Casual birdwalk
by Andrew Bryant, 28 February 2015.
Saturday was sunny and calm as nine of us gathered for a low-key birdwatching excursion with Neil Hughes and myself.
We began at Palm Beach Regional Park, where we saw a hundred or more Surf Scoters, together with smaller numbers of the “usual suspects” (Horned Grebes, Harlequin ducks, Buffleheads, Barrow’s and Common Goldeneye, American Wigeon, a few loons in the distance, and the ever-delightful Black Oystercatcher. The woods were pretty quiet, with only the occasional Spotted Towhee or Song Sparrow breaking the silence. We did get some nice views of a Red-tailed Hawk.
After a couple of hours spent happily spent peering through spotting scopes, comparing binoculars, and discussing the finer points of identifying Lesser versus Greater Scaup, a few of us ventured out to Stillwater Bluffs. It was again very quiet, except for a quick glimpse of a hummingbird (Anna’s?) and the continual din of sea lions way over at McRae Rocks.
All in all, a quiet but deeply satisfying day, and much more fun than staying home to mow the lawn!
