Ahh…Spring.  Many birds have fled the impending heat and headed elsewhere.  Most seem to go north.  Some, I think, just go to higher elevations.  I’d like to hear your opinions.

And then there’s our local loco birds that stick it out here.  The House Finch above has decided this woven, abandoned Hooded Oriole nest is just right.  In the shade and hidden enough to help keep the Common Ravens from finding the nest, mom will lay maybe 4 or so eggs.  Check out these happy parents.  This scene looks familiar.

House Finches squabbling.

And then there’s the truly loyal, sharing couple.  The following photos are of Hooded Orioles sharing their parental duties.  Each takes turns feeding the chicks.  Always being careful to stealthily approach the nest to avoid the eyes of wary predators.

Here’s Mom

Female Hooded Oriole feeding chicks

  And here’s Dad

Male Hooded Oriole at the nest

  Many birds, like this Gila Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker

 And the European Starling

European Starling

 Are hole nesters

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Plumeria

The winds have died down for now.  The sea is calm and the air is warm and humid.  Many of our wintering birds are gone, off to their breeding grounds.

Some, like the Northern Cardinal, may stay here as residents.

Northern Cardinal

We still have a few Black-headed Grosbeaks at the feeders.  Maybe some of them will stay here, we’ll see.

Black-headed Grosbeak

We’re seeing fewer birds at the lagoons.  Many of them were beginning to “color up”, getting ready for the nesting season up north.  Time to go honey?  Or shall we stay?  Snowy Egrets.

Snowy Egrets

And then there’s the hummers.  Not so many around right now.  I don’t know where they all go but there are records of our endemic Xantus’s Hummingbird being spotted in South-West British Columbia.  Bad boy!

Xantus's Hummingbird

And we can’t forget this special little guy.  The Costa’s Hummingbird.  These birds have been spotted on the coast of Alaska.

Costa's Hummingbird

Sometimes Debbie and I are like these birds.  Shall we head North for the summer?  Maybe or maybe not.  If we do, we are sure to see Black-headed Grosbeaks, Say’s Phoebes, Orange-crowned Warblers and the rest of the gang around our home-on-the-other-pond.

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Gene and Kay, a couple of Baja birders who came to buy Chris’ wonderful book, Birds We See in Baja California Sur, Mexico told us about a little river in El Coro.  Immediately, we both started thinking…water = birds!  So, a couple days later, off we went to El Coro.  El Coro means “the choir” for those of us that are challenged in the Spanish language.

I found it very interesting to see mostly cardons on the north side of the beginning of the Sierra La Lagunas but when we dropped over the top, elevation 1771 feet according to our trusty Garmin GPS, we began to see more organ pipe cactus.  Driving through the enormous (just kidding) town of El Coro we came to the “river”.  Pretty amazing that a lot of our water in Baja Sur comes right out of the ground in the middle of no where and creates all this abundant flora which brings the fauna.  Baja is truly a magical place.  Have you ever felt the magic?  Maybe blessed would be a better word?  Maybe all the descansos that we see really do work?  There is a large descanso just before El Coro.  I wasn’t sure if it was from the site of a death or if it was built to bring blessings to El Coro.

We looked for the large neatly goat and cattle trimmed mango trees that our fellow Baja birders had described and sure enough…there was lots of shade to park under!  The trees were laden with cute little green mangos…going to be a bumper crop!  I immediately started with my normal barrage of questions within my own mind.  Are these mangos harvested and taken to market?  Do we buy them at our local veggie stand?  Or, do they feed the whole town (20-30 people) of El Coro?  Is it private land and do they fight over the distribution of the mangos if it’s public?  Questions later to be discussed with Chris as we were on a birding mission.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The above Our Lady of Guadalupe painting was on a rock at a stock farm close to the water source.  We saw cattle, goats, pigs, chickens and questioned together….why don’t they fence off the water source where it daylights to keep it useable for human consumption or maybe even swimming?  Maybe they have enough water nearer their casas that they do not need to use it and just leave it for a natural watering hole for the animals.  We did see a pila on top of the nearest casa.

Of course, the greenery is always beautiful by a water source.  We climbed over large boulders to follow the water down the hill.  Then it took a fairly large drop and I said nope, I’m not going down there!  Now, if there had been plenty of birds around, I might have.  But it was looking like it wasn’t going to be a very good birding day.  We saw a few Ash throated flycatchers, orioles, cardinals, cactus wrens but….no new species.  Isn’t that something…we are getting so spoiled that we are thinking if we don’t see a new species every time we go birding in Baja that it’s an uneventful day!  LOL…I like being spoiled.

So, we left the water and headed back over the mountain.  On the way, we saw that there was more water down in the draw so…we started out in search of it and maybe…some birds we see in Baja!

