Ocean Beach- San Francisco

One afternoon we took the N-judah down to Ocean Beach for coffee and a walk. To our surprise, there were tons of birds roosting on the beach in  huge flocks.

 I think we were lucky to see so many beautiful terns on their beak. I couldn't decide whether these are Elegant or Caspian terns at first, but then after looking it up in my trusty birding books it seems that the Caspian terns shouldn't be as far north as San Francisco. Anyway there were hundreds of them sitting and squawking up a ruckus.

Some seriously crazy hair-dos going on here

 They had some sandpiper friends (Marbled Godwits)

 

scooping up snails

slurp, slurp

There were huge flocks of gulls, and so many balls of fluff.

Anyway it was a beautiful and chilly day in San Francisco!

Bodega Bay- The Birds

We went to Bodega Bay for the anniversary of the The Birds, 50th anniversary. Well..actually, that was a complete but wonderfully appropriate coincidence. Since we were camping a little way from the town, we didn't participate in any of the Hitchcock inspired activities.

It was a chilly September weekend, but not too foggy. We headed out to Doran beach.

 I love how chickadees hang upside down to get at whatever seeds and nuts they want to eat. They are such bright little birds.

Chestnut backed Chickadee

 The chickadees had plenty of goldfinch friends chirping alongside them in the pine trees.

"Why hello, would you like a pine-nut?"

Lots of sandpipers were roaming around the beach.

Marbled Godwit strolling along the beach

Off to do some serious birdy business

Obviously in a place like Bodega bay there are also non-feathered friends at the beach and trail.

A serious snail

 

Harbor seal just popping up

...zzzzz

Right down the road from the campground, we witnessed one of my favorite moments from this trip. A flock of blackbirds flew by a barnyard with some beautiful horses, which was nicely framed by the fog. Unfortunately I only got a few passing photos from the car (passenger seat!)