The snowbirds are here, and I don’t mean the people overwintering in Florida. I mean the actual birds that migrate here to spend the winter. In the past two months, I’ve visited Santee Lakes, Lake Miramar, Lake Poway, and San Elijo Lagoon. I’ve checked off half a dozen or so new species on the bird list and have some beautiful pictures to show for it and share.
For the record, I use the iNaturalist app and community to help me accurately identify the species. The Seek app (an iPhone app) can be used in the field if you have an internet connection. You can follow me on iNaturalist as user angelmi or Instagram as user contact.mike.angel@gmail.com. I use iNaturalist.org to contribute to biodiversity science. I use Instagram to promote nature and showcase my amateur photography skills.
Dabblers
The dabblers are the ducks you see with their asses in the air and their heads underwater. A dabbler is a waterfowl that feeds on the surface rather than diving underwater. They like to dine on aquatic vegetation, seeds, and small invertebrates in shallow water. Their legs are placed more centrally on their bodies, making them better suited for walking on land than diving ducks.
I found the Green-winged Teal in the shallows of San Elijo Lagoon on the frontage trail. I didn’t see any comrades, but I probably wouldn’t have recognized them, especially the females, as this was a new species for me. Teals are small crow-sized ducks. The green-winged teal is a small dabbling duck found in ponds and marshes, feeding on seeds and aquatic vegetation.
There are 77,635 worldwide observations of the green-winged teal in the iNaturalist database as of this writing. Its conservation status is of “Least Concern.”
I found this blue-winged teal by the shoreline near Annie’s Canyon in San Elijo Lagoon. He was swimming with a coot and two females, which was also a new species for me. The crescent markings on its face drew my attention as a species I didn’t recognize. The blue-winged teal is slightly larger than the green-winged. It is distinguished by blue patches on its wings but I did not see it fly.
There are 48,483 worldwide observations of the blue-winged teal in the iNaturalist database. Its conservation status is of “Least Concern.”
I found several specimens of the cinnamon teal in all corners of San Elijo Lagoon, which means maybe five or so observations, all in shallow water sifting through the reeds, presumably looking for invertebrates or aquatic plants. The brown-red plumage and the bright red eye distinguish this from other teals.
There are 23,189 worldwide observations of the cinnamon teal in the iNaturalist database as of this writing. Its conservation status is of “Least Concern.”
I found this Northern Pintail sifting through the mud on the shore of San Elijo Lagoon near Annie’s Canyon. Its bright-white S-shaped arc on its neck distinguishes it from the rest, but the duck is pretty common throughout the lagoon.
The Northern Pintails frequent open wetlands and are one of the first ducks to migrate south. Who can blame them for beating the cold and the rest of the snowbirds? There are 45,199 worldwide observations of the Northern Pintails in the iNaturalist database. Its conservation status is of “Least Concern.”
I found this Gadwall at Lake Poway, hanging out with the Coots and Mallards, looking for handouts near the dock. Coots and Mallards are ubiquitous in San Diego County’s waterways year-round, so I rarely take pictures of them anymore, despite their interesting rail feet and the iridescent green colors of the Mallards.
I could have easily overlooked the Gadwall as its plumage is indistinct and easily mistaken for the drab female colors of almost any duck species. I long contended that male birds are colorful not only to impress the females but also to distract predators away from nests guarded by the more camouflage-oriented females. Gadwalls are said to outcompete other ducks by stealing vegetation they pull up underwater. I’ve worked with some gadwalls, but that is another story.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 74,987 worldwide observations of the Gadwall. Its conservation status is of “Least Concern.”
The Northern Shovelers are easy to identify because of their unique white-brown-white body color and green head. I spotted this specimen in Lake Poway but have also documented others at San Elijo and a Cook County Forest Preserve Pond near Chicago in the iNaturalist database. I saw one sifting through the water with its oversized bill. According to Wikipedia, the Northern Shovelers use their spoon-shaped bills to filter plankton.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 92,841 worldwide observations of the Northern Shoveler. Its conservation status is of “Least Concern.”
The American Wigeons are an abundant winter visitor to all the waterways of San Diego County. At the duck pond in Kit Carson Park, they are as numerous, domesticated, and as needy as the mallards and coots that lay about waiting for handouts. Its defining characteristic is the green patch around its eye and a cream-colored cap running from the crown of its head to its bill.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 57,452 worldwide observations of the Northern Shoveler. Its conservation status is of least concern.
Divers
The divers swim underwater to forage for food, traveling to deeper waters than the dabblers. Their legs are positioned further back on their bodies, making them excellent swimmers but more awkward on land.