We take the first left we come to and come to a ranch.  We don’t see anyone around to ask permission about coming on their land to look for los aves so we turn around and leave.  The next road we take we see a ganadero on a burro so we stop and ask him if there are any ponds around.  He says, “si, mi casa”, and pointed to where we had just come from.  He gave us permission to come onto his land but we decided to head on down to the next greenery and check it out….nothing.

We come down from the mountain thinking that today was really a bust for birding near El Coro but…when we got back to our casa, I downloaded my photos.  I was pretty pleased at what I had captured through the lens that day.  So…I’d like to share them with you if I may.  I hope you like them too..

Spiny Lizard (see the blue underside?)

Common Raven

Common Raven

Common Raven

Crested Caracara

Crested Caracara

Baja California Rattlesnake

It’s that time of year to be reminded of some Baja birding safety.  Besides remembering to bring water and sunscreen along to see the birds we see,  when the weather turns warm we need to watch where we step more than usual.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep looking down when what you’re looking for is often in the air or up in a tree.  This rattlesnake means you no harm so don’t bug him unless you know what you are doing.  Most snake-bites occur when snakes are miss-handled so don’t fool with them unless you are experienced like me.  See a snake?  Just slowly back off/away.  That rock or log you’re stepping over may have a rattler under the edge of it on any side.  Be careful!

I saw this  Western Garter Snake at the lagoon.  This snake is harmless.  Scared the bejeebers out of one of the locals fishing there with a net and he and the snake took off in oposite directions.  If you don’t know what you are doing, leave and please don’t kill them.

A lot of people don’t care much for snakes.   My mom always said I must have been born under a rock because from the time I could blink I was catching snakes, lizards, insects and “well” you get the picture. Next is a photo of a Lyre Snake.  Named so because it has a musical instrument, a Lyre, printed on it’s head and also, I think, because it lies.  This snake kinda looks like a rattler and it shakes it’s tail when disturbed.  Like a rattler with no rattle.  Stay away from this snake unless you know your stuff. It is rear fanged and mildly poisonous but not to humans.  I say this with experience because I have handled many.  This snake almost never bites when handled.  It has groved teeth at the back of it’s mouth which makes it VERY hard to damage anything large, like a human leg.  The venom is in it’s spit and slowly kills a lizard but is not known to be a problem with mammals like a mouse, which they have to squeeze to death.  It is unfortunate but many local people think this snake is a rattler and kill it on sight.  Like some believe Owls are devils and steal babies from the crib.

Lyre Snake

We also have some very speedy snakes around.  I saw this guy slithering across the yard and I had to give chase.   Here in Baja we have light and dark phases of Coachwhip Snakes and I had to get a closer look.  These snakes are non-poisonous to people but they will bite viscously when annoyed and have very sharp teeth.  All he wanted to do was get away.

Baja California Coachwhip Snake (ivory phase)

And then there’s the Patch-nosed Snake.  Yes, this snake does have a little “patch” on the nose.  I think this is a handsome snake.

Patch-nosed Snake

Now, I know snakes aren’t for everyone.  A lot of that is because what we don’t know about causes mis-understandings and sometimes fear. So just remember to watch where you are stepping and give these critters a wide berth.  Be safe and Happy Birding!

Debbie crawling a Baja lagoon

Funny when you are a birder.  Some days can be uneventful and even downright defeating when you are all set to capture that “great shot” of a beautiful Baja bird and you come away with nothing.  Other days, you can’t shoot fast enough and you have birds coming at you from all directions, almost as tho they are competing to be the one displayed in the center of your camera lens.  Those are the “no bad days” of Baja birding.

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We went back to the lagoons the other day.  Chris was bound and determined to capture a better shot of the snowy plover and I was bound and determined to help him!  Of course, I wanted to see what else we could capture with our trusty Canon lenses and cameras too.  I was crawling around in the sand while Chris was stalking the snowy plover over the three lagoons.

I hope I am successful in relaying to you what a peaceful experience Baja birding is.  Sometimes I get lost in the sights and sounds and sometimes I come away with so many questions it makes my head spin.

There is nothing like lying as still as possible beside a calming lagoon with your elbows dug in the sand propping for your camera, the tranquil Sea of Cortez lapping at the shore just over the fore dune, the Sierra de la Laguna creating the backdrop over the slightly swaying palm trees and many species of Baja birds flying over you seemingly oblivious to your intrusion of their space.  Does it get better?

Now, I will share with you my shots of the day, beginning with my sandy perch Baja birds.

Semipalmated Plover

Snowy Plover

Black Necked Stilt

Least Sandpiper

Snowy Egret

Getting up out of my sand everywhere pose, I’m thinking that I didn’t really capture much.  You just never know until you look at your photos on your computer to see what you have and if they are in focus.  Only then…I’m pretty satisfied with what I captured above.

