[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2013] – After not finding too many new migrants around Point Loma this morning I decided to switch gears and take a look along the Mission Bay Jetty. The north side can be good for shorebirds so I decided to start there. Hopping rocks along the jetty is quite dangerous, so I was glad to find most birds right on the north side close to, or on, the beach. In addition to one Wandering Tattler and four Black Turnstone, a good find was a group of fifteen Surfbird together, excitedly milling around, yes, in the surf! They appeared to be searching for invertebrates as the waves receded, oddly keeping their distance from one another. This species does winter in small numbers on the jetty, with eight being found there on the SDFO 2013 New Year Pelagic. This group seemed a bit larger however, possibly including early migrants stopped off here on their journey north. Most of the group were advancing into alternate plumage, but one or two birds were still in basic plumage. As is usual for this species, they were very tame, allowing me to approach closely and obtain these photographs.
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013
Surfbirds – Mission Beach Jetty and shore, 23 March 2013