July 4 - Meadowlands birding

This morning I made a brief visit to the Meadowlands areas near De Korte Park. While I did not see the Common Moorhen that I was looking for I did find my other target birds. There were several Least Bitterns as I saw two in the reeds and another 3-4 in flight.



credit: www.birdspix.com

Credit: Burt Barnett


I was able to get stunning views of a pair of Barn Owls:


What surprised me today was just how long their legs are !

Other interesting birds seen today: Willow Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Wood Duck, Eastern Kingbird, Osprey, Swallows of Tree, Rough-Winged, and Barn.

June 29 - Black Rail

I was very fortunate in seeing the Black Rail that has been at the South Cape May Meadows for the past several days. I got some very nice views as it ran across the path.




Credit final 3 images: Steve Kacir

June 20 - Robert Moses State Park

I took the ride out to eastern Long Island this morning to do some sea-watching. The results were good as I added a lifer (#593) in the Cory's Shearwater. I saw at least 3 of them today.

credit: http://web.me.com/birdmom/LI_Birds


Also seen were a few Greater Shearwaters:

credit: http://web.me.com/birdmom/LI_Birds


We also saw nearly a dozen of the Wilson's Storm Petrels:
credit: http://www.neseabirds.com/graphics/cicconewsp62808.jpg

June 7 - Ventura area

I stayed local today on my last morning of birding on this trip. Tomorrow is the long flight back home...

I stopped on the oceanfront at Mugu Rock and later hiked up part of Sandstone Peak on the advice of local guy and former Jersey native named Dave Perekstra. Thanks to him I added another lifer !

Pacific Loon (#592)

Brandt's Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
W Grebe
White-Throated Swift
Rock Wren

Red Tail hawk
Cal Quail
Modo
Anna's Hummer
Black Phoebe
W Scrub Jay
Raven
VG Swallow
WT Swift
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Canyon Wren
Wrentit
Gnatcatcher
Mocker
Cal Thrasher
Black-Headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Cal Towhee
Black-Chinned Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch

Eurasian Dove
Killdeer
TV
Least Tern

I dipped on the Sage Sparrow. I heard it sing twice but never got to see it, so I'll have to try again for this one some day in the future when I am out west again...

June 6 - SoCal Pelagic to Santa Cruz

The long-awaited pelagic trip took place today and there were fine results. I suspect that I won't ever have another day in North America where I get 6 life-birds !

All images copyright Jo McKenzie.

Birds seen today:

Black-Footed Albatross (#586)

Pink-Footed Shearwater (#587)

Sooty Shearwater (#588)

Brown Pelican
DC Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Black Oystercatcher
Forster's Tern
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Xantu's Murrelet (#589)

Cassin's Auklet (#590)
White-Throated Swift
Allen's Hummingbird
Pacific-Slope Fly
Black Phoebe
Ash-Throated Fly
Island Scrub-Jay (#591)

June 5 - Santa Barbara

I had only a few hours free today and the first hour was filled with showers. So there was more driving than birding today. I did get the Yellow-Billed Magpie as a lifer but dipped on the Chestnut-Backed Chickadee.

W Grebe
Brown Pelican
DC Corm
Brandt's Corm
TV
Red-Shoulder Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk
Kestrel
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
Royal Tern
Modo
Rodo
Anna's Hummer
Allen's Hummer
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttal's Woodpecker
Western Pewee
Pac-Slope Fly
Black Phoebe
W Kingbird
W Scrub Jay
Yellow-Billed Magpie (#585)

credit: http://k43.pbase.com/g6/73/614773/2/73377495.8XQFXW4t.jpg

Raven
Rough-Wing Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Oak Titmouse
W Bluebird
Robin
Mocker
Starlng
Cal Towhee
Song Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Oregon Junco
W Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Hooded Oriole
L Goldfinch

June 4 - Ventura

A long drive from the desert to the ocean but a very nice change of scenery. The ocean smells great !

House Finch
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Dove
Anna's Hummer
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
Cal Gull
Glaucous-Winged Gull (#584)

Brandt's Cormorant
DC Corm
Brown Pelican
Common Tern
Cliff Swallow
Crow
Raven
Western Grebe - I stopped counting at 500 and there were easily several hundred more.

Tomorrow is north up to Santa Barbara...