Searching for the Sora

It's the middle of February and the temperature is over 80 degrees and the sky is clear and blue. Another day in paradise and it's time to head over to the San Elijo Lagoon to see if I can capture some good shots of the Sora today. 

As soon as I approached the south point of the trail at the San Elijo Nature Center Loop Trail, I noticed that there were lots of bird subjects in the channel. My first shot was of a lone Eared Grebe swimming by.  LOL... check out his cute reflection. 

It is always a delight to see a Great Egret fly in. 

He is in beautiful breeding plumage. See the long tail feathers. 

Two pairs of Bufflehead ducks swim by. It's always nice to be able to get them in one frame.

I believe this may be a female Greater Scaup. There were several pairs swimming in the area but I walked swiftly along the trail that follows the tide channel to get ahead of this one so I could get the right lighting.

The male surfaces nearby. Scaups are diving ducks.

A good look at the shape of the females head. Greater Scaup, Aythya marila measures 18 inches long with a wingspan of 28 inches.

The Greater Scaup has its head set lower and the shape of the head is rounder than a Lesser Scaup. 

She has brought up some plant from the bottom and is chomping away at it. 

The male has brought up something but difficult to ID. It looks more like plastic trash.

He is enjoying himself tossing around his find from the bottom of the tide channel.

He shakes it and munches on it for a while but soon decides it isn't something he wants to swallow and tosses it aside. 

As the male dives and retrieves some kelp, we can see him swimming to the surface near the female. 

A cute sight of female watching the male ready to break the surface of the water next to the female. 

And up he comes with something that looks like some sort of aquatic plants. Excited to get some shots of the Greater Scaup and watch these diving ducks feed but it was time for me to walk over to the east side of the Nature Center Loop Trail and see if I can spot a Sora today. 

Luck was on my side today! Soon after rounding the corner of the trail that heads east I saw a Sora.  About 300ft past the boardwalk, there is a clearing near the trail where some shallow water is visible. If you come around the shrubs real quiet, you can find a Sora foraging for food. Here are some shots that I got at that location. 

Sora, Porzana carolina measures 8.75 inches with a wingspan of 14 inches.

Have a beautiful week everyone!