2015-08-05 Saltworks

Having spent way too much time of late at the computer rebuilding my website, it was important that I get out to the field. Since Wednesday was a Saltworks day, I requested permission to join the team for a tour. Unlike last month’s tour, on this day the team consisted of three; Brian, Robert and myself. Snowy Plover fuzzballs are still present at several locations, so restricted movements are still precautionary. We toured in Brian’s government issued cruiser and stopped at a couple of locations, all the while keeping an eye out for fuzzballs on the road. We also kept an eye out for migrating shorebirds, as at this time of the year, during fall migration something unusual might show up.

Some days are best to just enjoy the company. The photography this day was not stellar, but the company was.

Images from this day include Black-Bellied Plover, Black-Necked Stilt, Elegant Tern, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Least Tern, Long-Billed Curlew, Osprey, Red-Necked Phalarope, Snowy Egret, Snowy Plover and Willet.

On 2015-08-10 Robert Patton reported:

Western snowy plover – 89 total nests (record high), 1 active, at least 17-20 broods of chicks present. California least tern – 29 total nests, none active; most have already left the state on southward migration, but a small number of adults & fledglings remain foraging & roosting in South SD Bay. Western gull-billed tern – 33 total nests, none active; most have already left the state on southward migration, but a small number of adults & fledglings continue with sightings in the past week at San Diego River, along Silver Strand, & around South SD Bay. Double-crested cormorant – at least 54 pairs, 61 nests; most have dispersed but 2 broods of chicks still present. Mallard & gadwall – nesting & ducklings documented earlier in season. Killdeer – nesting documented earlier in season, at least 1 brood of chicks still present. Black-necked stilt & American avocet – nesting documented earlier in season, at least 1 stilt nest still active, multiple broods of chicks still present. Caspian tern – at least 221 pairs, 230 nests; have begun dispersing from site but 1 nest still active, at least 2 broods of chicks & 26 fledglings still present. Royal tern – at least 192 pairs, 245 nests; have begun dispersing from site but at least 52 fledglings still present. Elegant tern – at least 23907 pairs, 24783 nests (record high); most have dispersed from the site within the past week, but approximately 200 chicks & 2500 fledglings still present. Forster’s tern – at least 52 pairs, 52 nests (+ 76 pairs, 81 nests at nearby Chula Vista Wildlife Reserve); most have dispersed from the site but 4 fledglings still present. Black skimmer – at least 348 pairs, 446 nests; nests still active on 3 levees, chicks & at least 12 fledglings present. Mourning dove, horned lark, & Belding’s savannah sparrow documented nesting earlier in season.

Images Below