Early on a sunny Sunday morning five bright-eyed birders gathered with no time to waste – observations had to be complete by 0904, two hours after high tide. First “waterbird†of the day was a Turkey Vulture, on beach patrol right in front of Ray and Carol’s place. But most of the estuary was calm and almost deserted. Biggest numbers were of Mew Gulls, Buffleheads and some American Wigeons, mostly up where the river opens into the bay. We recorded 17 species and 300 individual birds, both down from the March count. Mallard and Glaucous-winged Gull numbers were way down. Even human activity was absent; the motorized paraglider often seen on this side of the Bay was not out, or at least not early enough for us to count.
Kurlene spotted the still head of a Mute Swan raised just above the tall grasses; could it be on a nest? A presumed mate fed quietly in the water close by. Not exactly an indigenous bird, but anyway, one more species for the day’s count.
Next survey will be Sunday May 12, and it looks like another early morning.
Bob and Carol