Boobies and falcons…

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
Showing birders where the Blue Footed Booby is on a distant jetty. Photo by Heather O'Connor

Kaaren showing birders where the Blue-footed Booby is located on a distant jetty.                 Photo by Heather O’Connor

There has been a lot of commotion along the California coast and Morro Bay is no exception. We had our own personal Blue-footed booby here for about 6 days on the south jetty of Morro Bay. In case you didn’t know, this is a bird that shouldn’t be here. It was first seen in Montaña de Oro by Kaaren Perry. It then flew north in the direction of Morro Bay. Kaaren remembered reading that they like jetties, so on to Morro Bay where she found it again and again and again for the many birders, who were not sure what they were looking for or did not have the optics to find it. As she described it to the many visitors who came by “It is a subadult, possibly second year bird. He stands erect with a long sloping forehead and straight beak with no hook.”

Blue footed Booby Photo by "Mike" Michael L. Baird, flickr.bairdphotos.com

View of the distant Blue footed Booby in front of a Brown Pelican
Photo by “Mike” Michael L. Baird, flickr.bairdphotos.com

A week ago we had thirty sightings of the Blue-footed Boobies from San Diego to San Francisco. This is a bird which normally resides in Mexico, South America and the Galapagos Islands. I was told the last time we were visited by a booby in Morro Bay was 1969 according to someones records.

Blue footed Booby Photo by ©Hanne & Jens Eriksen

Blue-footed Booby in flight                                   Photo by ©Hanne & Jens Eriksen

I do write about the boobies because they are news, but I am still the “Falcon Man” and can’t help but say a few words about them. Bonding continues on the south side of Morro Rock more than ever. Besides sitting together and vocalizing a lot now he, the tiercel, is beginning to display courtship flights. Today they included three “wingovers” into near vertical stoops directly in front of the female as she sat on the “throne.” He ended each stoop with a circle around the rock to windward then returned along the face in front of her at mach something. This is cliff racing at its best for everyone to enjoy. This is way too early for this kind of activity, and if it continues ‘til breeding time all the zoom zoom might put a dent in the boom boom.

Happy trails, Bob

Item:
Breeding usually starts around Christmas, late December.

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I only have flies for you…

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
Kelp flies Photo by Heather O'Connor

Kelp flies                                                            Photo by Heather O’Connor

For anyone looking to observe falcons along the Central Coast of California at this time of year, it is a real crap shoot. If it’s not the wind, it’s the fog. For the last few weeks, it has been the kelp flies. Hoards of them along the beach area. A few warm days saw a bumper crop hatching from the kelp on the beaches. People would stop and park to get out and take a walk. After ten steps turn around and get back into their car. They don’t bite, they just land on you and crawl around by the hundreds. Very irritating.

Together, the tiercel on the right Photo by Cleve Nash

Together, the tiercel on the right                                                    Photo by Cleve Nash

With the falcons now I have noticed some unusual behavior for this time of year. They appear to be moving closer to each other which normally I haven’t seen happen until around late October/November just before breeding time. The tiercel when landing on one of his favorite perches “the throne” does not sit on the highest part, but over to one side saving the best spot for her about a foot away. The same goes for perching in their favorite holes from two to ten feet apart. Normally it would be from ten to thirty yards apart. Also, a lot more vocalization between the two. Who knows, it may have something to do with not having any young this year.

Happy trails, Bob

Item:
Enclosed is a copy of a letter I wrote to our local newspaper about a project some one wants to build. I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I haven’t seen or heard any reply in the past few days.

Promontory showing the frequently used eyrie of the Avila Beach peregrines Photo by Heather O'Connor

Promontory showing the frequently used eyrie of the Avila Beach peregrines    Photo by Heather O’Connor

“Reading this morning newspaper is a ritual in our house like many of us who are boomers or better. The San Luis Obispo Tribune ran a front page article on trying to develop an old Chevron oil tank farm into a resort, i.e. hotel, spa, shops, cottages, restaurant, etc.

Old tank farm site Photo by Bob Isenberg

Old tank farm site                                               Photo by Bob Isenberg

I’m not against building, I’ve been in construction most of my life and still hold an engineering contractor’s “A” license, but this just hit me where I am most vulnerable. Right in the old falcon nest. The proposed building area is at the extreme south end of Avila Beach high on a saddle sloping down to a sheer cliff face at water’s edge. At the southern most tip is a rocky point jutting into the Pacific which forms coves on either side. The northern side of this point forms the cove which encompasses Avila Beach upon which a pair of peregrine falcons have nested on the sheer face for the past 20 years that I personally know of. People all over the world have spent time, effort and millions of dollars to bring these birds back from near extinction. We don’t need to make them homeless. With a little bit of forethought and planning some of this might be accomplished.

