Fall in Southern California is a wonderful season, and not just for bird watching. The weather finally cools down enough that those of us who melt when it’s 80 degrees out can finally go outside. The cooler weather is especially welcome, after what felt like months of 90-100 degree weather with higher-than-average humidity. It’s been downright yucky!
As for the birding, Fall is when “weird duck season” begins. Personally, I don’t understand why it’s called that because the ducks that arrive to winter here are your average ducks and not at all “odd ducks.” We get three Teal species, all of them very beautiful–Cinnamon, Green-winged, and Blue-winged. I dare you to try and decide which of the three is the most beautiful. We also get Northern Shovelers, American Wigeons, Ruddy Ducks, and Buffleheads. Maybe Buffleheads are the weirdos?
This week, I went on an evening walk to enjoy autumn in OC. I went to Anaheim Coves to study and observe the shorebirds and ducks that are especially plentiful these days. Orange County has temporarily paused and scaled back chemical herbicide spraying across its flood-control channels and waterways following intense grassroots pressure and regulatory scrutiny. Indeed, in some areas, a feeding frenzy was taking place, like these Egrets and Ibises!
My “find” of the night was spotting this Neotropic Cormorant, considered a “rare” sighting that requires comments with the observation for eBird. I was almost positive this guy/gal is a Neotropic based on its size compared to the nearby Mallard. This is when I’m thankful that I have my cruddy camera with me. It comes in handy when a picture can help prove that a rare sighting did actually occur.
Some other highlights of the evening included a flock of a dozen Black-crowned Night Herons flying over my head to roost for the night, and an American Kestrel spreading her tail feathers in the light from the setting sun.
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