck this year I’ll finally get a photo of an Osprey pulling a fish out of the ocean.