People that live here or have moved here did so mostly because there are still unspoiled vistas and breaks in the asphalt and sprawl. Can you imagine the possibilities of homes and condos from Port San Luis to Montaña de Oro? What do you think?”
Bob Isenberg

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Late arrival…”Scrappy”

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

For those who followed us for the last year or so, you might remember about this time last August we had a new arrival, “Spec, the black turkey vulture,” aka: undertaker of the skies. All other birds hatch in the spring or early summer, but turkey vultures wait until the late summer to fledge.

"Spec" 2012 Photo by Cleve Nash

“Spec” 2012                                            Photo by Cleve Nash

Today, Mr. and Mrs. Digger O’Dell* gave us another big, “Scrappy” baby vulture, downy head and all. Watching for the falcons, I had caught movement coming down the rock face and then lost sight of it. The fog was thick up high and only left the lower quarter of the rock visible. Scanning this, I saw three adult vultures standing on a large rock facing over the back side. I assumed they were looking at something dead or maybe another bird eating something behind the rock. The adults left for some reason and soon appeared a downy head. Then the rest of him appeared around the large rock. He no sooner got on top then fell behind it into a bush and out of sight.

A few minutes later my partner, Heather, arrived then Jack Clayton. I greeted Heather and yelled to Jack, “Get your camera.”

They both said “What’s going on?”

I replied, “We have a new baby vulture behind a bush.”

I had their attention now. Soon ten minutes passed with nothing visible.

“What is this, a snipe hunt?”

“I swear you guys. He’s behind the bush.”

“Sure, Bob.”

Just then a wing came up.

Wing up Photo by Cleve Nash

Wing up                                                Photo by Cleve Nash

“Did your see that?”

“See what?”

The next second, he spread his wings and flew. They both were aware of him now. And Jack pulled up and got off one shot as he flew away, dark downy head and all.

Jack's quick and only shot of the fledgling Photo by Jack Clayton

Jack’s quick and only shot of “Scrappy”                                Photo by Jack Clayton

Happy trails, Bob

* For those of you who are 70 plus, you might remember the “Life of Riley”(radio and television: 1941-1958) and Digger O’Dell, the friendly undertaker. “I’d better be shoveling off.”

Item:
As of today, August 29, Bob and friends observed a second juvenile vulture flying with the first fledgling!

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“Foggust” 19, 2013

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
A frenzy of birds Photo by John Dumong

A frenzy of birds                   Photo by John Dumong

“Foggust” is the month after July and the one before September. We have another week and a half and it would be nice to squeeze in a couple of days of sunshine out of this month. If not, we always have September and “Indian Summer” to look forward to. The fog has obscured what little falcon activity there has been. They leave early and don’t return until midday, sometimes not at all. Other days they might both be there at 10 AM and sit in a hole all day facing the back wall.

All of the excitement seems to be on the water. For the past two weeks, we’ve had thousands of brown pelicans in and around Morro Bay. A lot of them young juveniles, sick and dying.* Today the large body of water inside the harbor entrance and the inner harbor near the Coast Guard Station was inundated with thousands of birds in a feeding frenzy. Gulls, terns, cormorants and pelicans turning the bay into a frothing cauldron. Sea lions and harbor seals pushing up the giant school of sardines and anchovies so the birds can dive upon them leaving plumes of water after hitting the surface from a 30 foot dive.

Thousands of pelicans sit on the jetty and line the shore waiting their turn to feed for there is no room in the sky. It is spectacular to watch. After every big mêlée there are one or two injured birds, usually gulls from so many pelicans falling from the sky at one time only to return to the sky to circle counter-clockwise and dive again.

Thanks to John Dumong for his photo of the birds. You must realize that all of this cannot be captured by one or two photographs. It is happening all around Morro Bay, all at once, and with many schools of bait.

Happy trails, Bob

* Pacific Wildlife Care volunteers have told me that the condition of  the young juveniles who are sick and dying is due to starvation. The young lack knowledge of feeding skills and there had been a bumper crop of young.

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A first for me…

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
Holes to perch in and molt Photo by Bob Isenberg

The many holes to perch in and molt                                   Photo by Bob Isenberg

It’s hard to get used to a spring and summer without young ones around on the south side of Morro Rock. In all the years that I have observed them, this was a first for me.

Inactivity at the rock is abundant with both birds molting for the last few weeks. They rarely fly, but perch for hours at a time, flying only to move to another spot and sit some more.

