Large aggregation of Terns and other birds at Penasquitos Lagoon, 10 May
From about 2:30-3:00 pm on the subject date, I noted a very large aggregation of terns, herons, egrets, pelicans, gulls, cormorants feeding inside Penasquitos Lagoon, in Del Mar. I could not make a good count because I could not access much of the area, and had limited time, and my eBird counts are likely way under.
These large aggregations have been noted in other areas in the county, the birds evidently are being drawn to the abundance of dead and dying fish that are succumbing because of depleted oxygen conditions in lagoon waters caused by the bacterial breakdown of masses of the dying dinoflagellate, L. polyedra–the cause of our long-continuing red tide. But this is the first time I noted it in Penasquitos Lagoon, which has not been noted for its tern numbers in recent years.
eBird checklist at https://ebird.org/checklist/S68827996
Susan Smith
Seiurus Biological Consulting
Del Mar, CA
seiurus@…
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Susan Smith
Seiurus Biological Consulting
Del Mar, CA
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports