CORCORAN LAGOON BEACH
HABITAT
"Examine each question in terms of what is ethically and esthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient.
A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.
It is wrong when it tends otherwise." Aldo Leopold
A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.
It is wrong when it tends otherwise." Aldo Leopold
Pictures of shorebirds were taken when there were no dogs off-leash present. In some cases, off-leash dogs chased the birds away after the pictures were taken. While humans are rarely seen as a threat by shorebirds, canines, especially off-leash and running around, are always perceived as predators by avian species.
Copyright © 2017 LLASCC. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2017 LLASCC. All rights reserved.
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eBird - Global tools for birders, critical data for science
A real-time, online checklist program, eBird provides rich data sources for basic information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. eBird is organized in "Hot Spots," locations where birders report significant birds sightings. Among the many Hot Spots in Santa Cruz County is Corcoran Lagoon Beach. Click HERE to go to the Corcoran Lagoon Beach Hot Spot page to see what others have reported and to report your bird sightings. |
October 23, 2015
For the past month, egrets have been feeding at the lagoon outflow on Corcoran Lagoon Beach (see pictures HERE). They do okay until the unleashed dogs show up, as more than four did this morning. I saw one unleashed dog chase some of the egrets that were feeding in the outflow of the beach. Dog owners apparently think it is not only to violate the leash law but also okay for their dogs to harass wildlife. whatever they think (or don't think), their irresponsible behavior ruining it for those who cherish the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and its wildlife.
September 13, 2015
Corcoran Lagoon Beach, photo taken at 3:40 pm. Many people were on the beach watching the sea bird feeding frenzy and whales. These seven Marbeled godwits were doing okay until a dog owner hurled a ball towards them for his unleashed dog.
September 11, 2015
Early afternoon on Corcoran Lagoon Beach and it's a birdy world at the end of the lagoon outflow...that is until these birds were approached by an unleashed dog. It happened too fast to get a picture of the disturbance.
July 8, 2015
This leashed dog, a frequent visitor to Corcoran Lagoon Beach, is fascinated by a gopher at the beach entrance. This shows how dogs and wildlife can co-exist if dog owners will respect the leash law while at the beach.
June 23, 2015
Great blue herons comfortable on the beach without dogs to bother them.
May 27, 2015
These birds were very sensitive to dogs. There was a woman out on the beach throwing a ball for a dog. If she threw the ball in the birds' direction they flew, despite the fact that the dog never came closer than 200 feet. That happened three times, until the woman noticed me, then she leashed up and left.
Juvenile Bonaparte gulls (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
May 23, 2015
Four Killdeer chicks have fledged from the first nest of the 2015 season. Since the inner lagoon is full and offers no exposed edge feeding habitat for the chicks, the Killdeer family has stayed on the beach this year, feeding and resting along the lagoon outflow habitat instead. The birds return to the protection of the cordoned area at day's end.
There have been more breaches of the Nesting Protection Area by humans and dogs this year than last year. To date, however, predators (e.g., crows, raptors, raccoons, etc.) have not been successful within the protected area.
There have been more breaches of the Nesting Protection Area by humans and dogs this year than last year. To date, however, predators (e.g., crows, raptors, raccoons, etc.) have not been successful within the protected area.
May 7, 2015
Merganser (Mergus serrator) seen in lagoon outflow on Corcoran Lagoon Beach. These birds will usually be seen in the inner lagoon, where they are generally safe from being chased by unleashed dogs. Conditions this year have created a fuller and deeper lagoon on the beach, showing that nature doesn't do political boundaries. Many bird species, like this Merganser, are in their watery habitat, wherever it is.
April 6, 2015
Snowy Plover at Corcoran Lagoon Beach nesting area!!!
Snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) have not nested at Corcoran Lagoon Beach since their last nest in 2000, due mostly to lack of shorebird nesting protection management. This changed in 2013 when Friends of Corcoran Lagoon Beach (FoCLB) formed specifically to assist the County in implementing its Local Coastal Program (LCP) policy to protect shorebird nesting areas on County Beaches.
