Bolsa Chica birding

This morning I birded Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach for a few hours. Bolsa Chica is a coastal estuary, with lots of water and mudflats, and some islands on which thousands of terns nest. There were thousands of shorebirds there - mostly Western Sandpipers, but also good numbers of Willet, Long-billed Dowitcher, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, etc. There were lots of terns as well - mostly Elegants, but also lots of Caspian and Forster's Terns. I also saw a couple Royal Terns as well as the abundant Black Skimmers. The long-staying Brant was still hanging around the tide gates. I saw a couple Heerman's Gulls flying along the beach from the second observation mound, a lifer for me. Just an awesome place with lots of birds. Here a couple photos, one of a Long-billed Curlew and one of a Long-billed Dowitcher.


I also spent about an hour at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary this evening looking for a Ruff that has been reported there. No such luck. The ponds where it was seen are very small, and I scanned very thoroughly, so it would be hard to miss. Apparently it was there this morning. There were lots of cool birds there - Wilson's & Red-necked Phalaropes, White-faced Ibis, Sora, Spotted Sandpiper, and many more. I'll have to get that Ruff next time...