sid@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Sid Johnson WB6VWH) (12/11/89)
Decided to take Friday off and go birding. Here is a general report on the waterfowl in the So. Calif. area. NEWPORT BACKBAY Lots of birds. Mostly American Wigeon followed by Green-winged Teal, then Mallard, Pintail and Cinnamon Teal. A few Buffle-heads and Ruddies plus one or two Canvasbacks. Also quite few Night Herons and Common Galinule not to mention the ever present Great-blue, Snowy and Great Egret. Shore birds consisted mostly of Marbled Godwits, American Avocet, Dowithcher (Sp.), Black-bellied, Semi-palmated Plovers and Western Sandpipers although we did spot one Solitary Sandpiper. Both White and Brown Pelican, Forter's and Caspian Tern. Two Harriers and one Black-shouldered Kite. Almost forgot the two Clapper Rails. Two weeks ago Buffle-heads were predominant with amost no Teal. Everything else about the same although we did witness a Peregrine stoop on and catch a shore bird only to be persued by a Harrier that was looking for a free lunch. That was the sighting of the day. e day. SAN DIEGO Didn't have much time here. Pintails were definately number one, by a large margin. Shore birds about the same. Just about dusk on the North side of Batiquitos Lagoon We spotted a grayish bird with black and white markings sitting up in a bush. We were looking at the south end of a north facing bird. Looked sort of like a Mockingbird but not quite. Hot dog, maybe a five dollar bird for the day. I tried to sneak around to the side view while Karen continued study from the rear. Just as I brought up the binocs for a good side look the bird flew about 20 feet into the low scrub brush and disappeared. Could have been a Mockingbird but we think it was a Sage Thrasher. Didn't look quite like a Mocker, of fly like one. Had the proper tail markings for a Sage thrasher but we really didn't get enough field marks for a positive ID. It could have been a life bird for both of us but instead turned out to be only a potential $10 bird that flew away too soon. Before I go, my thanks to all of you who responded to my question regarding cats and Pasturella bacteria. -Sid ----- Sid Johnson (WB6VWH) - Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. sid@jato.jpl.nasa.gov UUCP: ames!elroy!jato!sid (818)354-2298