With protection of a small area of the beach located close to E.Cliff Drive, the bird nesting seasons of 2013 and 2014 produced a total of four nests, 16 eggs and 15 successfully fledged Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) chicks. The work by FoCLB included installation of signs (bilingual), a simple cordon to delineate the area, exclosures of nests when necessary, daily monitoring and photo-documentation of the results.
The area is small and beach visitors are able to continue to access the beach from four different directions without disturbing the birds. The educational value for beach visitors has been an added benefit.
Although all bird species, whether endangered or not, are covered by the County General Plan LCP, when we started our work we did not know if Snowies would ever nest again at CLB. The area is not designated "critical habitat" for this endangered bird and most avian ecologists think that CLB is not really very suitable habitat for successful nesting by Snowies, given the amount of use of the beach.
Snowy plovers may have a different thought. This year, the third season of nesting area protection, a Snowy plover finally visited Corcoran Lagoon Beach! A known female (leg bands identify her), who has nested three or four times at the Pajaro River mouth, stopped by and settled in for most of a day on April 6th. She has not been seen since and probably continued to her normal nesting area. Still, it was remarkable that she appeared at CLB. We welcomed her like a long lost family member!
Snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) have not nested at Corcoran Lagoon Beach since their last nest in 2000, due mostly to lack of shorebird nesting protection management. This changed in 2013 when Friends of Corcoran Lagoon Beach (FoCLB) formed specifically to assist the County in implementing its Local Coastal Program (LCP) policy to protect shorebird nesting areas on County Beaches.
With protection of a small area of the beach located close to E.Cliff Drive, the bird nesting seasons of 2013 and 2014 produced a total of four nests, 16 eggs and 15 successfully fledged Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) chicks. The work by FoCLB included installation of signs (bilingual), a simple cordon to delineate the area, exclosures of nests when necessary, daily monitoring and photo-documentation of the results.
The area is small and beach visitors are able to continue to access the beach from four different directions without disturbing the birds. The educational value for beach visitors has been an added benefit.
Although all bird species, whether endangered or not, are covered by the County General Plan LCP, when we started our work we did not know if Snowies would ever nest again at CLB. The area is not designated "critical habitat" for this endangered bird and most avian ecologists think that CLB is not really very suitable habitat for successful nesting by Snowies, given the amount of use of the beach.
Snowy plovers may have a different thought. This year, the third season of nesting area protection, a Snowy plover finally visited Corcoran Lagoon Beach! A known female (leg bands identify her), who has nested three or four times at the Pajaro River mouth, stopped by and settled in for most of a day on April 6th. She has not been seen since and probably continued to her normal nesting area. Still, it was remarkable that she appeared at CLB. We welcomed her like a long lost family member!
January 29, 2015
Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) at Corcoran Lagoon Beach, relaxing prior to the arrival of unleashed dogs.
November 21, 2014
11:36 am American coots (Fulica americana) at the ocean end of the lagoon outflow
October 3, 2014
5:00 pm Black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) at the inner lagoon, very close to E. Cliff Drive.
October 2, 2014
11 am Willets (Tringa semipalmata) bathe in Corcoran Lagoon outflow of Corcoran Lagoon Beach. Joined by a sandpiper.
5:40 pm Corcoran Lagoon outlet on beach, in front of apartments
Whimbrel and Godwit
Almost 6:00 pm Godwits and one Whimbrel feeding on inside of Corcoran Lagoon outlet on damp beach sand.
Bathing beauties, cleaning up after dinner, using the waters of the Corcoran Lagoon outflow beside the apartments.
September 27, 2014
Near beach at end of 23rd Avenue
Cooper's Hawk ( Accipiter cooperii)
September 25, 2014
Late afternoon at Corcoran Lagoon Beach -- shorebirds feeding at low tide
June 18, 2014
House Finch and Killdeer on the sand dunes among the native pink sand verbana (Abronia umbellata).
May 28, 2014
House sparrow (Passer domesticus) on fence beside the Corcoran Lagoon outflow, apartment side. Still building nests down there.
