Clear skies, warm sunshine and a cool ocean breeze enhanced our Birdwatchers Club’s two-hour excursion on San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve’s north side loop trail. We first checked out what birds we could see on the lagoon’s waterways, including a male Lesser Scaup, an Eared Grebe, a few Short-billed Dowitchers, a couple of Willets and Whimbrels, and a number of Snowy Egrets. We were entertained by the antics of one egret that kept dashing back and forth along the shore, eating small fish that a nearby Eared Grebe was stirring up on its constant dives to the bottom.

All the while, we enjoyed a concert of bird songs from the dense thickets of willows, cottonwoods and other vegetation. Notable were the robust melodies of Black-headed Grosbeaks; songful phrases of Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats; comical-sounding clucks, squawks, whistles and hoots of a Yellow-breasted Chat; and musical trills of a Bewick’s Wren. We caught sight of what appeared very strange: a “Red-winged Hummingbird.” A what? Oh, but wait. The way the sunlight was initially catching the hummer’s iridescent plumage made it seem like a miniature Red-winged Blackbird, but was actually an Anna’s Hummingbird.

At the end of our walk, we decided to check one last time to see if any new birds were on or around the waterways. Less than three feet from where we stood, a Ridgeway’s (Clapper) Rail suddenly appeared, walking slowly past us and across the pathway to wetland habitat beyond. It was surprising to see one of these normally shy birds so unconcerned by our presence.There were many other people walking the trail and others, with their easels set up, painting scenes of the lagoon. One area was ablaze with brilliant orange nasturtium flowers.

On our way home, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Tin Leaf restaurant.