Bolsa Chica wetlands not always a birder's paradise

I pulled into the parking lot at the Bolsa Chica wetlands Friday afternoon and witnessed a rare sight: an empty walking bridge and trail. There wasn't a photographer in sight, which is highly unusual.

So I got out and wandered beneath a thickening cloud cover and discovered why. There was very little activity except for hundreds of sandpipers probing the flats. Terns appeared sporadically. Pelicans hunted elsewhere. Even gulls were scarce.

There was an extreme low tide. A possible reason? Is this a transition period for various species? I don't know.

I did encounter egrets -- how can you miss the snowy white birds? -- and followed a few as they seemed to pursue grebes plowing through the muddy shallows.

I took few photos because the late-afternoon light was awful. I did manage to capture a great egret seeming to peck a mirror image of itself (see photo), but then it began to rain and I rushed back to the lot with my camera under my shirt.

I suppose even magical destinations such as Bolsa Chica can't always produce, and it's probably just as well, because it makes the truly special days all the more magical.

-- Pete Thomas

Comments

[Jon K.]

Pete,

As a person who has only been to Catalina, how many islands off the coast of California have you visited and, among them, which one is your favorite?

[Pete Thomas]

Hi Jon,

I've only been to Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, besides Catalina. Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz are like stepping back in time. Much more so than Catalina. No development. Santa Cruz has some great hiking trails and amazing vistas. You ought to go there for a day trip. It's an easy one, not too expensive and very rewarding. You can hike all the way from Scorpions Cove to Smugglers Cove and back before the boat comes to pick you up. But you have to hustle if you spend too much time at Smugglers. pete