May 15, 2014
Morning This Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) was resting on the cordon rope that surrounds this season's shorebird nesting area of Corcoran Lagoon Beach.
May 11, 2014
11:45 am Corcoran Lagoon Beach shoreline. These Whimbrels look like they are enjoying a game of Scottish lawn bowls.
Lawn bowls spectators
May 9, 2014
1:30 pm These Snowy egrets were at the shoreline of 26th Avenue beach area, east of Corcoran Lagoon Beach. It is unusual to see them there. We think that stepped up enforcement of off-leash dogs may be part of the reason. LLASCC and the birds thank County Animal Services.
May 8, 2014
10:30 am This mother duck and her babies travelled from Corcoran Lagoon Beach to the inner lagoon. When they it made over to the sand spit shown in this picture, a Killdeer chick came out from hiding and stared at them. These ducklings are almost three times the size of the killdeer chicks.
This morning she fought a successful aerial battle with two male mallards (drakes) who were after the her chicks.
May 7, 2014
6:50 pm With no dogs near the rocks of the eastern edge of Corcoran Lagoon Beach, these Whimbrels safely fed at the shoreline. At the western edge of the beach, where two off-leash dogs were in and out of the water, chasing balls tossed for them, no birds fed at the shoreline. The number of birds on the beach are increasing as the number of off-leash dogs decrease.
May 6, 2014
10:40 am Sanderlings feeding on the main shoreline of Corcoran Lagoon Beach
6:50 pm Egrets observed in the lagoon outflow. They flee when off-leash dogs enter the water. They do not flee with human visitors nearby, with or without dogs on-leash. This is an example of how beach visitors can bring their leashed dogs to the beach without disturbing wildlife. Humans. Dogs. Birds. Co-existing.
May 1, 2014
1:40 pm Dunlins (Calidris alpina) feeding along the lagoon outflow, sharing the goodies with a Killdeer and a Semi-palmated Plover
April 29, 2014
5:00 pm This little Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) was with a Killdeer, three times its size! Picture taken at the west bank of the outflow in front of the apartments.
April 28, 2014
5:45 pm Sanderlings on the rock shelve at 19th beach
April 26, 2014
Whimbrels feed and rest at the inner Corcoran Lagoon as well as at the beach shoreline. There were close to 20 individuals observed in the afternoon. These were photographed at the shoreline of Corcoran Lagoon Beach.
April 22, 2014
Read these good tips for exploring tide pools so as not to harm wildlife therein: http://www.hilltromper.com/article/10-tips-happy-tidepooling
April 21, 2014
1:50 pm Three migratory Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus) flew out to the lagoon outflow for a look around the beach environs.
April 19, 2014
7:00 pm Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) and Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) at the rock pools 19th Avenue. Off-leash dogs run all over this area, most entering from 20th Avenue Beach.
April 18, 2014
6:30 pm Shorebirds try to feed, while moving away from several off-leash dogs.
APRIL 17, 2014
10:15 am Migratory Black-bellied Plovers (Pluvialis squatarola) feeding and resting at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
April 15, 2014
5:00 pm First winter Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
April 12, 2014
11:00 am Three Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia) were resting near the lagoon outflow before flying to the inner lagoon.
April 6, 2014
Evening at the Lagoon.
April 5, 2014
A Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) has been at the Corcoran Lagoon Outflow for two days.
Inner Corcoran Lagoon hosts several species of shorebirds. These Whimbrels and Willets were seen about 2 pm.
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) Willet (Tringa semipalmatus)
April 3, 2014
It has been a tough season so far for nesting birds at Corcoran Lagoon Beach. The original Killdeer nest in the ice plant area was abandoned, leaving three eggs in place. That nest was occupied on March 18th. During the night of March 18th someone was setting off M1's on that beach. The nest was found abandoned the following day. Since the 19th the eggs have disappeared. The two mallards, who had begun to build a nest, are dead on the side of the road.
