We went to a Bedoga Bay today. I got 12 new birds. Sweet! Bedoga Bay is only 40 minutes away. It's noted as one of the best birdwatching places in the county. I had no idea. Incidentally, Bedoga Bay is where they shot 'The Birds'. On to the highlights!


This is a Brown Pelican. Brown Pelicans catch fish by diving into the water, netting them in their big mouth then flying out again. I was so excited to see a couple fly by. After about 20 minutes though they were more common than the crows. A fantastically large bird.



This is a Great Egret. There were tons of these. I have a better shot but opted for this one because the more photogenic one opted to drop a load as soon as I clicked. I didn't feel like photoshopping out bird poop today.



Believe it or not this is a new bird. This fellow is a Eurasian Collared-dove. I almost didn't take a shot because I thought it was a Mourning Dove.



Not a new bird, but interesting to see every time. Common Raven. The younger ones have the fleshy color in the corner of the mouth there.



This is a Common Loon. There were tons just floating in the water.



This handsome gull is a Heermann's Gull. Red bill, grey feathers. Piles and piles of them.



These are Marbeled Godwits. I needed help IDing these, but I guess they are the only common sandpiper-esque bird with a bill that turns upward.



This is a Red-tailed Hawk. He didn't much care for me and took off. Showing this because it really shows why it's called a "Red-tailed".



This is a Ring-billed Gull. I don't have much to say about him. Smaller than other gulls.



This is a Western Grebe. I had to use a full digital and optical zoom to see him, but enough for the ID.



A White-crowned Sparrow. He perched in the tree above us and bitched at us until we left. Great photo op.



There are only two kinds of pelican in North America. This is the White Pelican. They don't ambush from the sky like the brown ones and instead stand in the water in huge numbers.





This is a Willet. I was about seven feet away when I snapped this shot. I dared not get closer, then a jogger ran by him within about a foot or two and he barely got out of the way.

Also seen but not posted was an American Kestrel, Brandt's Cormorant, Black Turnstone, Pacific Loon, and a Brandt.

All around an awesome day. Sorry it took longer. Was waiting on a couple IDs.