Today, was what birding is all about: out in the world, looking at the birds! We didn’t get any Lifers, but we got great looks at some favorites! Look at those Brown Pelicans… I always thought they resembled DC-10’s flying across the sky in formation –and it was only this recent trip out of to Ventura when I realized that they’re incredibly graceful in the air!
Our first stop was Ormond Beach, which Tracey and Dai had uncovered. Not only did they meet the caretaker, Walter, but they also saw an Ibis…. The area is behind a chain-link fence, like the Settling ponds. But Ormond Beach is a bird hotspot… and despite the “view” of the gas-fired power plant (Tracey calls it “scenic”), the area functions as an important conservation area for Snowy Plovers and Least Terns. According to Wikipedia, the area was having issues with a very large homeless community (the issue was human waste and crime), but we saw no sign whatsoever of any problem. We got to chat with Walter (learning of his health issues and recent fall), and also chatted with a few people from the Nature Conservatory…
Most of the shore birds are long gone…
Ormond Beach Power Plant slated for removal in near future
Walter lives on site.
We saw Killdeer, song sparrows, American Goldfinches, and a Savannah Sparrow as soon as we arrived.
Walking along the muddy stream, there were not a lot of birds, other than this Great Blue Heron below.
We ended up down on the beach where we saw the most beautiful sight of three Long-Billed Curlews in the surf.
Next stop was the Settling Ponds–another very industrial site, located adjacent to the water treatment facility… again behind a chain-link fence. We saw wonderful mallards and Pie-Pilled Grebes, my favorites: Ruddy Ducks and snowy egrets and a great blue heron…
And finally, it was back to Santa Clara’s Estuary, where we walked with the Ventura Audubon group last month.
Marbled Godwits
So many Mallards!
Dewdrop World 