Sunday, March 9, 2025

One Awesome Birding Walk Huntington Beach State Park


 
 
Date: November 24, 2024
Place: Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina
Coordinates: 33.506768, -79.065460
Length: 0.8 mile
Level: very easy



When half of the family are avid birders it is expected that a significant time of our vacation time would be dedicated to birding. This is true especially when Pappa Quail was in charge of planning much of our Thanksgiving week trip to South Carolina and Georgia. 
On our arrival day we had the first taste of the nature in the lowlands of the coastal area at the Audubon's Beidler Forest Preserve, where we hiked in a swamp forest. Our next day was dedicated more to the local history - we visited Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired, and we visited a plantation, where we also got to see the first alligator on this trip. Our third day however, was dedicated to nature and naturally, to birding. 
We drove north for nearly two hours to reach Huntington Beach State Park which, according to the local chapter of the Audubon Society, was a great place for birding. Indeed, it was. 
 
Our first stop in the park was the visitor center, which hasn't opened yet. We read the information signs and while me and the younger chika wandered around, Pappa Quail and the elder chika went on a short boardwalk that extended over the lagoon behind the visitor center. The boardwalk was collapsed but from its entrance they saw a few birds in the exposed mud flats. 
Black-bellied Plover

The boardwalk may have been closed to people, but a number of birds used it as a perch. nearly all of the birds on the boardwalk rail were herons or their relatives. 
Little Blue Heron, juvenile

Next to the visitor center was a bird feeding spot with a fresh water basin and a number of bird feeders. From the outside second floor balcony of the visitor center we had a great view of the feeding station and the numerous birds that were hanging by the feeders and in the vicinity. 
Carolina Chickadee

Some of the birds were very common and very familiar to us from California and many other places in  United States, such as the yellow-rumped warbler. 
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Other birds that we've seen by the feeders or nearby were definitely lifers - species that we were seeing for the first time. 
Carolina Wren

Some of the birds we saw there, although they weren't 'lifers' meaning we have seen them before, are not in the Bay Area and they were still a thrill to see. 
Red-Bellied Woodpecker

I borrowed the binoculars from Pappa Quail and looked down at the ground where the cameras of Pappa Quail and the elder chika were pointing. I could tell that the bird there was a sparrow, but not the sparrow's species. I left the final identification to the experts. 
White-throated Sparrow

I did recognize the dove though. The mourning dove is common also in California, where I've seen it numerous times. 
Mourning Dove

I also recognized the cardinal on the water basin. I remembered cardinals from the time I lived in Wisconsin, where their red color would brighten the white winter snow - the cardinals overwinter there. 
Northern Cardinal, female

I'll finish this section of the blogpost with a little bird that is very rarely seen in California but is quite common in the East Coast - the pine warbler. 
Pine Warbler

We hung by the bird feeding station long enough, until the visitor center opened. Based on the information we received there on the best birding trails we planned the rest of our visit there. Our next stop was right by the road we came in on, which boarded Mullet Pond. 
Our walk as captured by my GPS

we started our walk by going up the observation deck that extended through the tall vegetation, over the exposed mud, and protruded into the pond. 

The pond extended to the southwest. It was hard to see its edge from where we stood - it looked like it extended around the curve. The water was't clear enough to tell its depth, but the numerous great egrets which stood ways away from the shore provided a good evidence that it was pretty shallow. 
Mullet Pond

Mullet Pond was teeming with birds, but most of the birds were not those usually classified as waterfowl. There were only a few ducks swimming there. 
Hooded Merganser

I'm not sure if gulls are categorized as waterfowl. Either way, there was only one gull in the water at the time.   
Ring-billed Gull

Suddenly Pappa Quail called our attention to the sky - up above us flew an anhinga - a cormorant-like diver bird. The anhinga was pretty far up, and flew quickly away. Later that week we had the chance of seeing anhingas from a much closer distance. This one was for sure a lifer for me. 
Anhinga

Scanning once again the area of the deck, we saw many wading birds. Herons are always nice to see, and in the shallow water stood many herons of several different species, including the tricolored heron, a bird I have only seen once before, in Texas. 
Tricolored Heron

The northeast side of Mullet Pond boards the road and the space between the deck and the road was dotted with many white birds - egrets, herons, ibises and wood storks. 
Mullet Pond

The common ibis species in California is the white-faced ibis, which is a dark brown bird with some iridescent green hue. The white ibis of the East Coast is indeed white, when adult. 
White Ibis, adult

