San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
January 9, 2024
Sweetwater River
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| Sweetwater River...photo taken from bike path |
Sweetwater River runs beside the KOA Resort. Along the river is a nice two lane biking/walking path that goes to Pepper Park...a beautiful green space. The tidal portion of the river starts here in National City before the river empties into SD Bay. We have biked this section of the path several times and enjoyed fish and chips at the outdoor grill at the marina. We don't have bikes anymore, but sometimes we walk there. As you can see in the photos, the water is very low and looks like it has been that way for sometime.
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| Northern Pintail and Willets |
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| Buffleheads |
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| American Wigeon |
I was excited to spot a kingfisher on the way home. We have seen kingfishers here and there in our travels, but I had not ever photographed one. This Belted Kingfisher sat for awhile and what a real treat it was to take his picture.
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| With it's top-heavy physique, energetic flight, and piercing rattle the Belted Kingfisher seems to have an air of importance as it patrols up and down rivers and shorelines. It nests in burrows along earthen banks and feeds almost entirely on aquatic prey. This is one of the few bird species in which the female is more brightly colored than the male.(All About Birds) |
For most of our walk, the path was lined with Brittlebush...
...so bright and cheerful and a nice way to log in a few miles!
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge
San Diego Bay NWR encompasses about 2,620 acres and was established to protect a rich diversity of endangered, threatened, migratory, and native species and their habitats in the midst of a highly urbanized coastal environment.
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge
This area is one of those "been there" places and has become a favorite to walk and look for birds. We usually begin our walk in Imperial Beach at Bayshore Trail. It is a short dirt trail that connects the parking area to to Bayshore Bikeway. This section of bikeway traverses what is known as the Silver Strand...a narrow piece of land that connects Coronado Island to Imperial Beach. First off, our mornings have been chilly...lazy, second cup of coffee chilly...so we haven't been out and about as early as I like in order to catch the birds at their usual feeding time. The walk was nice with Ronnie and Carol joining us and I managed enough birds to make taking the big zoom lens worth the effort.
I have several favorite birds to photograph and Snowy Egrets are on the list. These slender, elegant herons are quite photogenic and their slow, deliberate, stalking movements make capturing them easy. I was happy to see so many of them...
We enjoyed watching the Black-necked Stilts...another new bird to photograph.
All About Birds states that these birds are among the most stately of the shorebirds with long rose-pink legs, long thin black bill and elegant black and white plumage. I also read that these pink legged birds have the second longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird...exceeded only by flamingos. Sooo cool !
Somethings we just never forget...and photographing a Long-billed Curlew for the first time is one of those experiences for me. I literally chased it around the grassy area near the front office at Cocopah RV & Golf Resort in Yuma in February 2014 determined to get a picture.
Long-billed Curlew...February 2014
Long-billed Curlew...January 2024
Lots of Sanderlings...
one bird I couldn't identify...
and gorgeous feathers.
It was a pleasant morning walk...
The prickly pear reminds me of home and speaking of home, our neighbor across the street sent us a photo of home he took a few days ago...yikes!
Sally is enjoying her time exploring...
licking the yogurt spoon...
and quiet time under the steering wheel.
Until next time,
HAPPY TRAILS !
Great shot of that flying widgeon! Buffleheads are such beautiful birds as well. The one duck one the water near the end of your post is a drake pintail. Another beautiful bird.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Jim…thank you! I’m always thrilled when a picture of a bird in motion is in focus. I love the Bufflehead too…just saying their name is fun!
DeleteI was excited to see an unexpected blog post from you guys this morning! Buffleheads--what a name! Love all your bird photos and what a beautiful area in the midst of all those people. Sweet Sally--our schnauzer Jazz would always get to lick my yogurt container.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Janna…thank you! It’s a wonderful thing that some folks have the vision to protect wildlife and habitats for all to enjoy. I love walking “the strand”. I like saying Bufflehead…it’s a fun name, but I didn’t find any info on why they are named Bufflehead. Sally seems to be enjoying her vaca and exploring. We carry her up and down the steps, but other wise is doing OK for 16 yrs old. She is a yogurt snob and will only eat Chobani. I like the name Jazz!
DeleteYou are either very patient, or very lucky - you always capture such great bird shots. They just seem to be sitting there waiting for you, or they wait for your camera to line up before they fly by!! Glad you share them with us. You picked a good week to be in SD if you don't like snow and ice - it's been pretty, but very cold here!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Jodee…thank you! I am mostly lucky! I remember years ago taking film to be developed with fingers crossed that I would pay for at least one decent photo in the envelope. I just snap away these days and delete way more that I keep. Sally and I actually like the snow…but I am glad to be here. It is much cooler this year in SD than I remember it being in years past…the sun is shining, the skies are blue, but no temps in the 70s this visit.
DeletePepper Park is a favorite place for us to use when we bike ride in South Bay. Always lots of birds to see along the Sweetwater River and the marshes of Gunpowder Point.
ReplyDeleteBufflehead I'll have to remember the name and look for them next time.
Good morning Jeff…we sure enjoyed riding bikes to Pepper Park. We can’t justify getting more bikes though just to make that ride. I don’t do well on bikes…especially in traffic…as I am always looking for photographic opportunities and not watching where I am going. I have to look up Gunpowder Point…I don’t know that spot.
DeleteGood morning Gay. As Jodee says, it's a great time to be away if you don't like frigid temps. and - snow - and it's always a great time to be in the San Diego area. Great bird captures, some of them were regulars when we lived at the lake. The comical Kingfishers diving straight down from our Sycamore trees and coming up with wriggling silver fish, the floats of Buffleheads steaming by, nice second cup entertainment! We always thought that the egret looks like she's wearing black leggings with big yellow sneakers!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Sue…thank you! I love your description of the egret. Sounds like wonderful second cup entertainment. SD is always a nice get away…
DeleteHi Jill…we are having a wonderful time. I love the ocean and it’s been a couple of years since we have been here. Trying to soak in every minute I can. Love you both!
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