After fits and starts and a lot of stormy weather that saw the sky open and dump a lot of rain and blow things around, the resilient Killdeer have come back to celebrate spring with another nest. Here one of a pair sits on the nest, while the other is feeding down by the lagoon outflow.
After fits and starts and a lot of stormy weather that saw the sky open and dump a lot of rain and blow things around, the resilient Killdeer have come back to celebrate spring with another nest. Here one of a pair sits on the nest, while the other is feeding down by the lagoon outflow.
March 15, 2014
Litter at the beach takes many forms. When plastic is involved, some say it is the most egregious and harmful litter.
March 13, 2014
8:45 am South Corcoran Lagoon, 20 feet from the bridge. Lovely Egrets.
2:30 pm The first eggs of the season at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
March 12, 2014
Nesting Season Begins at Corcoran Lagoon Beach!
March 1, 2014
2:00 pm Corcoran Lagoon ducks and cormorants sharing space.
February 28, 2014
Surfbirds (Calidris virgata) feeding on exposed tide pool rocks between 19th and 20th Avenue.
Female black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) feeding on the exposed rocks near 20th Avenue beach.
February 10, 2014
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) at Corcoran Lagoon near the beach
January 31, 2014
3:00 pm Female Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
January 19, 2014
Western willet (Tringa semipalmata)
January 12, 2014
11:15 am Common Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) at inland portion of Corcoran Lagoon, near E. Cliff Drive
January 8, 2014
Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) on exposed rocky shore near 19th Avenue beach
January 1, 2014
Killdeer enjoying the "summer" weather at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
January 1, 2014
Sanderlings (Calidris alba) feeding on exposed rocks at 19th/20th Avenue beach
December 30, 2013
Immature White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), inland of Corcoran Lagoon Beach
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius), late morning, at shoreline of Corcoran Lagoon Beach
December 28, 2013
Black Oystercatcher (Haematopodidae)
December 23, 2013
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) inland of Corcoran Lagoon Beach
Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) inland at Corcoran Lagoon.
Female or first year Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
2:30 pm With no dogs in sight, a Snowy egret walks along water's edge at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
Monday, October 28, 2013
Just off shore...the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) at the outflow on the Corcoran Lagoon Beach
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
9:38 am Snowy egret (Egretta thula) and Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
at Corcoran lagoon outflow, near the apartments.
at Corcoran lagoon outflow, near the apartments.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Corcoran Lagoon Beach Brewer's blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
Friday, October 18, 2013
Surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) Early afternoon, 15' feet from shore at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
While this species is not endangered it has declined 50 to 70% over the past 40 years. Be safe, sea ducks!
While this species is not endangered it has declined 50 to 70% over the past 40 years. Be safe, sea ducks!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Morning Two groups of egrets, 21 total on the Corcoran Lagoon Outflow
Afternoon Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps American Coot Fulica americana
Monday, September 30, 2013
Birds take wing. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at Corcoran Lagoon
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Early morning at Corcoran Lagoon Mallard, Egrets and Great-blue heron
Friday, September 27, 2013
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) Eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons), adult with white face, young bird without. This species breeds far away from Santa Cruz (across the tundra from Nunavut to Siberia). In Greenland, this goose has one of the largest ranges of any species of goose in the world.
September 22, 2013
Spotted Sandpiper, winter plumage (Actitis macularia) Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
Saturday, August 31, 2013
A Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius), hanging out with a Killdeer adjacent to the Corcoran Lagoon outflow. Running and stopping to see what it may have stirred up for lunch.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
9:15 am - GREEN-BACKED HERON (Butorides virescens)
These birds are the least tolerant of humans and dogs that I have witnessed at the lagoon. They both took off when a woman and her dog walked over the bridge. The other birds take no notice of what is up on the bridge. I've seen these birds before, but they are so skittish that they are hard to photograph. They are usually trying to look invisible.
