June 17th
Black-crowned Night-HeronSanta Barbara
An early morning bird walk around the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus with Charlie and Tracey. This followed an overnight stay with Charlie and Jenn. This morning David stayed behind with Jenn looking after James.
We set off at 6AM and return at 10:30AM It was a Graduation day! Crowds were gathering from 8AM and the ceremony started at 9AM with Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance' march on perpetual reprise, to my great amusement. So British at an all American institution! The morning was cool and overcast.
We saw a good range of birds starting with a pair of White-tailed Kite and their two dependant but flying young. Some Snowy Plover, a Killdeer were spotted at the end of Slough Road, Ocean Meadows, and many Cliff Swallow were hawking low across the beach. Strictly speaking the area is restricted access (UCSB) requiring some sort of permit but we were not challenged. It seemed that some Least Tern also had a breeding colony in the dunes at the back of the beach. A probable Pelagic Cormorant was seen passing offshore and a Pigeon Guillemot. Excellent views of a male Bullock's Oriole, several Ruddy Duck and many Red-winged Blackbird on the slough. Mallard here seemed to be males in the main with many of them in full wing moult and most well into eclipse plumage. All told about 50 of them. A couple of Canada Geese a Pied-billed Grebe a few American Coot and an American Goldfinch were also noted.
Near the Marine sciences buildings at the end of Lagoon road and alongside the UCSB lagoon, we found 3 obliging Black-crowned Night-Heron, a Belted Kingfisher and a Western Grebe. Also a loafing group of Brown Pelican and some Double-crested Cormorant on an artificial 'floating' island. Four Willet and a probable Common Tern were seen at the top of the lagoon near the lawns were the Graduation Ceremony was under way. Eucalypts growing everywhere and many other Australian species such as Myoporum, Acacia and Casuarina (sensu lato).
Seven Caspian Tern, all in full breeding attire and several Rough-winged Swallow at Goleta Beach at the end of Sandspit road. Also we found a dozen or more Great Egret, a Greater Yellowlegs and, visible in the tall gum trees on the opposite side of Goleta creek, a Great Blue Heron heronry with perhaps 10-12 nest but maybe more in total. Large young were visible on some nests and some of these young herons had already fledged and were now stalking about the lagoon shoreline. Also found amongst the motley collection of gulls (mostly Western Gull of various sub-adult stages) a very worn plumaged individual that might have been an immature Glaucous-winged Gull.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Brown Pelican and Double-crested Cormorant
Squabbling Caspian Terns.
Three of seven in full alternate plumage at this time of year
Is this an immature Glaucous-winged Gull?
Unidentified Eucalyptus sp. with massive flowers and fruits
We set off at 6AM and return at 10:30AM It was a Graduation day! Crowds were gathering from 8AM and the ceremony started at 9AM with Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance' march on perpetual reprise, to my great amusement. So British at an all American institution! The morning was cool and overcast.
We saw a good range of birds starting with a pair of White-tailed Kite and their two dependant but flying young. Some Snowy Plover, a Killdeer were spotted at the end of Slough Road, Ocean Meadows, and many Cliff Swallow were hawking low across the beach. Strictly speaking the area is restricted access (UCSB) requiring some sort of permit but we were not challenged. It seemed that some Least Tern also had a breeding colony in the dunes at the back of the beach. A probable Pelagic Cormorant was seen passing offshore and a Pigeon Guillemot. Excellent views of a male Bullock's Oriole, several Ruddy Duck and many Red-winged Blackbird on the slough. Mallard here seemed to be males in the main with many of them in full wing moult and most well into eclipse plumage. All told about 50 of them. A couple of Canada Geese a Pied-billed Grebe a few American Coot and an American Goldfinch were also noted.
Near the Marine sciences buildings at the end of Lagoon road and alongside the UCSB lagoon, we found 3 obliging Black-crowned Night-Heron, a Belted Kingfisher and a Western Grebe. Also a loafing group of Brown Pelican and some Double-crested Cormorant on an artificial 'floating' island. Four Willet and a probable Common Tern were seen at the top of the lagoon near the lawns were the Graduation Ceremony was under way. Eucalypts growing everywhere and many other Australian species such as Myoporum, Acacia and Casuarina (sensu lato).
Seven Caspian Tern, all in full breeding attire and several Rough-winged Swallow at Goleta Beach at the end of Sandspit road. Also we found a dozen or more Great Egret, a Greater Yellowlegs and, visible in the tall gum trees on the opposite side of Goleta creek, a Great Blue Heron heronry with perhaps 10-12 nest but maybe more in total. Large young were visible on some nests and some of these young herons had already fledged and were now stalking about the lagoon shoreline. Also found amongst the motley collection of gulls (mostly Western Gull of various sub-adult stages) a very worn plumaged individual that might have been an immature Glaucous-winged Gull.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Brown Pelican and Double-crested Cormorant
Squabbling Caspian Terns.Three of seven in full alternate plumage at this time of year
Is this an immature Glaucous-winged Gull?
Unidentified Eucalyptus sp. with massive flowers and fruits
posted by Ardenna at 4:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home