On the last Sunday of October, the Morro Coast Audubon Society held a field trip to one of my favorite spots: Atascadero Lake. The morning dawned clear and cold (our home weather station showed 32 degrees), but that didn’t stop about a dozen intrepid birders from making the journey to the water’s edge.
As often happens, the birding began in the parking lot, where a full third of the day’s bird species were observed. (The complete trip list can be found here on ebird.) The most conspicuous bird, both here and throughout the day, was probably the Acorn Woodpecker; they have a fairly large colony that roams throughout the lake and park area.
The parking lot also had California Scrub-Jay, Brewer’s Blackbird, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, and House Finch. Overhead, a mob of blackbirds chased away a (presumed) Sharp-shinned Hawk:
We moved clockwise around the lake, observing Mallards (both the domestic and wild kinds), hundreds of American Coots, nearly a dozen Pied-billed Grebes, and a fair few stiff-tailed ducks, both Ruddy and Bufflehead. A few Killdeer roamed the shoreline, and a Black-crowned Night Heron posed nicely for the group.
As we worked our way around the lake, we encountered sparrows (White-crowned, Song, California Towhee) and California Thrasher, along with a lone Belted Kingfisher.
Perhaps the most exciting bird of the day was a pair of Wood Ducks, both male and female:
A total of 30 species was found on a lovely morning here at the lake. Here’s a gallery:
It was an exciting day for me. Thanks to having experienced birders spotting and naming birds.
I have always wanted to see a wood duck and a bonus was seeing the male and female.
Ben, thanks for sharing your comments and photos.
I had a great time, too! Glad you got to see those wood ducks; they’re a lot of fun!
So sorry I missed being there. Had a really bad night with no sleep at all.