This post is about the 7th week class of 2020 Birds of the Santa Barbara Region: Intermediate.
Class debuted at Goleta Beach Park. We then went to Atascadero Creek at the end of Ward Avenue in Goleta. A total of 50 bird species were observed.
From the Goleta Pier looking towards the shore, we noticed several Brown-headed Cowbirds mostly females. New life bird for me.
Rock Pigeons cooling off on the beach.
A Brandt's Cormorant was floating low on the surface and soon started diving.
Back on the shore, classmates pointed out to me an American Pipit foraging in the vegetation.
Nonbreeding Pacific Loon close to the beach.
We walked over the bridge towards Sandspit Road and took the bike path east for a short ways to look for juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Herons in the Rookery. No luck.
Adult Black-crowned Night-Heron was keeping an eye on us.
May be this juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron was thinking about its reflection... Who's that odd looking bird down there?
We walked back in the parking lot towards the month of the Slough.
Male Great Blue Heron standing on its nest site, patiently waiting for a mate.
First winter Mew Gull.
A shaggy looking male Red-breasted Merganser.
The following bird species were also seen: Pied-billed Grebe, Western Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Mute Swan (flying), Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Black-bellied Plover, Western Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull and Royal Tern.
Female Belted Kingfisher resting near Atascadero Creek.
Pied-billed Grebe.
Double-crested Cormorants and American Coots were also present.
