good-times-rollin: San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Walks and Birds

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 9, 2024

Sweetwater River

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.

We saw a variety of ducks and other small shore birds.

Northern Pintail and Willets

Buffleheads

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.

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 !

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Ocean Beach, Wildlife Refuge, and Point Loma

San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
January 2019

Ocean Beach
Having visited this colorful neighborhood a couple of years ago with Lisa and Hans, we had an idea of what to expect and where to go at Ocean Beach. Unfortunately, OB Municipal Pier was closed for repair from damage caused by strong winds and waves.

At 1,971 feet, OB Pier is the longest concrete pier on the West coast.

The tide was just right for a walk along the trail. A small section of the trail is concrete. Erosion has caused so much damage.

A different view of the Pier...

Small cottages and bungalows line the narrow streets of this beachfront neighborhood.

It was news to us that wild parrots are also part of the OB (and other urban beach communities in SD) culture. Native to northern Mexico, it is believed these colorful birds came to California in search of a suitable habitat as areas of Mexico became deforested. Food is plentiful...they survive on seeds, nectar, and fruit from tropical trees and shrubs.

Lunch at the beach is a real treat...especially when oysters are on the menu.

In addition to 6 on the half shell, the days special was a fried oyster po-boy. Yummy !

San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

SD Bay NWR is located at the south end of SD near Chula Vista. Approximately 2,600 acres of land and water not only protects a diversity of migratory and native species of birds, but also protects what remains of SD Bay's historical coastal salt marsh and intercostal mudflat.

The largest contiguous mudflat in So Cal.

Cabrillo National Monument/Point Loma

In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to set foot on what is now California.

This sandstone statue stands 14 feet tall, weighs 14,000 pounds, and was dedicated in 1988.

The park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

In addition to a great story lesson, the park is also home to a wealth of natural resources. Bayside Trail was our reason for visiting the park. It's a beautiful 2.5 mile hike with great views of the bay, Ballast Point (where Cabrillo landed), the skyline of San Diego, sandstone cliffs, and plant and animal life.

There is also WWII history along the trail.

When we arrived at the park it was sunny!

The park is also home to one of eight original West Coast lighthouses. The first lighthouse on Point Loma was in operation from 1855 to 1891.

Low-lying fog rolled in during the morning.

The lighthouse was built on the highest point at Point Loma. It soon became apparent that low-lying fog obscured the light that shone above the fog bank making it useless.

After some fresh air, fresh seafood hit the spot.

Known as "The Freshest Thing in Town" Point Loma Seafoods offers a huge selection of fresh caught fish.

Shrimp tacos

You can choose to dine inside or outside. But whichever you choose, don't forget Kelly's famous lemonade. They also make their own sourdough bread.

That's a wrap on our San Diego visit. We have been settled in at the Lazydays KOA since Feb 1. The weather has not been all that great with cold nights and breezy, rainy chilly days, but we are visiting with friends, getting things done and necessary appointments taken care of. More on that later.

I'll close with a few random pictures from January. Until next time...