I see Chris over near the car so I’m thinking he is probably ready to head out.  After all, the suns getting pretty warm and shooting conditions are deteriorating.  I start heading for Chris and the car but….wait a minute!  Check this out!

Osprey

Look closely for the head and eye in the center of the above photo.  Can you see it?  I love this shot!

Osprey

However, the Osprey came away empty, this time.  But…

Osprey

Not this time!  The Osprey snags a Trumpetfish.

Osprey

Osprey with Trumpetfish

Ah yes…another great Baja birding day.  I don’t know who’s happier, the Osprey or Debbie?  Let’s go honey bunny.

 Debbie and I were up with the sun as usual.  It was a double sunrise and was a sign to me the day would be a scorcher.  So, it just made since to head for the lagoons hoping a breeze would be blowin’.  Making sure we had plenty of water, both cameras and back-up batteries off we went to see the birds we see.

Debbie is still a little Bob-Cat shy but being the trooper she is, she found a place in the open where she could keep an eye out and left no cover for a mean and nasty wildcat to sneak up on her.  Besides, it’s great strategy to let the birds come to you sometimes.

I was really keen to get some photographs of a Snowy Plover I’d tried to shoot there the other day.  These little guys are quick on their tiny litte feet, much more so than me in my sandals.  So off I went looking for them where they had been a few days ago.

I’m just walking over a little sand dune and I hear a loud peeping squak.   I had accidentally surprised a bird and it flew a few yards and landed.  NEW BIRD!…………Large sized, black back and bright orange bill.  Well I be………..It’s an American Oystercatcher.  Not a Black Oystercatcher, which is mostly all black, but an American Oystercatcher which has a white underside.  After a little game of “let me get closer” which I was loosing, the bird stops walking away for a moment and struck a pose.

Oystercatchers are chunky birds that have laterally flattened, heavy bills that can reach into mollusks and pry open the shell.  They also probe for worms and crabs.  After the pose, this bird was outta there.

American Oystercatcher

Down the dune I go searching for a Plover.  I see some action at the lagoon’s edge.  A really fast flying small gull or tern-like bird is feeding minnows to another bird like itself on the ground.  Way too far for a photo so off I go trying to act like I don’t exist so’s not to scare the bird away.  It’s happening again!  Zowey wowey…….another NEW BIRD!  What a day!

At first I’m not sure what it is.  I take a far away shot just in case it flys off for good.  As I get a little closer, close enough for a possible decent shot, I can tell it’s a little Least Tern.  I’ve tried to photograph these birds we see at the lagoons before.  They are sooo quick.  This is the bird that was being fed, I guess by dad or a very generous mate.

Least Tern

Least Terns are the smallest North American Terns.  They are great fun to watch catching baitfish displaying amazing speed and acrobatics.  With a high-pitched dip and a chir-ee-eep they’re speeding overhead.

I look over where Debbie was and I see she’s up and around.  She’s busy photographing an Osprey that has a fish. (you’ll see these fantastic shots some other time).  I head for the car feeling kinda sorry I didn’t see any Snowy Plovers.  They seemed to be all over the place a few days ago.  Oh well, it is a great birding day.  Two new birds, weather is cool and gentle.

Here I am, poking along in the sand with my head down for no particular reason and I look up.  Gee-maneese…….I’m surrounded by Snowy Plovers!  Am I dreaming or something?  No, they are here.  Almost running me over.  I think I took more than 100 shots I was having so much fun.  Look at this cool (sorry) bird.  The Snowy Plover.

Snowy Plover

Snowy Plover’s calls include a Krut and a soft , whistled Kuwheet.  They inhabit sandy beaches and flats.

A lot of time I don’t need to go far to get involved with birds.  Just the other day, around sun down, I hear a bunch of birds, Orioles, Finches, Cactus Wrens and others making a racket on the lot behind our casa.  It’s getting dark but I grab the camera anyway and go to investigate.  I’m facing West, where the sun in sinking and here comes this Great Horned Owl, it lands on a cardon.  I figured it’s mate must be on the ground with prey where all the noise is coming from.  Too dark to see.  So I take a few shots at the silhouette of this bird not too hopeful of what the results will be.  That’s the photo, top left.

The Owl takes off so I head for the barn.  I have the shot up on the computer and it’s way dark.  I shoot in “Raw” and this gives me the ability to work on a photo without making it look too “shopped”.  I add a little exposure and out comes some nice detail.  Nice for the lighting conditions for sure.  Check this out……

Great Horned Owls can vary in color from a reddish brown to a grey or black and white. The underside is a light grey with dark bars and a white band of feathers on the upper breast. They have large, staring yellow-orange eyes, bordered in most races by an orange-buff facial disc. The name is derived from tufts of feathers that appear to be “horns” which are sometimes referred to as “ear tufts” but have nothing to do with hearing at all. The large feet are feathered to the ends of the toes, and the immature birds resemble the adults.