Humpback whale tail from SubSeas Tours

Humpback whale tail                                             Photo from SubSeas Tours

The waters around the rock are a hotbed of activity. Humpback whales and dolphins have been giving photographers and watchers something to squeal about. The “Dos Osos” skipper, Kevin Winfield, says that two miles straight out of the harbor is where the show starts. With all the activity he has added more trips. For information, call SubSea Tours at (805) 772-WIND (805-772-946). His website is www.subseatours.com

Breaching whale Photo from Sub Seas Tours

Breaching Humpback whale                                     Photo from Sub Seas Tours

A few other notes:

  • The Crested Caracara is still in the area of Highway 1 near Hollister Peak.
  • The north side juvenile peregrines have not been run off yet.
  • And… We at Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch have received permanent status as a 501(c)3 charitable educational organization!  We are thrilled.
  • Now you can all go to page “9. Donate” knowing that you can write your donation off on your taxes.

Happy trails, Bob

Posted in chicks, falcon, juvenile, Morro Rock | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Could be worse…

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
The "waterfall" hole Photo by Cleve Nash

Liftoff from the “waterfall” hole                                     Photo by Cleve Nash

Of the two pair of breeding falcons at Morro Rock, we did get one set of chicks this year 2013, two males and one large female on the north side. The female on the south side in her twelfth season failed to produce any living young this year. She had successfully fledged 25 young in the previous eleven years. To my knowledge, no other bird, male or female, has continuously bred and raised this many young at Morro Rock.  All of this has taken place on the south side of Morro Rock using four different eyries. The “diving board,” the “mail slot,” the “waterfall,” and the “lower five.”

Over the previous years, she has had failed nestings in all, but one, the “waterfall” eyrie. But in all of these failed nestings, she has bred, moved to another eyrie and re-clutched, producing at least one young on her second try. That is all, but this year, she failed twice.

Male and female perching Photo by Cleve Nash

Male and female landings                                            Photo by Cleve Nash

The “waterfall hole” is where I found her today with only her head visible, still molting and looking scruffy. There will be a time when she will be replaced by a younger bird in any kind of scenario, but it will happen.

In the years that I have watched the falcons, I have lived through three black labs and a golden retriever and it always hurts to see them pass. I know it will be the same with her.

Happy trails, Bob

Item:
The “waterfall” eyrie is very  easy to find. It is a round hole with a long white streak of calcium trailing from it that fills with water from the hole above after a rain in winter. I have frequently seen them bathe in this hole.

"Waterfall" hole Photo by Heather O'Connor

“Waterfall” hole                                               Photo by Bob Isenberg

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Passing through…

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
Adult Crested Caracara Photo by Teddy Llovet

Crested Caracara, adult                               Photo by Teddy Llovet

We, often, have reports from birdwatching friends and dedicated followers. One of our contributing photographers, Teddy Llovet, sent this to us. Since it points out the chance of coming across an unusual visitor, we would like to share with you.

Here today, gone tomorrow…
“A rare visitor came to the Central Coast of California in February 2012 and now again in June 2013. The Crested Caracara, a tropical falcon-like vulture, made its way north from Central and South America.

Crested Caracara, adult Photo by Teddy Llovet

Crested Caracara, adult                              Photo by Teddy Llovet

Wow, did I hit the gas pedal when I heard it was here. Around 6:45 PM on June 29, 2013, I pulled into a turnout north of Cayucos, California in time to photograph this rare visitor perched on a distant large rock outcrop on the ocean side of Highway 1. Moments later it flew to another even more distant rock outcrop on the inland side of Highway 1. Again I clicked my shutter button.

Crested Caracara, adult Photo by Teddy Llovet

Crested Caracara, adult                                   Photo by Teddy Llovet

Soon it was flying in circles overhead with me aiming from an almost backbend posture to try to capture its flight. I did my best with my meager 300mm lens. The next day the bird was nowhere to be seen.”   ~Teddy Llovet

To see more of her work go to our “Photographers” page.

Happy trails, Bob

Item:
In 2006, I was asked to ID a photo from a friend. It looked to be a Red-tailed Hawk in size and coloration. Everything, but the beak. It looked eagle-like. I told him I have only seen that kind  of beak on a Caracara, but its color was the wrong color and it didn’t belong here. I had never seen a juvenile or photo of one, but that is what it was. A few days later, we saw two. Two years later, we saw an adult. All of these sightings took place in Montaña de Oro State Park, Los Osos, CA.  Last year in February, we had an adult Crested Caracara at Piedras Blancas Lighthouse near San Simeon, CA. It stayed for over a month. ~Bob

Crested Caracara, adult Photo by Teddy Llovet

Crested Caracara, adult                                  Photo by Teddy Llovet

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Golden years…

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

Youthfulness, a juvenile Photo by Cleve Nash
Maturity, an adult female Photo by Cleve Nash

Questions of age have come to my attention from a few readers about the south side female. Yes, she is getting “a little long in the tooth” and according to “Birds of North America,” the peregrine falcon article, female age has a significant effect on all measures of reproductive success: clutch size, fertility, hatchability, brood size, nestling survivability.” What they are saying is that a fourteen year old female will not lay as many eggs as she did in her younger years. Some of her eggs won’t be fertile, some of the fertile eggs won’t hatch.

