The San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count identified 93 species in August. No new bird species were seen, so the cumulative total remains at 234. Click here for the PDF document with the detailed monthly results through August 2017.

According to bird count leader Jayne Lesley, some noteworthy birds were 2 Lesser Yellowlegs and 5 Wilson’s Phalaropes seen from West Loop of Dust Devil Nature Trail overlooking the freshwater ponds, Blue Grosbeak, 2 Northern Harriers, a Black Skimmer and many Black-vented Shearwaters offshore, and lots of California Gnatcatchers seen throughout the lagoon.

The featured image of a female (bigger and brown) and male (smaller and gray/white) Northern Harrier was taken by SDRP Trail Patrol Volunteer Ginni Kitchen at the San Dieguito Lagoon in December 2016.

The below image of a Northern Harrier was also taken by Ginni near the Birdwing in December 2016 and shows the easily identifiable thick white band at the base of its tail and its preferred method of hunting by swooping low to the ground.

The last image below of a Northern Harrier was also taken by Ginni at Bernardo Bay in December 2015 and shows its owl-like face.

Click here for more information about the San Dieguito Lagoon Bird Surveys.