Thanks to Kyle Braunger’s posting about the Baird’s Sandpipers near Campus Point, I went to UCSB East Beach on Monday at 5pm in search of an up-till-now elusive photo of a Baird’s. The Monday walk was not successful in this regard (there were many walkers on the beach), but it was fun to watch the collection of mostly Elegant Terns at the beach. They were fishing up and down the East Beach waters seemingly undisturbed except for a few gulls trying to steal their fish catch. The Terns were very vocal and active.

(Elegant Terns - UCSB East Beach - August 28, 2007)

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On Wednesday morning August 22nd, I walked along the eastern edge of Devereux Slough, where birds can be closer and easier to photograph. Better pictures were obtained of Wilson’s Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope and Lesser Yellowlegs. Early pictures from that morning were mostly black-and-white (monochome) in the thick fog, but the sun broke through at the end of the walk.

(Wilson’s Phalarope - Devereux Slough - August 22, 2007)

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I walked around west Devereux late Sunday afternoon to see the recently reported bird arrivals - and to continue on to Sands Beach to see the visiting Least Terns, that Callie reported.

(Devereux - August 12, 2007)

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For July, Goleta Slough mouth, Atascadero Creek and More Mesa photos have been grouped together under Goleta Slough - which are actually included in the “Goleta Slough Ecosystem” (map here). While July is generally a slow month for birds, there have been a few highlights, the most interesting of which was the Reddish Egret at Goleta Slough mouth. The opportunity for a full-frame close-up never happened, but some pictures were taken on some of the few days it was in the area. Other birds of interest at this time, were a large flock of Long-billed Curlews, a couple Greater Yellowlegs, and a single Red-breasted Merganser, which continue at the slough mouth.

(Reddish Egret - Goleta Slough mouth - July 11, 2007)

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