6-1-13 23833

Onward…                                                  Photo by Cleve Nash

I have watched the same female since she arrived at Morro Rock in the summer of 2001 as a subadult. She still carried vertical barring of a juvenile on her chest. I believe her to be 13 to 14 years of age. The article states further that the older they get , there will be fewer eggs produced. This female had her largest clutch last year, four in number. In the wild most peregrine observers believe the average lifespan to be 16 to 20 years. In captivity, 25 or more years. Weakness in an aging peregrine will become evident to other peregrines and a younger one will eventually replace her. We haven’t seen any of these distinct signs. If this season is a failure, it’s not because she didn’t try… twice! I hope we’ll both be here next spring.

Happy trails, Bob

Items:
First: Although we are both in our “golden years,” she hasn’t changed a bit where as I … What happened?

Second:  After observing from 4 to 6 hours daily, we haven’t seen any activity around the second nest site since July 2nd. We did see both tiercel and falcon go into the “diving board” nest site, the previous nest site. Now what? It is getting late in the season….

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Baffled and befuddled…

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
Location of abandoned and current nest site Photo by Heather O'Connor

Location of abandoned and current nest sites                          Photo by Heather O’Connor

Our readers have been asking about the south side falcons and what’s going on. I have yet to write about them for the last two weeks because of all the curve balls that I have been thrown by this pair. I see patterns that continue for three or four days, then a complete change.

I can’t tell you what I don’t know, but here is what I do know. For weeks in May, we saw  incubation exchanges take place in the second nesting site. This is after the abandonment of the first nest site, the “diving board” eyrie.  In June we saw food exchanges and prey items taken into the second eyrie. Also, at this time a few photographers and observers could hear what they thought to be young chicks cacking in the eyrie. Since the first of July, I have not seen any prey go into the eyrie or heard sounds.

Soaring... Photo by Cleve Nash

Full soar………………….                   Photo by Cleve Nash

The female is molting and sits in a very small hole for hours at a time. She only flies to chase a hawk or errant young falcon from the north side.  She came to the rock as a sub-adult in the summer of 2001. She is about 13 years old. Last year, she had the largest clutch consisting of four chicks out of the 25 that she fledged since she’s been here.

The tiercel visits the nest site frequently and this is what keeps me going, going, going…..

Happy trails, Bob

Item: I spend four to six hours a day observing, so I might miss some things that happen.

Posted in chicks, falcon | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Summer Solstice…

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch
The gathering of the Salinian Tribe Photo by Heather O'Connor

The gathering of the Salinian Tribe                               Photo by Heather O’Connor

Long days and short nights start to make a change at this time of year. It’s the summer solstice with a giant full moon. Here at Morro Rock the Native Americans of the Salinian Tribe are here to celebrate the Summer Solstice. With drums and flutes around a roaring fire, they watch as a few of them make the climb up to the top of Morro Rock, where they will light a small prayer fire. The rock to them and their ancestors has been a sacred and religious place. They make this pilgrimage twice a year, June 21st and December 21st. I have been to many of them over the years. Time changes things from year to year. Some of the old folks I don’t see much of any more, but new ones come to take their place.
Friends of the Peregrine Watch, Carl and Bebot Lea, both local falconers, brought a great horned owl to the pow wow and it was quite a hit, plus being a powerful symbol to the Tribe.

About 6:30 PM things are starting to roll and we are stacking firewood around the fire ring, which by way is under the falcon’s eyrie.

Immediately my attention was averted by falcon screams. I looked up and saw the tiercel with a fuzzy Western Gull chick in his talons with gull parents chasing desperately, but to no avail. He landed in the eyrie some 65 yards directly above me. This was the first real sign I had seen that there might be something alive in that hole and it might be hungry. I have seen it three more times since then. When the female brought prey to the eyrie, two people heard a commotion coming from the nest site.

The roaring Solstice fire Photo by Heather O'Connor

The roaring Solstice fire                                       Photo by Heather O’Connor

Later that evening as the sounds subsided, the celebration of summer solstice came to a close around the roaring fire. Now only embers glow.
Happy trails, Bob

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