Egret Convention and More at Lake Los Carneros
By Robert Bernstein
I recently posted about the Egret convention at Devereux Slough at Coal Oil Point Reserve near Isla Vista. This week I discovered a similar convention at Lake Los Carneros!
Here are some of my recent photos there!
The egrets are in two main clusters. At the western end of the lake they are gathered in one clump of trees, similar to the Devereux cluster
But there is another gathering near the eastern end of the lake, close to the paved walkway and dam. Here they are not in a cluster. Rather a glorious, graceful arc. Arrayed around the edge of the shoreline!
This one was hanging out among the ducks right at the shore and easy to see up close!
Here was the eastern end of the arc viewed from the far eastern end of the lake
As I watched, some of them began to fly across the lake
This one seemed to be racing a duck on the water
I like how they pose with their reflection in the water!
In addition to the egrets were the closely related great blue herons. This one rested close to the fence with its mouth open. Not sure what that was about.
This one was coming in for a landing, looking a bit like a pterodactyl!
This one was in a more natural setting among the reeds
And the one at the right edge of this photo is fanning his wings out in a magnificent pose
Plenty of other birds out there as well. These birds were also doing the open mouth thing.
And this turkey vulture scanned for carrion
Even if you are not interested in the birds, the lake and park vistas are a joy to behold
And these young people were using the area as a running track
And don't miss the nearby Stow House while you are there
I visited Lake Los Carneros Park three times this week and there was something new to see each time!
9 Comments
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Sep 02, 2018 02:47 PMNice shots. It's called gular fluttering and they open their bills and vibrate their upper throat muscles and bones to to increase heat loss on hot days. Both the heron and these cormorants along with other members of the Ardeidae family do this because of their permanent down coat and lack of sweat glands in order to lose excess heat.
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Sep 05, 2018 07:36 AMNice pix, and commentary too. Can I count birds on edhat in my sightings list?
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Sep 02, 2018 03:45 PMTAGDES---*Great* info about those Great egrets (the big white birds) and Great blue herons. Thank you. The other birds in these shots are Mallard ducks, a Turkey vulture, Double-crested cormorants, and (I think) that medium-sized black bird in next to the Mallard ducks is a Brewer's blackbird. (Did I get the i. d. s all correct, TAGDES?)
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Sep 02, 2018 08:16 PMYes and there are also a couple of shots with Snowy Egrets showing the size comparison to the Great Egret and a few, if viewing the whole group of shots, of American Coots. The other and prettier blackbird found usually by the marsh bridge is the Red-winged Blackbird which also has a kind of distinct liquid gurgling song. The cormorant is drying his wings after fishing due to less preen oil in it's feathers than a duck but is not a liability as it allows faster hunting under water.
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Sep 02, 2018 04:22 PMBeautiful birds, thanks. Wonderful information from TAGDES, thank you.
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Sep 03, 2018 07:26 AMThanks TAGDES--Whenever there's a gathering of living things, I wonder why.
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Sep 03, 2018 10:27 AMThank you all for the kind words and thank you TAGDES for the very helpful information! Check out Lake Los Carneros, especially if you have never been there before. It is a gem every day. Right now that gem happens to be shining especially bright with these wonderful visitors!
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Sep 03, 2018 11:04 AMWhat do eagles call Coots? Lunch. Thanks for the photos Mr. Bernstein, and thank you TAGDES for information. I wish more people would submit photos of their back yard birds, at feeders or bird baths, and describe them and their behaviors. What behaviors have you observed among species of birds?
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Sep 05, 2018 07:16 AMDepending on where you're from, a group of egrets is referred to as a congregation of egrets. In addition to the raft of ducks or sort of mallards, the cover of coots and flight of cormorants. Or, the unseen volt of vultures and cloud of blackbirds, and, of course, what looks like a team of teenagers.