Guajome Park "a Place of the Frogs"

Our destination for a birding day trip was to be Guajome County Park in Oceanside, California. I stayed by the computer wondering if Eve would opt-out due to a heavy marine layer over our coastal cities.  At 7:45am the weather was past heavy mist and now it appeared to be light rain. As I checked my e-mail, I heard the doorbell ring and knew that Eve was here and ready to go birding, raining or not.

****************************

Hoping for an improvement in our weather as we headed inland to Guajome County Park which is located on the south side of HWY 76, just past the road to the San Luis Rey Mission. As we arrived at the park, I borrowed Eve's lightweight shopping bag to protect my camera and lens from the heavy mist but the sky was clearing quickly. We parked on the road outside the gate and started our walk north towards the lake. Guajome park is pronounced wah-ho-mai . It is of Spanish origin meaning "A Place of the Frogs". As we started our walk, my first subject was a fledgling Western Bluebird perched on a chain link cage covering a large drainage.

This is the first time I have seen a juvenile Western Bluebird. They will have the spotted plumage through August of its first year. 

At first look, they sure don't look like bluebirds with all the spots and dull color. Just a hint of blue on the wing feathers. 

Another youngster but this one appears to be a Cassin's Kingbird. 

Eve spots a Bullock's Oriole high up on a Eucalyptus tree. 

An adult male Western Bluebird keeps track of his youngsters. There also was a constant call from a Red-shouldered Hawk youngster calling for food but we could only see a possible huge nest high up in one of the Eucalyptus trees but we never got a glimpse of the youngster.

We soon arrived at the trail that winds around the lake. Here is a shot that Eve took on her phone showing the beginning of the Guajome Lake trail. The wood looking post and rail is really made of concrete formed to look like it has wood grains and painted to look like lumber.

The reeds and green foliage block most of the view from the trail we were walking on but you can always squeeze through a few bushes and duck under low tree branches to find an opening to check out the lake. We did hear lots of croaking that sounded like it might be made by bullfrogs... "a place of the frogs"!

Something runs across the path and I grab my camera and get a shot of the "bread bandit"! The park permits feeding of ducks and wildlife so the ducks and squirrels are quite bold. I would have to say there were hundreds of squirrels here at the park. Got quite a few flea bites on me walking through the park. I highly recommend that you put on some kind of bug repellent if you visit this park. 

 

Several American Coots and their offspring walked by looking to see if we had any breadcrumbs for them. Here is the adult with her baby Coot. 

A good look at the lobed feet on the young coot.

Another peek through the thick greenery and I spot a mother duck with a couple of young ducklings. 

A Great-tailed Grackle lands in a tree nearby. These birds are good sized. Males measure 18 inches long with a wingspan of 23 inches. This park had lots of birds but it was quite difficult to get any clear shots of most of them because of the thick greenery and tall mature trees throughout the park. 

When you do spot something like this Common Yellowthroat, it may be in a disadvantaged lighting. 

Eve alerts me to an adult Lesser Goldfinch feeding a youngster on a bare branch. 

The youngster eagerly grabs for the grubs. 

The wings flare out on the youngster as it begs for more. 

 

Here comes more food!

A whole mouthful of what appears to be grubs.

The youngster appears to be full of food but the adult is offering more. 

 

We decided to take a trail that crossed over a creek and became quite narrow and thick with lots of undergrowth around mature trees. But be warned there is lots of poison oak around.

Eve heard them first... she kept saying that there were Pacific Slope Flycatchers around but she wanted to get a visual. Soon, they were spotted on a bare branch where I took a few shots. Here is a shot which I believe is the adult PSF on the left and on the right side of this photo, a new fledgling appears to be begging for food.

The birds were almost overhead and got mostly underside shots. Eve moved on from under the birds. She must still be nervous from the Wood Duck nest incident last week when she startled a nesting female out of the box and got poo splattered all over her nice shirt. Someone told her it was good luck and she laughed and said maybe so... because she just got the good news that her nephew was drafted to play for one of the major baseball teams!

I believe this one to be the young fledglings. You can see a natal plumage still stuck to his head.

Another shot of the youngster as it perched above us.

One last shot of the PSF and we headed towards the parking area. 

There were many Bushtits fluttering around. But all the birds in the area disappeared and went quiet when an adult Red-shouldered Hawk landed nearby looking for prey. 

The trail we were on came out to an open area with lots of campers and tents. Past the campsites there were acres of lawn with newly planted trees. One small tree provided a nice perch for this Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

 

This one appeared to be a youngster. Today has turned out to be a day for shooting youngsters as they discover their newfound freedom and a whole new world. Wishing them safe flight, we head for home. 

 

As we walked back towards the street where we first entered the park, I spot a Nuttall's Woodpecker but it takes flight just as I point my camera towards it. It appears to be an adult male.

 

I search the area to see where it may have landed but find a juvenile searching for food on a narrow bare branch. Looks like he found a little snack.

 

A look at the youngster. He still has the red plumage mixed with spotting of white feathers on his forehead. 

A close-up look at this cute little Nuttall's Woodpecker juvenile.

The youngster spots me taking shots of him but stays perched. That is what I like about young birds, they are sometimes much more tolerant and have some curiosity about humans.  It's a lot of fun to take their photos. 

One last shot of the sweet little Nuttall's Woodpecker as he peers down at my camera lens. It's been a great day for birding and this park is a wonderful place to walk and enjoy the abundance of birds and wildlife. We will be sure to come back here again soon!

Have a nice week everyone.