Water Birds--Gulls, Ducks, Terns, Egrets, Herons, Shorebirds

Mr & Mrs Northern Shoveler

This handsome pair of ducks are Northern Shovelers. The name shoveler comes from the shape of their bills. They eat by dipping their heads under water and using the bill to shovel through the mud, weeds, etc for food. They were photographed at Oso Flaco Lake near Santa Maria, CA.

Garganey!

This little duck is a Garganey, an old world duck that is very unusual to find on the west coast. It is believed that it is a male in summer plumage, which will be changing soon. He will have a white crescent on his face, and gray plumage on his sides.

Looking for Food

This photo of the Garganey shows the beginning of the gray plumage on his side that will be distinctive of his species. His facial markings will change to a white crescent on his brown face. He was photographed at Waller Park in Orcutt, near Santa Maria, CA. He is very rare to see on the west coast.

Eating with the Big Guys

This photo will show how small the Garganey is, compared to normal-sized Mallards. These male Mallards were ignoring him, but he seemed to keep up with the best of them. Waller Park, Orcutt, CA.

Flying Flock

This flock of Snow Geese at Salton Sea was flushed from the ground, making a terrific racket, before settling back into the field.

Lines of Geese

This view of flying Snow Geese shows many lines of flying birds, as varying distances, above the open fields at Salton Sea, CA.

Geese Above, Geese Below

This image shows many Snow Geese on the ground, as well as many in flight. Salton Sea, CA.

Cackling Goose

This small goose was photographed at Fairmount Park in Riverside, CA. Once considered a subspecies of the Canada Goose, it is now classified as a separate species. The white "necklace" indicates that this is the Aleutian subspecies.

White Wagtail

Although this bird does not fit into the usual water birds category, it does hang out around water, and doesn't fit in as a perching bird. It walks on the ground, pecking at insects in or near water, and wags its tail up and down. This is a very rare bird in this area--it normally migrates and breeds in Asia and Alaska. Based on its markings, it is likely an immature bird whose internal GPS malfunctioned by a long ways. He was photographed at Prado Regional Park in Chino Hills, CA.

White Wagtail View

This is another view of the White Wagtail found in Prado Regional Park in Chino Hills, CA. This view shows the black markings on its breast. The breast markings and the brownish color on its flight feathers indicate an immature bird. It is a rarity in the US, other than Alaska.

Greater White-fronted Goose

This goose was photographed in Fairmount Park in Riverside, CA.

Who's That Behind Me??

I was birding at San Jacinto Wildlife Area the other day and saw a group of White-faced Ibises. It was late afternoon and they were casting great shadows. I liked the way this one seemed to be looking over its shoulder at his shadow.

Me & My Shadow

After viewing all of Bruno's wonderful shadow images, I was especially observant of the shadows cast by these White-faced Ibises.

White-faced Ibis

These ibises were among many at San Jacinto Wildlife Area yesterday. Post-breeding, the white on their faces is gone, but they maintained some brighter breeding colors.

White-faced Ibis in the Reeds

This WF Ibis was photographed at San Jacinto Wildlife Area yesterday. Sept 4, 2017.

Black-crowned Night Heron

The heron was photographed at San Jacinto Wildlife area yesterday, on Labor Day. There were several immature herons there, but this was the only adult that I saw.

Green Heron

San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Sept 4, 2017.

Green Heron 2

This Green Heron had been squabbling with another one in the reeds, then flew up on this small tree. Its raised head feathers suggests he was still a bit annoyed or excited.

Least Terns

These two Least Terns were photographed at Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach CA. These endangered birds have a protected nesting area there, and were behind the fence. The plentiful rain last winter made this area colorful with flowers.

Ridgway's Rail

This rail was photographed at Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach, CA. This used to called the Light-footed Clapper Rail, renamed the last few years as Ridgway's. They are usually quite secretive and hard to find; luckily this one showed itself quite well for several photos.

Ridgway's Rail

This rail was photographed at Bolsa Chica Wetlands, Huntington Beach, CA.