Wet and Wild at the Lagoon

Lately the tides have been "super" high which makes the whole lagoon look more like a lake. When almost everywhere in the lagoon is saturated with water, that's the time to go to the peninsula trail off North Rios Drive and look for the Marsh Wrens.

The tide was high enough to bring many of the Marsh Wrens up to the surface from the pickleweeds and reeds. You could see them as they popped to the top of the plants . They are usually found in the pickle weeds and other shrubs and grass that grow in the lagoon.The peninsula is the perfect place to spot them waiting out the high tide. That is when you can see these fidgety shy birds if you are patient enough and stand really still and wait for them to perch on a nearby old snag. Here are a few photos I got of these shy little wrens at the end of the peninsula trail.

A visit to the snag at the end of the peninsula trail by a Cassin's Kingbird. 

 A Clapper/Ridgway's Rail looks around for a dry place to hide.

Wow, the super high tide has made this usually elusive rail come out into the open and this is a wonderful opportunity for a close-up shot.

He flies off but not much land is exposed out there in the lagoon. Also I noticed he has no leg bands. 

 There are tops of reeds and a few high spots that are still above water. 

I hear some chatter from the Belted Kingfisher. She appears to be alerting everyone that the small falcon has just flown over to the peninsula trail. 

 

A female American Kestrel lands on one of the small snags at the end of the trail. This is the same snag that the Marsh Wren had been perched. 

Leaving the Kestrel at the Peninsula Trail I headed to the Pole Road Trail to see what subject may be waiting out the tide there. Found lots of Western Sandpipers bathing and relaxing. 

There were several Semipalmated Plovers mixed in this crowd. One of them objects to the sandpiper getting too close to his personal space. 

A close-up look at the little altercation. An agitated Semipalmated Plover has a hold of some side feathers belonging to a Western Sandpiper.

 Now two of the Semipalmated Plovers have a conversation over the bathing spot.

A stare-down and a little bit of posturing.

The bath must feel too good to argue over the spot. One of them flies off to fluff dry his wings. 

 

A Close-up.

Cute little shorebirds. 

 Across the trail I spot a Snowy Egret using the fly and grab technique for capturing his prey. 

A few plovers were on the large gravel trail enjoying the sunshine. 

 

A back view. 

Heading back to the trail head, I spot a young Red-shouldered Hawk.

He is focused on something below. 

A beauty.

 

Heading to the Visitor Center side of the lagoon, driving on San Elijo and looking at the waves by the lagoon opening. 

 

Lots of stand up paddle borders out surfing the swells. This one is doing an "off the lip" on this wave with his paddle-board but notice he is using his paddle as a snow skier would use his pole for better control.

I decide to stop by at the Nature Center at the lagoon. The tides were so high that most everything was underwater. Just a few high spots left for some birds to wait out the high tides. LOL... Eve swears that her car has a mind of its own and automatically turns into the parking lot of the Nature Center of the Reserve. I think my van has the same response. In this photo a Rail swims in the middle of the lagoon looking for some dry land.

The tide started to go down and more birds started to arrive. A Great Blue Heron flew to the point. A Gadwall found the dry land to her liking but soon changed her mind as the Great Blue Heron started to see her as lunch. 

The heron is patient and soon he will catch something that will come into his strike zone.

This Great Egret has captured himself a nice fish lunch in the flooded pickle weeds.

Looks like this prey is a Goby fish. 

 

Squeeze and ready to swallow. 

The Great Egret tosses the fish down the hatch. I watch as the fish, still fighting strongly, wiggles down his throat. 

Happy with his catch the Great Egret takes flight. Time for me to go too. Even though it's the "super high tide", the lagoon is still a wonderful place for birding. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!