Naturally, our attention was drown at first to the multitude of large, white birds. Pappa Quail and the elder chika however, soon turned their attention to the area where brown vegetation poked out of the shallow water, searching for the less conspicuous birds that waded there. 
Wilson's Snipe

The snipe was a familiar enough bird, so Pappa Quail didn't give it too much attention. He was more interested in another shorebird that was wading near the snipe - a pectoral sandpiper. This one was a lifer sighting. 
Pectoral Sandpiper

Thankfully my family birders photographed also the more common birds, so we'll remember that not only lifers were gathered in Mullet Pond. 
Greater Yellowlegs

In the group of common and familiar birds were the double-crested cormorants. A few of them were perched on a dead tree that protruded from the water, but they were distant. Anther individual flew right above us, and passed close enough to make out the details of this beautiful bird. 
Double-crested Cormorant

Another very familiar bird, but one we are always excited to see, flew across the sky right above us - a gorgeous adult bald eagle. 
Bald Eagle

Pappa Quail pointed out to me a group of large, white birds that stood on dry land near the water. These birds, he told me, were wood storks. They were lifers and he wanted to get better photos of them. For that, we needed to go to the road and view the storks from there. 

We headed back down the boardwalk and around the vegetation to where the sidewalk trail by the road begun. There was a ditch there by the trailhead and in the ditch I spotted a beautiful male cardinal. I called Pappa Quail and the elder chika to get better photos than those I took, but by the time they came over the cardinal left the ditch and settled on a tree branch, eying us from above. 
Northern Cardinal

The ditch wasn't empty though. There were a bunch of birds there still - white ibises, egrets, and little blue herons. 


Of all the heron species, my favorite is the snowy egret. I love their temperament and their ethereal beauty. The only thing that hampers the impression is their voice, which I must admit is quite strange sounding. 
Snowy Egret

We left behind the ditch and the tall vegetation that grew along it sides. From the open road we sure had a great view of all the birds that stood on this side of the pond. They seemed completely unbothered by us, or the other people that stood on the sidewalk and observed them. 

Among all the white egrets, herons, and ibises was a pink bird with a wide bill tip - a roseate spoonbill. It wasn't a lifer for us but it was wonderful to see it there. 
Roseate Spoonbill

In the company of so many white birds, the grayish-looking great blue heron looked a bit drab. Still, without it, the heron assembly there would have felt lacking. 
Great Blue Heron

We lingered in that spot for a while, but then we continued along the sidewalk, searching the water for more birds and enjoying the wonderful sunny day we were blessed with. 
Pied-billed Grebe

There was a shaded gazebo farther along the road and we made are way slowly toward it. In the water swam a squadron of pelicans. They didn't merely swim together, though. These pelicans often hunt together - coordinating their moves to crowd the fish together, then dipping their bills synchronously to grab the fish. 

pappa Quail ignored the pelicans but the elder chika was fascinated by their coordinated moves. From the gazebo she photographed the pelicans after they came to rest on a low island, sharing the space with a group of cormorants. 
American White Pelican

Another small island provided us with the best view of the wood storks. They were so close to the road that even I could get a descent photo of these birds. 

The best close-up photos however, were taken by Pappa Quail and the elder chika. They took many photos of the wood storks that day, and it was quite a challenge for me to select the one I thought was the best. 
Wood Stork

On the island was also another bird that was harder to see because its colors matched those of the soil and vegetation. It was a brown pelican, the same species of the brown pelican we see along the Pacific Ocean. 
Brown Pelican 

An information sign near the gazebo informed us about the importance of alligators to the local ecology, being the apex predator there. We kept searching for alligators in the pond but saw none that day. 
Pappa Quail and the elder chika were taking their time looking at the birds from the gazebo, and the younger chika was staring at the water, lost in her thoughts. I decided to move across the road check out the other side. Northeast of the road was a flat salt marsh that was periodically flooded by a slough that extended from the ocean. When we started our walk it was low tide but by the time I crossed the road the tide was coming. 
Great Egret

Near the road were a few brown birds that attracted my attention. They didn't look like any other brown bird that I've seen before. I shouted out to my family with excitement - I found a lifer! They however, took their time to come over. Perhaps they didn't trust my ability to identify a bird species that would be new to them. When he did see the birds however, Pappa Quail admitted that they were indeed a lifer species - they were boat-tailed grackles. 
Boat-tailed Grackle

Little by little the water advanced and rose between the clamps of vegetation. The vegetation looked very brown, and I assumed that this was the winter color there and that in spring and summer the plants looked more green. 

