I don't have lots of time to write this, so I'll keep it short and sweet.
There has been a Ruddy Turnstone reported at Coal Oil Point in Goleta for some time, and several times in the recent week. This is a relatively unusual visitor to the South Coast of Santa Barbara County, so I have been hoping to track it down. I was in the area earlier this week, but the tide was high - Turnstones are shorebirds that like to pick over the exposed rocks and weeds at low tide.
Today I decided to swap things and go looking for the Ruddy Turnstone in the afternoon at low tide. Along the way I stopped at the old Ocean Meadows golf course, where the wintering (and lately absent) Grace's Warbler was reported this morning. I did not really expect to see it, as these types of birds tend to be more reliable in the morning - like me, they enjoy their siestas. It did not surprise me by making an appearance. At least it is still around, so I might catch up with it yet.
I made my way over to Coal Oil Point, parked my bike on the bluff, lifted up my binoculars - and practically the first thing I saw was the Ruddy Turnstone! It was too far away for a photo, so I made my way down to the beach. It took a little while to refind the bird, as it had moved, but I followed it around and did the best I could getting a photo given the unfavorable direction of the sun.
Another good bird added to the year's list!
I include a photo of the more locally common Black Turnstone for comparison.
After the addition of today's 1 species, the year's total stands at 177.
There has been a Ruddy Turnstone reported at Coal Oil Point in Goleta for some time, and several times in the recent week. This is a relatively unusual visitor to the South Coast of Santa Barbara County, so I have been hoping to track it down. I was in the area earlier this week, but the tide was high - Turnstones are shorebirds that like to pick over the exposed rocks and weeds at low tide.
Today I decided to swap things and go looking for the Ruddy Turnstone in the afternoon at low tide. Along the way I stopped at the old Ocean Meadows golf course, where the wintering (and lately absent) Grace's Warbler was reported this morning. I did not really expect to see it, as these types of birds tend to be more reliable in the morning - like me, they enjoy their siestas. It did not surprise me by making an appearance. At least it is still around, so I might catch up with it yet.
I made my way over to Coal Oil Point, parked my bike on the bluff, lifted up my binoculars - and practically the first thing I saw was the Ruddy Turnstone! It was too far away for a photo, so I made my way down to the beach. It took a little while to refind the bird, as it had moved, but I followed it around and did the best I could getting a photo given the unfavorable direction of the sun.
Another good bird added to the year's list!
I include a photo of the more locally common Black Turnstone for comparison.
Black Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
After the addition of today's 1 species, the year's total stands at 177.
Today I rode 29 miles
More later,
Glenn
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