We went birding at the lagoons today. Sorry, no photos from this chick….(no pun intended)!  It was our first time back since my bobcat incident a couple of months ago. I summoned up the courage to go back to the point of eye contact with the beautiful creature that put my heart in my throat. Well…..almost to the point.  Close enough.

I found myself continuously looking over my shoulder.  Instead of looking for birds, I was looking for bobcat. I was listening for bobcat sounds instead of sounds of the birds we see in Baja.  Now, I doubt very seriously if I would hear a bobcat stalking me but I was still looking and listening. So much so that I did not even fire off a shot.  Gotta get over it!

Water levels in the lagoons are way down.  Speaking with one local who was born and raised in La Rivera and in his late 30′s, he said he is seeing the lagoons water level drop continuously.  His father, also born and raised in La Rivera is in his mid 60′s and never saw the levels go down until recently.  I have heard reports that Baja is in its worst drought in the last 72 years.

There is evidence of careless and or uncaring humans all over the lagoons.   I didn’t take a photo because I like pretty things, like the male varied bunting.  You get the picture.  I’m going to ask our local rotary club if they would like to organize work parties to help keep the area clean.   They so kindly asked what they could do to help the wildlife when Chris gave his successful book, Birds We See in Baja California Sur, Mexico presentation last winter.   We now see a cause for concern. Speaking of our local rotary chapter, they work tirelessly for the  betterment of local families and the wonderful community in which we live here in Los Barriles and the surrounding areas. I’m amazed at what they accomplish.   Thank you Rotary Club of Los Barriles Cabo Este!

There is no longer an opportunity for capturing the sounds of silence, wildlife and the seashore here at the lagoons. I’m afraid it may be gone forever.  Sounds of heavy equipment roars steadily as construction of a very large development  continues to the south.  Not so long ago, this was a peaceful environment abundant with wildlife.  I feel it slipping away.

I remain hopeful that the developers will take responsibility to help restore and maintain the lagoons to their natural state of beauty and wildlife habitat. Just think how it would enhance sales if they featured a natural wildlife reserve right next to their resort.

Stopped at restaurant Mariscos La Costa for lunch in La Rivera after my not so great birding day (Chris had a great one….go figure).   I had the Shrimp Diabla in chipotle cream sauce and Chris had chicken tacos.  Both were superb.  Being the foodie I am, I asked for the recipe for the shrimp diabla and indeed, after a lot of hand motions, demos and Spanglish, I  came away with it.  This day of birding that wasn’t, instead turned into a superb pleasing of the palate.  I rate both of these activities very high.

And here comes one of our friends to welcome us home.  This is one of the birds we see quite often around the casa.  The endemic Gray Thrasher.  We’re trying to get “Birds We See” books and things unloaded from the car and here’s this little guy running around scolding us.

Where have you two been?

Next, we go out back to the south patio.  Also there waiting for us with a “where ya been?” kind of look is Mr. Costa’s Hummingbird.

Even the normally suave Xantus’s Hummingbird is showing his displeasure at us for being away.

It won’t be long before all is well.  The feeders are coming out today and our fine-feathered friends will be back to being their joy-filled selves.

The Gray Thrasher will be up in his tree singing for us.

 The Costa’s Hummingbird will fly around looking pretty for us.

Mr. Xantus will stick his nose in the air for a while, but even he will get over it.

Sometimes it’s good to feel missed!

Debbie and I just spent a few days back home in Bandon this week.  I had some free time one day and noticed it was a low tide.  So I put on my snow-storm clothes (in the old days I would have worn a tee shirt) and braced to tackle the wind and sleet.  Down to the jetty I go.  When the weather is as bad as it was I figured I’d be all alone, the way I like it sometimes and I was right.

As soon as I arrive, I hear birds.  I spotted something bright orange moving around in the puddles that are tide pools.  Sure enough, a Black Oystercatcher.  Time for a shot.  That’s the bird in the first photo.

Next I see another one of my favorites, (they are all favorites for me). It’s a Marbled Godwit.  Check out this picture, it’s a dandy.

I can’t hardly believe the luck I’m having.  I hear a bird squak and turn towards the sound.  A new bird for me (and by-the-way so was the Godwit) a Whimbrel  is anouncing it’s presence and posing for me.  Holy smokes!  I raise the 100×400 and let him have it.  Look at the bill on this bird.

Then, just when I’m having a time of my life, all the birds freak out and fly away.  Man, I’ll tell you what.  If you ever have the chance to hear the racket of a bunch of mixed  shore birds taking off in a fright, don’t pass it up.  There is nothing like it .  I didn’t sneeze or anything so I new something was up.

And I was absolutely right.  I look up and see a raptor streaking by about 50 yards away.  No wonder the birds were scared off.  This bird is a Northern Harrier.