Now that my family had joined me on the northeastern side of the road they checked that area too for birds. 
Western Sandpiper

Little shorebirds were foraging right at the line of the water and mud. They were mostly sandpipers we already were familiar with from California. They were very cute to watch.
Semipalmated Sandpiper

A few dunlins also foraged at the rising water line, not too far from the sandpipers, but also not too near. 
Dunlin

Slowly we started moving back south along the road. I was already eager to finish this little birding walk so we could go on an actual hike along the beach, so I was ahead of everyone else, and I got to be the first to see the great egret that stood under the small wood deck by the side of the road. The egret stood in ambush and every few minutes it shot its long neck down and its bill would strike the water, pulling out little silvery fish. 
Great Egret

The egret fished so several times, and Pappa Quail and the elder chika came over in tie to take some photos of the egret's success. 
Great Egret

By the time we returned closer to where we started the roadside walk I could see the swelling of the slough where it was dry before. The tide was coming in for sure. 

We could see no more birds on the marsh side of the road so we all crossed back to the southwestern side to take another look and the wood storks.  
Wood Stork

On our way back, right at the edge of the ditch, stood another white ibis that was not white at all. It was a juvenile, Pappa Quail told me. These birds don't turn white until they mature. 
White Ibis, juvenile

I'm not sure that this little birding walk counts as a hike, but it was sure a nice walk and it featured interesting sights and a huge variety of birds, including lifer species. It was a great opening of our day at Huntington Beach State Park. 
 
 

Friday, February 28, 2025

An Afternoon Quality Time at Ed R. Levin Park

 
Wild Turkey, males
 
 
Date: February 17, 2025
Place: Ed R. Levin Park, Milpitas, California
Coordinates: 37.447041, -121.849269
Length: 1.5 miles
Level: easy
 
 
Last Presidents Day we discovered, quite surprisingly, that both our chikas, who are now college students, had a regular school day. On days like that Pappa Quail and I like to go hiking someplace together. That day however, we were both quite busy with things that piled up and when we were done with our chores there wasn't much daylight time left. I suggested going out anyway, to do a shorter walk in a close by place, so we went to Ed R. Levin Park, which is fairly close to our home. We hiked a number of times in Ed Levin Park, but every time previously we hiked around Sandy Wool Lake. This time we drove to Spring Valley Pond, which was an area of the park that we haven't seen yet. 
The first thing that caught my eye as we approached the pond was a sign saying that fishing is only allowed for children. Not wanting to fish for any child I joined Pappa Quail who was scanning the pond for birds.

The pond had very few waterfowl, and most of them were swimming near the shores. A pair of mallards swam away as we approached the shore but a few coots hung by the water edge. 
Spring Valley Pond

Pappa Quail wasn't very enthusiastic about photographing mallards and coots but he did take some photos on my request.
American Coot

We didn't plan on any long hike. The trails in that area of the park aren't very long anyway. Our plan was to simply go around the pond and then walk a little along the creek. Eventually we did go up the hill on Spring Valley Trail though, and had some really nice views from there.
Our hike as captured by my GPS 

We started strolling down the trail, following the northeastern shore of the pond. We walked slowly, looking for birds and chatting. Left of the trail was a large lawn area, and a sole great egret stood there, possibly in ambush of gophers. 
Great Egret

At the edge of the lawn sat a birder on a folding tripod stool and aimed his huge lens-equipped camera at the egret. I tagged at Pappa Quail and he too took the majestic bird's photo.
Great Egret

The narrow connector trail to the other side of the pond was partially flooded and muddy. We walked carefully and managed to get to the other side without too much mud on our shoes. I hoped that there was no more mud on the trail ahead.
Nature Trail

The view of the pond from the southern trail was mostly blocked by vegetation. When we did have a clear view of the water we noticed a few more ducks, among them a male northern shoveler. Most of the ducks that we saw were concentrated on the west shore where a couple of park visitors were feeding them.
Northern Shoveler

T the west edge of the lake we continued straight on the Nature Trail that extended along the little creek spilling from the pond. Thick clouds have gathered above and I wondered if it'll rain. So far it didn't, and we continued hiking on a fairly dry trail.
Nature Trail

Trees and bushes grew between the trail and the creek, but whenever they parted we could see the light flow down below us.

There were many large oaks near the trail, and also some fallen trees, in various stages of decomposing. Many fungi were growing on these fallen, rotting trees but one of them was particularly vivid - the witch's butter fungus. 
Witch's Butter Fungus

Not all trees die when they fall. We did see one tree that broke and fell over, but it was still attached to its roots and its branches kept growing, twisting back in the upward direction. I am always amazed by the resilience of trees and their ability to grow around their problems.

