One of the largest hawk species in North America with an iconic call that is oftentimes mistaken for an eagle call (blame movies and television). This bird has a few different plumage morphs and it is the most common hawk around living in many different types of habitats. Once you get to know this species,…
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The size of a Mourning Dove, these fierce firecrackers are not what you would expect from a top predator. Well, unless you are a lizard or a large beetle. The males of the species have the most colorful plumage of all falcons. Given their small size, they are also prey for larger hunters like Red-tailed…
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Shy birds are often a photographer’s prized subject, and these birds fit that bill. You might think they are a type of woodpecker when you see their large pointy bills and hear their loud rattling calls, but these fishing experts are no woodpeckers. August’s bird of the month is the shy Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)!!!!…
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With striking large red eyes this bird would cause you quite the fright if you stumbled upon it in the middle of the night. They mostly hunt at dusk and night and rest during the day near the edges of the water. Found everywhere except Australia and Antarctica, these birds are the most widespread herons…
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A small bird that is often dangling from the end of flower stalks, this species is often seen in flocks in open habitats and gardens. These birds are seed eaters and will often be seen in a mixed flock of bird species at bird feeders. Having wheezy songs, sometimes the songs will even contain song…
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A rare visitor to Bolsa Chica, let alone this high north on the Pacific Coastline. A small sized bird compared to its resident relatives, this bird created quite the excitement in the birding world when it came for an extended stay in 2018. Having distinct plumage colors, it was not hard to spot among the…
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It was a cold late afternoon last November 27 when Olivia Bloom set off on a beach run with her dog, River. Olivia, a co-founder of the Junior Stewards, headed north on dog beach, as the sun slowly rode toward the sea to her left. Next thing she knew, she and River had arrived at…
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This bird has an extraterrestrial-sounding call and extraordinary breeding plumage…when it’s up North on lakes in the summer time. It’s also the state bird of Minnesota. Their breeding calls are the iconic eerie sound you might hear on a scary movie based around a lake. April’s bird of the month is the Common Loon (Gavia…
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When people think of this group of birds, they think of birds with large sharp beaks, bright red heads, and loud hammering. Sometimes, even a certain cartoon character with a comical catchphrase comes to mind. This species, however, is a compact bird with a petite beak and red spot, and with less loud hammering and…
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The state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, which manages the Ecological Reserve, keeps a list of the Special Status & Rare Species that are known to either migrate to, visit or reside in the Bolsa Chica. There are currently 23 species on that list. Composed mostly of our feathered avian friends, the list also includes…
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