On Monday, October 22nd, I stopped off at Goleta Slough mouth at Goleta Beach at 5:15pm for 20-30 minutes before the CCBER seminar at UCSB at 6pm. The low-tide waters of the slough mouth were occupied by many different birds; it was quite an active scene. However, the light was not that great but did get pictures of White-faced Ibis, Bonaparte’s Gull and Bufflehead that are not seen in the summer months at the slough.

(Bonaparte’s Gull - Goleta Slough mouth - October 24, 2007)

(Bonaparte’s Gull - Goleta Slough mouth - October 25, 2007)

I returned for another stop-off on Wednesday in the early afternoon, and counted six Bonaparte’s Gulls, but other bird activity was low because of the higher tide. On another brief visit early on Thursday morning, I saw a Peregrine Falcon and Osprey perched not too far from each other in the Eucalyptus trees on the north side of the mouth. Then on Friday evening, I returned to the Slough mouth and found it rather full of water again because the outlet to the sea seems to have been closed somewhat by sand; best photos on that short visit were of a group of Black-necked Stilts.

(Black-necked Stilts - Goleta Slough mouth - October 26, 2007)

This weekend did no birding - it rained slightly on Saturday, thankfully. I hope to get to Los Carneros next week, because it has been reported that a large group of Ring-necked Ducks are on the water there - I need good photos of that species.

• Goleta Slough Fall Birds Slideshow