Bulletin #42 – Monterey CA birds #3

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
June 18, 2008

Bulletin #42 – Monterey California area birds #3

Hello friends,

On this trip, I finally got a photo of a male Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin). This bird is distinctive with a rufous cheek, tail and breast, but a green back.

http://www.pbase.com/image/98312725

The Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonata) is very similar to the Cave Swallow, but it has a white forehead. I found this bird flying into a large hole in a sycamore tree. Perhaps they were nesting there.

http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98312740

I also found the Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) again. This time I also heard them. It is much different than the Red-winged Blackbird and Sibley describes a flock calling like ‘cats fighting’. It truly does!

Here is the male on a fence post. The white wing bar is the ID mark for this bird.

http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98312758

Moss Landing is a small fishing village about 10 miles north of Monterey. The harbor is ideal for birding and it is also the best location to see Sea Otters. I usually visit it once or twice each trip.

This trip, the large grebes were close to shore and the sun was perfect to photograph them. I find the Western and Clark Grebes to be regal appearing birds with their black and white heads and necks.

The Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) has the black extend below the red eye. The bill is yellow.

http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98312759

The Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) has white around the red eye with an orange bill.

http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98312760

Some of you may have seen the California Sea Lions at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The animals took over a new floating pier in the marina and could not be displaced. It has become a major tourist attraction.

Well Moss Landing had a similar event. They built a walkway and fishing pier along one edge of the harbor. It has an elevated walkway/observation deck about 15 feet above the water, but built a long floating extension at water level for fishing. The Sea Lions have taken over this pier as well. I don’t think I would try and find room to fish in that mass of seals!

http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98312761

And the sign at the top of the ramp down to the floating dock says it all.

http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98312763

I have posted 14 general photos of Big Sur coast etc from our Monterey trips. These pictures were taken by my wife and me.

Here is the link to the first photo and just click ‘next’ to scroll through them.

http://www.pbase.com/davidmcd/image/98361558

All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
davidkmcd@comcast.net

photos copyright 2006 - 2008 David McDonald