San Diego -- Saturday
Saturday’s kayaking field trip for the San Diego Bird Festival started at the leisurely time of 8:30 a.m. Aaahhh. The jaunt to Pepper Park in National City went by quickly, and the 11 participants met Jim Peugh and Ted Godshalk in the park’s parking lot. After a lesson in paddling techniques and some pointers, we carried the kayaks to the bottom of the ramp, settled ourselves into the crafts and received a push into the water. Whee!
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1138/1710/400/11521/070210%20SD%20001b.jpg)
Kayaking offers a really neat perspective for birding. I enjoyed being closer to the birds, and it seemed like our presence on the water didn’t disconcert the birds overly much. We quickly encountered Snowy Egret, Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, Surf Scoter and couple rather vocal Belted Kingfishers.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1138/1710/400/575203/070210%20SD%20002b.jpg)
A Green Heron looked beautiful on the rocks, and a mixed flock of Willets and Marbled Godwits almost camouflaged the lone Whimbrel in the background. A few Dunlin appeared amid other Willets, and another flock of WILL and MAGO dispersed and revealed a lone Long-billed Curlew on the mud.
A Northern Harrier soared overhead, while American Wigeon and Cinnamon Teal later decorated the water. A Great Blue Heron lifted off with some cranky-sounding calls, and flocks of feeding Least and Western Sandpipers and Marbled Godwits continually appeared on the shore.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1138/1710/400/562411/070210%20SD%20003b.jpg)
We hit some rough spots where the low tide made it really difficult to make progress, and I had to imitate an inchworm in my attempts to move the kayak over mud and eelgrass. Oh, and I *highly* recommend wearing rain pants; by design, water fills the bottom of the kayak, and your lower half will get wet and perhaps a little muddy. A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen will add to your comfort.
The final leg took us into the bay, where we saw Pied-billed Grebe, Brant, Bufflehead and Surf Scoter. A little breeze and some waves created more of a challenge and an invigorating finish to my first experience with birding by kayak. I definitely want to do it again!
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1138/1710/400/11521/070210%20SD%20001b.jpg)
Kayaking offers a really neat perspective for birding. I enjoyed being closer to the birds, and it seemed like our presence on the water didn’t disconcert the birds overly much. We quickly encountered Snowy Egret, Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, Surf Scoter and couple rather vocal Belted Kingfishers.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1138/1710/400/575203/070210%20SD%20002b.jpg)
A Green Heron looked beautiful on the rocks, and a mixed flock of Willets and Marbled Godwits almost camouflaged the lone Whimbrel in the background. A few Dunlin appeared amid other Willets, and another flock of WILL and MAGO dispersed and revealed a lone Long-billed Curlew on the mud.
A Northern Harrier soared overhead, while American Wigeon and Cinnamon Teal later decorated the water. A Great Blue Heron lifted off with some cranky-sounding calls, and flocks of feeding Least and Western Sandpipers and Marbled Godwits continually appeared on the shore.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1138/1710/400/562411/070210%20SD%20003b.jpg)
We hit some rough spots where the low tide made it really difficult to make progress, and I had to imitate an inchworm in my attempts to move the kayak over mud and eelgrass. Oh, and I *highly* recommend wearing rain pants; by design, water fills the bottom of the kayak, and your lower half will get wet and perhaps a little muddy. A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen will add to your comfort.
The final leg took us into the bay, where we saw Pied-billed Grebe, Brant, Bufflehead and Surf Scoter. A little breeze and some waves created more of a challenge and an invigorating finish to my first experience with birding by kayak. I definitely want to do it again!
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