Osprey Fest at Malibu Lagoon Feb. 28, 2016

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Ruddy Turnstone getting another angle on it (Larry Loeher 2-28-16)

What is this Ruddy Turnstone up to, anyway? Working out a kink in his neck? Casting a sidelong glance at an attractive turnstone nearby? Watching for Ospreys?

Osprey in distance (Ray Juncosa 2-28-16)

Probably not the latter. Ospreys are fish-eaters; all the birds seem to know this, so they may keep an eye on an Osprey soaring overhead, but they rarely flush into the air as they will when a falcon appears. We humans might have difficulty telling Osprey from other raptors (we get frequent messages about Bald Eagles at the lagoon which always turns out to be Osprey), but the birds don’t.

Great Egret captures a lizard
(Ray Juncosa 2-28-16)

We all have to eat, even egrets. Everything tastes like chicken, they say, and I suppose lizards do too.

We had quite an assortment of gulls (see list below). Eight species in fact. Most were California Gull; Bonaparte’s, Heermann’s, Mew and Thayer’s were all singletons. We used to see Bonaparte’s in large numbers at the lagoon (e.g. 1600 – 3/15/80, 1095 – 12/12/82), but since Aug 2000 we’ve had a grand total of 179 birds, with a single-day high of 26 (5/26/07). I don’t know if this is due to a general population crash, or if they’ve chosen to winter elsewhere.

For a gull, the Mew – uncommon at the lagoon – has a thin bill
(Joyce Waterman 2-28-16)

Mew Gulls seem to like sewage facilities. In winter there is nearly always a flock on Dockweiler Beach in front of the Hyperion Plant. Ventura Water Reclamation Facility used to have them by the hundreds, where they rode the rotating arms as they sprayed water over the charcoal filtration media. Maybe they just liked the free ride. But the tanks were enclosed years ago, and the Mews had to find some other way to get free food and fun.

Common Yellowthroat stares down the photographer (Chuck Bragg 2-28-16)

Passerines were rather few today, with just the expected species and not many of those. Common Yellowthroats were up and around, busily singing, as were the Song Sparrows. American Crows and European Starlings accounted for over 60% of 129 total passerines.

Osprey overhead (Ray Juncosa 2-28-16)

Somewhere “down the foggy ruins of time”* someone misnamed the Osprey. Originally Ossifraga in Latin, os “bone” + frangere “to break,” which is an obvious reference to the Lammergeier, a large old-world vulture well-known for dropping bones (and turtles!) from a great height to crack them open, then descending to the ground to eat the marrow (or turtle meat). The Lammergeier’s head is similar to the Osprey: pale-ish, with a dark area in the face. Before the age of science and the invention of binoculars and leisure time, people weren’t picky about what to call something they weren’t going to eat. Lammergeier, Osprey – no one really cared.

Lammergeier face (Astrofauna)

Not only do the piscivorous Osprey not drop prospective fishy meals, they are famous for hanging onto them in a nifty manner. After spotting a fish foolishly swimming near the water’s surface, they plunge onto it feet-first to catch it in its large talons, often getting quite drenched in the process. After lurching out of the water and back into the air – not always easy with a large fish in tow – they fly back to their nest or perch, carrying the fish in a streamlined manner, reducing wind resistance by holding the fish head forwards in both talons, one foot in front of the other.

Osprey on the light pole
(Joyce Waterman 2-28-16)

We were treated to many Osprey photo-opps today, as one bird perched here and there – most notably on a light pole at the east end of Malibu Colony – and then flew around and around the lagoon, probably hunting the thrill-seeking mullet who leapt frequently from the lagoon. We then noticed two more Osprey, higher overhead.

Getting ready to leave? (Joyce Waterman 2-28-16)

We’ve spotted Osprey at the lagoon 51 times since October 1979, for a total of 55 birds. We’ve twice seen two birds – 12/26/10 and 2/23/14 – but this is the first time we had a trio. Needless to say, the photographers went crazy.

Wing-stretching Osprey (Joyce Waterman 2-28-16)

Among the most cosmopolitan of birds, Osprey are found on all continents except Antarctica and all major islands except Greenland, Iceland, Madagascar, and New Zealand. Consisting of three subspecies, Pandion haliaetus is currently the only species in its family Pandionidae, but there is talk of splitting it into two species. The slideshow on the web has more Osprey photos, as well as many other birds, not mentioned here.

Male Northern Shoveler (Ray Juncosa 2-28-16)

Birds new for the season were: Brant Lesser Scaup; Red-throated, Pacific & Common Loons; Cooper’s Hawk; Western Sandpiper; Mew & Thayer’s Gulls; Nanday Parakeet; Bewick’s Wren.

The finely vermiculated male Gadwall (Joyce Waterman 2-28-16)

As always, many thanks to our photographers: Chuck Bragg, Ray Juncosa, Jim Kenney, Larry Loeher, and Joyce Waterman.

Brown Pelican looks ready to breed (Ray Juncosa 2-28-16)

Our next four scheduled field trips: Lu’s Bird & Hike in Sycamore Cyn, 12 Mar. 9:00am; Malibu Lagoon 8:30 & 10am, 27 Mar.;  Walker Ranch, 9 Apr. 8:30am.

Common Yellowthroat singing
(Chuck Bragg 2-28-16)

Our next program: Birds of Central Chile with Lance Benner on Tuesday, 5 April, 7:30 pm, at [note location change] Chris Reed Park, 1133 7th St., NE corner of 7th and Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.

NOTE: Our 10 a.m. Parent’s & Kids Birdwalk meets at the shaded viewing area. Watch for Willie the Weasel. He’ll be watching for you and your big floppy feet.

Links: Unusual birds at Malibu Lagoon
9/23/02 Aerial photo of Malibu Lagoon
Prior checklists:
2015:   Jan-May,    July-Dec
2014:   Jan-July,    July-Dec
2013:   Jan-June,   July-Dec
2012:   Jan-June,   July-Dec    2011:   Jan-June,   July-Dec
2010:  Jan-June,   July-Dec     2009:  Jan-June,   July-Dec

* “Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man” 4th verse – Bob Dylan

Female Red-breasted Merganser with a crab (Ray Juncosa 2-28-16)

The 10-year comparison summaries created during the project period, despite numerous complaints, remain available on our Lagoon Project Bird Census Page. Very briefly summarized, the results unexpectedly indicate that avian species diversification and numbers improved slightly during the period Jun’12-June’14.     [Chuck Almdale]