These birds are the least tolerant of humans and dogs that I have witnessed at the lagoon. They both took off when a woman and her dog walked over the bridge. The other birds take no notice of what is up on the bridge. I've seen these birds before, but they are so skittish that they are hard to photograph. They are usually trying to look invisible.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Seven egrets seen at Corcoran Lagoon outflow this morning.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Great blue heron at Corcoran Lagoon outflow.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
9:45 - 11:00 am Northern phalarope (Lobipes lobatus) individual on Corcoran Lagoon outflow in front of the apartments. Startled by a crow but returned to water.
11:00 am Common Egret (Casmerodius albus) First sighted walking on sand dunes below E. Cliff Drive. Then on east edge of Corcoran Lagoon outflow, feeding. Three times this bird caught a fish that was behind it by just quickly flicking its neck around. Note small fish in beak.
11:30 am Egret leaves outflow water and walks around on beach sand in front of the apartments, looking for dessert. The bird stayed until someone came across the beach to enter the apartments with a dog.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
Friday, August 23, 2013
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Six individuals seen swimming and feeding at Corcoran Lagoon outflow.
Six individuals seen swimming and feeding at Corcoran Lagoon outflow.
Sunday, August 18
Two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) hang out at Corcoran Lagoon
Friday, August 16, 2013
Ducks relaxing just north of Corcoran Lagoon outflow
Friday, August 16, 2013
Bird mélange at Corcoran Lagoon Female Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) at the outflow, swooping and catching insects like a proper little flycatcher.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Signs of success for fledged shorebirds at Corcoran Lagoon beach include this picture of three of the July hatchlings looking quite healthy. Note the camouflage mode of the clever birds looking like rocks in sand.
Sunday, August 11, 2103
Mother killdeer looking beautiful tonight. She has done a fantastic job, five weeks of protecting the chicks.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Heermann's Gulls, including adults, 2nd year birds, and an immature, hanging out at Corcoran Lagoon beach.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
A sea lion came up on the beach at the foot of 24th, raised itself up on it's flippers, looked around and then re-entered the ocean. That makes three live pinnipeds on that portion of beach since May 2012.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
11:45 am Great Blue Heron at Corcoran Lagoon, north of E. Cliff Drive.
Monday, August 5, 2013
7:30 pm Immature California Gull (Larus californicus)seen on beach near 23rd Avenue.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) - six individuals seen feeding with Killdeer young
Saturday, August 3, 2013
3:15 pm in front of apartments, 20th Ave to 23rd Ave beach.
One adult Killdeer, one duck, a number of seagulls, including a Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni)
and one Willet (Tringa semipalmata).
One adult Killdeer, one duck, a number of seagulls, including a Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni)
and one Willet (Tringa semipalmata).
Friday, August 2, 2013
5 pm and 6 pm, just out from the bridge on the Corcoran Lagoon outflow.
Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus) are migratory through Santa Cruz. They forage for food on beaches, tidal flats and fields. They nest in Canada and Alaska and winter in coastal areas of the southern United States, the Caribbean and much of South America.
Theses plovers were doing fine until a guy with a cell phone stuck in his ear allowed his three small dogs to enter the lagoon near the birds. The birds took off and landed again near the bridge. When I was photographing them, they came within 15 feet of me; seemed to have no fear of me.
Theses plovers were doing fine until a guy with a cell phone stuck in his ear allowed his three small dogs to enter the lagoon near the birds. The birds took off and landed again near the bridge. When I was photographing them, they came within 15 feet of me; seemed to have no fear of me.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Four Canada geese, safe from predators on Corcoran Lagoon.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
California Pelican
California Pelican, injured with a lure stuck into its back, trailing five feet of fishing line, was using the Corcoran Lagoon outflow and its beach area for rest from difficult flight. As can be seen from the first picture, the pelican was adjacent to this season's Killdeer nesting area. This is an area proposed for off leash dog hours and there were seven dogs that came to the area off leash. Owners were warned to leash their dogs. Most did but some owners had no leashes with them.
Native Animal Rescue was called and came to collect the bird, although it took a couple of hours of constant diligence to protect the bird prior to their arrival. Our sincere thanks to Native Animal Rescue (http://www.nativeanimalrescue.org/). They accept donations to help in their work to rehabilitate injured wildlife.
