Moss Landing: More Birds

Tags

bonaparte gull, long-bille curlew, loon, marbled godwit, Marina beach, photography, postaday, song sparrow, surf scoter

The area between the Pacific Ocean and Jetty Road at Moss Landing is small, just a sliver of land in comparison to other wildlife refuges, but it contained a good variety of birds, some I had never seen. I kept going back there, three times in all on different days, and there was always some new animal or bird to photograph.

A colorful duck was a Surf Scoter swimming near the human surfers.

Surf Scoter at Moss Landing beach.

Surf Scoter flapping its wings at Moss Landing beach.

Not to be outdone, a Loon was doing the same thing.

Loon flapping wings at Moss Landing beach.

A young bird counter helpfully pointed out to me a juvenile Bonaparte Gull strolling near the Sea Otters.

Young Bonaparte Gull on a bank of Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing.

Nearby a Song Sparrow was in full singing mode.

Song Sparrow at Moss Landing.

A Brown Pelican occasionally flew by the surfers, checking them out and making sure they knew what they were doing.

Brown Pelican at Moss Landing beach.

Only a couple miles from Moss Landing beach, Cliff Swallows had built their nests under the overhang of a building.

Cliff Swallow in nest.

On the beach, many Long-billed Curlews and Marbled Godwits were strolling on the sand, looking for food morsels.

Long-billed Curlew on Moss Landing beach.

Marbled Godwit at Moss Landing Beach.