The large oaks formed a beautiful canopy above the trail. i was taking photos of this pretty avenue when Pappa Quail noticed a rafter of turkeys crossing the trail.
Nature Trail

As big as these birds are, they can move pretty quickly when they want to. The turkeys ran fast across the trail and up the hill. At first I thought they were all males because all the toms were ahead of everyone else.
Wild Turkey, males

The hens followed the toms, at a much slower pace. They would also pause every now and then, and peck at the ground.
Wild Turkey, female

A few toms remained below near the creek. They looked at us with clear disinterest. I tried gobbling at them but they didn't reply. Perhaps my turkey dialect was off.
Wild Turkey, males

The creek was a small one, with a mild flow. Behind it was the access road to Spring Valley Pond. That was the road we came in on. It was quiet now, and the few cars that we did see traveling on that road were leaving.

We left the oaks behind us. The vegetation near the creek grew much thicker and denser. It was mostly willows, and they were beginning their spring bloom.
Willow, Salix sp. 

Below the willows I recognized the budding leaves of roses. I couldn't tell whether these roses were a native California species, or introduced plants that established themselves in the wild.
Rose, Rosa sp. 

The trail split. Our original plan was to simply backtrack on the nature trail, but now the plan seemed too short so we decided to return via the Spring Valley Trail that extended up on the hill.
Spring Valley Trail

As soon as we gained some height the wonderful view of Mission Peak, all in green, came before our eyes. From this angle the iconic pyramid that makes Mission Peak's summit wasn't visible. Below us was the dark line of oaks that marked the creek that we walked along. Across the creek I saw a large patch of yellow flowers. It looked pretty, but likely they were either mustard or sour grass, both of which are invasive plants in California.
Mission Peak

The yellow wildflowers that bloomed near the trail were definitely mustard. Although they are introduced plants, I still enjoyed seeing their bright color, especially on a dark, cloudy afternoon.
Mustard

A large oak tree, still bare of leaves, was growing downhill from the trail. The tree looked old and majestic. It wasd hard capturing all of its canopy in a single frame.


There were more oaks near the trail higher up the hill. Most of these oaks were live oaks - they were evergreen. Below one of the oak trees we saw again the rafter of turkeys. There were even more turkeys at the grassy hilltop, and I chose that photo to head this blog post - the turkeys were certainly the highlight of that hike.

One of the trails that lead up to Mission Peak begins at the Ed Levin Park, from the Sandy Wool Pond area. When I decided to join the expedition going up Mount Shasta I started my training by ascending Mission Peak on that trail.
Mission Peak

The trail curved to the south a bit to reach the high point. From the top of the hill we had a grand view of the south part of the San Francisco Bay and the low lands that surround it, as well as the peninsula mountains on the other side.
Bay View

Meanwhile, Pappa Quail found the first bird on this hike that he was truly interested in seeing - a single black-shouldered kite was perched on a tree. It was far from the trail but a few steps forward brought us to a better viewing and photographing position across from the kite.
Black-shouldered Kite

After a nice walk up the ridge the trail started descending down to the east. In that part of the hike, the trail bordered some private lands. We walked along the huge backyards of the local residents there, which had big mansions and horses in a fenced run.
Spring Valley Trail

A small bird was perched on one of these fences and Pappa Quail took some effort to get a good photo of the bird - a Say's Phoebe.
Say's Phoebe

We resumed our descent down the trail. The Spring Valley Trail didn't go directly to the pond but reached a small parking area east of the pond. As we made our way down we saw a young Sikh couple in bright traditional clothes posing for celebratory photos. The photographer was very focused on the young couple and completely ignored the bluebird that was perching on a tree branch right above him. As it happened, Pappa Quail didn't notice the bird either, or otherwise didn't feel inspired to photograph it.

Across the parking area was a large, solitary eucalyptus tree. I don't normally photograph non-native trees but this eucalyptus was in full bloom and looked very beautiful.

I don't have a photo of a bluebird from this hike but I did convince Pappa Quail to take a close up photo of the eucalyptus blossom.
Eucalyptus


We walked quickly down the trail northeast of the Spring Valley Pond, which was the same trail we started on. The great egret was still on the lawn, although somewhat further away. It attracted a number of admiring observers, who kept a respecting distance, thankfully. The seated birder was there still, in the same place we saw him at the beginning of our hike, and he was still looking at the great egret. 
Pappa Quail was a bit disappointed with the bird yield of this hike. i asked him if he wanted to check out the Sandy Wool Pond area, but he declined. It was time to go back home.