Sancho Panza Birds
It was a great afternoon of birding at Sancho Panza beach today, with a variety of shorebirds and other species. An Osprey greeted our group by flying from a distant driftwood perch to directly overhead. As we approached the shoreline, Willets were feeding along the surf edge. We looked across the creek, and saw not one but two Long-billed Curlew resting on the beach! Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, and Black-bellied Plover fed busily in the wet sand. Royal and Least Terns were resting on the shoreline; Black Terns, a Gull-billed Tern, and Black Skimmers flew above the creek water. Waders included Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Tri-colored Heron, and Reddish Egret. Brown Pelican, American Oystercatcher, and Black-necked Stilt were also present.
After the beach, we stopped in for a brief visit at the Myrtle Pond blind where we got to watch Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Snowy Egret, and Tri-colored Herons. We also enjoyed seeing young Mottled Duck and Common Moorhen, as well as several birds bathing in the freshwater, including Red-winged Blackbird and Boat-tailed Grackle.
