[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2015] – First spotted about 4 pm on 05 July 2015 by James McDaniel, the owner of the sport-fishing vessel the Grande, this subadult brown morph Red-footed Booby Sula sula proved elusive until I managed to relocate it sitting, almost out of sight, on the front of another fishing vessel, the Dominator, several hundred yards from the original location. I had already been down this dock and stood just a few feet from the booby without spotting it! Only when I walked over to the next more distant dock, extending further south, and looked back could I just see it tucked away on the front of this boat. Easily missed!
The last time a Red-footed Booby was discovered here in Point Loma, also at the sport fishing marina, was back on September 29, 2008! There was one photographed offshore here in September 2012. These are the only recent records from the county that I am aware of. Clearly this bird may have made its way into the marina on board a fishing vessel returning to the marina although it now seems mobile enough to move some distance between boats moored at the docks. I couldn’t help myself and snapped a photo of Stan Walens with his nemesis booby in San Diego County! I know that Stan narrowly missed seeing one sitting on a bush at La Jolla Cove almost twenty years ago!
Red-footed Booby – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 05 July 2015
Red-footed Booby – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 05 July 2015
Red-footed Booby – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 05 July 2015
Red-footed Booby – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 05 July 2015
Red-footed Booby – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 05 July 2015
Thanks for posting this! hope the Booby is in best of health, and just taking a well earned rest!
Good thing Stan had his bins. He might not have gotten a good luck otherwise! LOL.
I expected the red-footed Booby to have brighter feet & to be much larger. I was so inspired by your blue-footed booby, years back that I created a rather large one on on a canvas 30X40. I still wish to go to the Galapagos islands to see first hand.
Back in the 70’s I was the Orienta along the Rio Bastasa. The jungle was amazing but frightening then.
I only wished i’d traveled on to the coast.
Are the red footed Bobby’s in residence ( now) in San Diego?
Perhaps a safe visit is in order. Your response would be welcome.
I enjoy your site.
Look, not luck. Ah Apple autospell!
I always wondered what Stan Walens looked like….. & now I know….. I followed him & his bench at La Jolla….. I wintered in San Diego a number of winters….. I know Paul Lehman somewhat & follow San Diego birding through ABA
….. I use to follow your reports & pictures until they disappeared….. thanks for being able to see the Red Footed Booby ….. & Stan Walens…..
I heard this bird was ill and taken to a rehab facility. Do you know which facility it was taken to.? Do they expect it to live and to be able to release it? Would love to see this Red-footed Booby.
I live in La Jolla Village.