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 !
