So, if you are in the Playa Del Rey, California area on the 3rd Sunday of the month you may just want to join Bob Shanman and Friends for their monthly bird walk. They meet at 8 am until around 12 noon. Just meet them at the Del Rey Lagoon parking lot (directions can be found online). Binoculars are recommended, but don’t worry if you don’t have any, they usually have extras as well as scopes to help see those far away birds. You’ll start your walk at the Lagoon, then head over to the beach and continue onto the rocky jetty. There are always plenty of birds to see and around 30 fellow birders to learn from and enjoy their birding stories.
Sanderling
These cuties nest only in the High Arctic, then in fall and winter they can be found throughout the world at sandy beaches. If they are threatened by a falcon, the Sanderlings will fly in a compact flock, they will maneuver erratically above the ocean to avoid being caught.
Pelagic Cormorant
The Pelagic Cormorant is the smallest cormorant on the Pacific Coast. Often found feeding alone, but will perch together on rocks near water. I found this one foraging for food in the inlet. It was diving from the surface and swimming underwater trying to find small fish, its favorite food.
Black Turnstone
This bold bird was walking along the jetty, down low near the water, foraging for food. As its name suggests they will forage for food by turning over stones and other objects!
Ruddy Turnstone
There are only 2 Turnstones in the world, the Ruddy Turnstone and the Black Turnstone (previous photo), both can be found in the US. The Ruddy Turnstone is nicknamed the calico cat of birds, due to its coloring. You usually can’t miss their bright orange legs!
Black-bellied Plover
Not my best photo, these Black-bellied Plovers were quite far away. I wanted to get the photo though to show how different this bird looks in its breeding plumage. They breed in high Arctic zones around the world, they can be found on the coasts of six continents in the winter.
And One Large Crazy Crab! Seen here with a couple of smaller friends…
