Reddish Egret at Penasquitos Lagoon
A Reddish Egret (looking like an adult) has been dancing around Penasquitos Lagoon mouth recently and was there again today. It has been a while since I have seen this species here, maybe 3 or 4 years. Maybe others have seen it, but it has not been reported to ebird other than my reports in recent days. There was also a surprising Surf Scoter loafing on the sandbar with the gulls and terns (probably sick?), and may be one of the two Surf Scoters that I have been seeing consistently in the ocean off the river mouth this summer. I looked for the summering Red-breasted Merganser and did not find.
I also did not see a single sandpiper or plover in this area. The disturbances caused by intermittent fresh vs brackish/saltwater flows in the lagoon, the scouring out and disappearance of any viable mudflats that remained, and the continual bulldozing of the river mouth to keep the lagoon drained, has left this lagoon pretty barren of shorebird life in recent years. But there are good numbers of egrets, and loafing terns and gulls, and occasionally nice surprises like the Reddish Egret. The pair of Yellow-crowned Night Herons have not been seen since the floats around the RR bridge construction were removed last year. It was a favorite spot for them.
Susan Smith
Seiurus Biological Consulting
Del Mar, CA
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Susan Smith
Seiurus Biological Consulting
Del Mar, CA
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports