The San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count identified 108 species in April, and 103 species in May. No new bird species were seen, so the cumulative total remains at 230. Click here for the PDF document with the detailed monthly results through May 2016.
The seasonal freshwater ponds below Dust Devil Nature Trail West Loop still have enough water to support a number of ducks, including Redheads, Blue-wing Teal, Shoveler, and a Canvasback. Roadrunners continue to be seen, and one of the birders, Steve Perry, sent in the photo below of a roadrunner that caught a mouse.
Nesting season is in full swing, with 4 Killdeer chicks hatching from a nest near the San Dieguito Lagoon Staging Area last month, the Cliff Swallows under I-5 have completed their nests, a pair of Ospreys is raising 2 chicks from the western nesting platform, and Long-billed Dowitchers were spotted in breeding plumage during the survey. SDRP Trail Patrol Volunteer Ginni Kitchen sent in the featured photo of the Osprey family. Ginni says, “You can see Dad on the right, one chick in front of Dad, Mom with her wings outstretched, and the wings of the second chick behind Mom.”
Click here for more information about the San Dieguito Lagoon Bird Surveys.
