Del Rey Lagoon, Ballona Channel & Playa Del Rey Beach report for March 30, 2008
Back out to the duck pond in hopes of getting a better picture of the Red Knot. Also wanted to try and find the elusive White-winged Scoter. Plus there were reports of terns resting on the beach, and Snowy Plovers on the sand.
In was another windy day at the beach. It wasn't to bad at the pond which is protected from the wind by a bunch of apartment buildings. Out on the jetties and the beach was a whole other thing.
I got lucky at the lagoon. The Red Knot was foraging much closer to the edge of the pond. I was able to get some good pictures of it. A few Black-bellied Plovers remain. Only one in near full breeding plumage, the others haven't molted yet. Two molting Dunlins were hanging out with the Red Knot.
No such luck on the White-winged Scoter. I guess I'm destined not to find this bird.
I did find a whole bunch of Elegant Terns hanging out on the sand with a bunch of gulls. As I approached they all took to the air. I got some really good flight shots of the terns.
Again no luck on the Snowy Plovers. All I got for me efforts were shoes covered in beach tar. YUCK! I think I was looking for the Snowy's in the wrong area of the beach.
The list...
American Coot, Willet, House Sparrow, Western Gull, Marbled Godwit, Snowy Egret, Red Knot, Black-bellied Plover, Western Sandpipers, Dunlins, European Starlings, Grey Lag Geese, Brown Pelicans, American Crow, Great Egret, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull (juv), Surf Scoters, Western Grebe, Whimbel, Long-tailed Duck, Caspian Tern (heard), Elegant Terns, Sanderlings, Brewer's Blackbirds, Short-billed Dowitcher.
Attached photo of Elegant Tern in flight.
The good Red Knot photo will be in my gallery.
Attachment(s): Elegant-Tern-flight-PDR-Mar.jpg