Native Animal Rescue was called and came to collect the bird, although it took a couple of hours of constant diligence to protect the bird prior to their arrival. Our sincere thanks to Native Animal Rescue (http://www.nativeanimalrescue.org/). They accept donations to help in their work to rehabilitate injured wildlife.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
7:15 PM Adult Killdeer with one of four fledglings.
Friday, July 19, 2013
These young sandpipers were feeding near the bridge on the Corcoran Lagoon outflow.
Killdeer and fledglings.
I had to chase the crows off three times tonight. The final time, one got behind me and attacked a parent killdeer who was doing the diverting behavior. The killdeer took off and led the crow on a wild chase out towards the radio towers. The crow never had a chance. One of the adults gathered a chick in under it's body and protected it.
I was thinking that the crows hadn't caught on to the babies, but I was wrong. Just before I left, a baby was on the high ground and a single crow returned and swooped in on the baby. It zoomed over the top of the baby, missing it by a foot, with a killdeer right on it's tail. The crow got chased out of the area.
At one time, someone let a firework off. Scared the crows, but didn't bother the killdeer.
I was thinking that the crows hadn't caught on to the babies, but I was wrong. Just before I left, a baby was on the high ground and a single crow returned and swooped in on the baby. It zoomed over the top of the baby, missing it by a foot, with a killdeer right on it's tail. The crow got chased out of the area.
At one time, someone let a firework off. Scared the crows, but didn't bother the killdeer.
July 18, 2013
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Update on Killdeers and Crows
I've been fighting crows. Sunday night two crows were after one adult killdeer and had it cornered in some vegetation, so I went up onto the sand and chased off all the crows. It's easy; chase one and they all fly away.
Tonight, both adults diverted most of the crows off across the beach. One of the babies, who seems to have no fear of crows, or perhaps it froze within plain sight, was being approached by a crow, which got within three feet of the baby, so I went over the wall and chased that crow and all the others off.
Tonight, both adults diverted most of the crows off across the beach. One of the babies, who seems to have no fear of crows, or perhaps it froze within plain sight, was being approached by a crow, which got within three feet of the baby, so I went over the wall and chased that crow and all the others off.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Barn Swallow at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Killdeer Adults and Fledglings at Corcoran Lagoon Beach
Sunday, June 16, 2013
New Killdeer Nest at Corcoran Lagoon Outflow
On Sunday, a second Killdeer nest was discovered on the open sand east of the Corcoran Lagoon outflow. Neighborhood volunteers put protective fencing around the nest. The birds moved back to the nest immediately after they were done.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Killdeer Hatched!
We have four baby killdeers.
They don't know how to "freeze" yet and when someone approaches they run back into the exclosure.
The second time I visited them today the parents were showing them how to freeze. Instead of doing the broken wing thing, the parents were freezing low and looking like driftwood.
They don't know how to "freeze" yet and when someone approaches they run back into the exclosure.
The second time I visited them today the parents were showing them how to freeze. Instead of doing the broken wing thing, the parents were freezing low and looking like driftwood.
April 28, 2013
This long-billed bird is probably a whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), seen here with the killdeer, at 11:15 am, in front of the apartments where the outflow is blocked off from the ocean. The whimbrel is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Birds at Corcoran Lagoon Outflow
April 17, 2013
One of the birds in the exclosure. The bird is not on the eggs, bird sensed a threat. Taken around 2 PM, April 17.
2.30 pm Bird's partner between exclosure and lagoon.
April 16, 2013
Protective fencing installed at Corcoran Lagoon beach to protect a shore bird nest, containing two eggs.
The fencing has a gap to allow the birds to enter and exit, which they are doing.
The fencing has a gap to allow the birds to enter and exit, which they are doing.
One week later (picture taken April 27), there were four eggs.
July 3-5, 2012
The orange plastic fence seen in the lower right photograph was put up to control crowds of people coming to the beach for the July 4th fireworks season. After the people left, these birds took advantage of the exclosure!
Shorebirds on County beaches
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