Showing posts with label Black Skimmer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Skimmer. Show all posts

Monday, 19 September 2022

Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing Wildlife Refuge- 3rd and 4th August 2022

About 10 miles north of Seaside is a small marina called Moss Landing. Jayne and I visited this area and went on an electric boat tour up a river/lagoon called Elkhorn Slough (pronounced sloo, like who). The first birds seen were Western Gulls, followed closely by a juvenile and adult Pied-billed Grebe and a Western Grebe.  As we set off up the slough, we passed a large colony of breeding Brandt’s Cormorant. Over the course of the next two hours we recorded: Willet (6+), Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Semipalmated Plover, American White Pelican (4), Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, American Kestrel, Caspian Tern, Elegant Tern and a beautiful Northern HarrierSouthern Sea Otters, Harbour Seal and Californian Sealions were also present throughout the trip.


Brandt's Cormorant

Whilst on the trip, we heard about a nearby reserve, Moss Landing Wildlife Area, so we popped across there for an hour. I also had another visit early next morning. Birds ween there were:  Black-necked Stilt (adults and juveniles), Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, American Avocet (adults and juveniles), Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Black-bellied Plover, Elegant Tern (c500), Caspian Tern, Black Skimmer (2), Brown Pelican, Western Gull, California Gull, and Red-necked Phalarope (70+!!)

American Avocet

Black Skimmer