Ring-necked Ducks are a common sight in the San Diego waterways in the winter. I often confuse these diving ducks with the Lesser Scaup. You have to look closely to see the ring around its neck, but the white ring around its bill seems to be its defining characteristic. Ring-bill seems a more fitting name than ring-neck. Those yellow eyes against black feathers give it an intense look. To misquote a popular song, “If ducks could kill, they probably will in ponds without frontiers…”
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 51,257 worldwide observations of the Ring-necked Duck. Its conservation status is of least concern.
I happened to see this specimen on “Kiss a Ginger Day.” Yes, there is such a thing, and I suspect it was an inside job. This Redhead had none of it, maybe because I called him a specimen. The same thing happened with my ginger girlfriend when I called her a specimen. The Redheads prefer deeper water and often flock with canvasbacks.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 19,913 worldwide observations of the Ring-necked Duck. Its conservation status is of least concern.
I spotted this Lesser Scaup in Lake Poway. They dive for mollusks and aquatic insects by poking through the mud at the bottom of ponds. It has a similar dark head, yellow eyes, and blueish bill, but no ring around the bill like the Ring-necked duck. It’s been a long time since I recorded a Greater Scaup, so I have little basis for comparison between the Lesser and the Greater, but I did post this once:
Lesser, humble, in demeanor,
Yet resilient, a quiet demeanor
Greater stands with noble grace,
A regal presence in the sea's embrace.
Lesser, grounded, but steadfast,
Navigates its pond with calm contrast.
Greater soars with conficence high,
A master of the open sky.
In every quack, a tale unfolds,
Of differences, their feathers hold.
Greater, lesser, on waters vast,
Together create a subtle contrast.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 34,948 worldwide observations of the Lesser Scaup. Its conservation status is of least concern.
I captured this pair of Canvasbacks off the dam on Lake Miramar. Although I didn’t get very close to them, I realized immediately by the male’s white body and redhead that it was a species I hadn’t seen before. The Canvasback is the largest diving duck.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 15,474 worldwide observations of the Canvasback. Its conservation status is of least concern.
This capture comes from Lake Miramar, but I’ve seen the Bufflehead in all the lakes except the Kit Carson Duck Pond. The defining characteristic is the big white patch behind the eye. When the light catches the neck feathers correctly, they have interesting iridescent colors. The Bufflehead is one of the smallest diving ducks, rivaling the Green-winged Teal for the honors.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 67,681 worldwide observations of the Bufflehead. Its conservation status is of least concern.
The first Ruddy Duck I saw had a blue bill and reddish plumage. I thought this might be the female, but I read the winter color is significantly different, as shown above, so I’m not sure. The scoop-shaped bill is closest to a defining characteristic when they are in drab mode.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 43,039 worldwide observations of the Ruddy Duck. Its conservation status is of least concern.
The wood duck looks like someone accidentally dropped a full paint palette on it. It is stunningly colorful. I have found wood ducks at Santee Lakes in summer and winter. Although the wood ducks are migratory, many in the Pacific flyway stay year-round. And who could blame them? It’s worth a trip to Santee Lakes to see them. Even if you don’t, Santee Lakes is a birding paradise.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 79,931 worldwide observations of the Wood Duck. Its conservation status is of least concern.
Geese
What distinguishes geese from ducks, aside from their size? Geese honk and ducks quack!
I saw this Canadian Goose Armada at Santee Lakes, where they seem to be regular visitors. Geese supposedly like to eat grass, another differentiator between ducks and geese, and there is plenty of grass at Santee Lakes. I’ve recorded observations of the geese near Chicago. They are ubiquitous in the ponds, lakes, and rivers of Cook County, Illinois and considered a nuisance because of their sizeable avian excrement. If you have ever wondered where the term “goosing” comes from, try getting too close to one of these big birds.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 299,128 worldwide observations of the Ruddy Duck. Its conservation status is of least concern.
The white collar around its neck distinguishes the Brant Goose. It’s much smaller than its Canadian counterpart and not much larger than the other ducks on the lagoon. I spotted this one at San Elijo Lagoon, which makes sense, given their predilection for eelgrass.
The Brants breed on the high Arctic Tundra, making them the long-distance winners of the lagoon. As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 16,238 worldwide observations of the Brant. Its conservation status is of least concern.
Rails
The tide was high on the cusp of a full moon, and I had to wade barefoot and ankle-deep along the flooded frontage trail. I was rewarded with a Sora wading in the open along the trail’s edge. I attribute my good fortune to the high tide because the water’s edge was significantly closer to the trail, and the flooding limited foot traffic to the few willing to walk a hundred feet of trail in the water.
Check out their feet if you want to see the difference between rails and ducks. Ducks have webbed feet, while rails have long toes designed for wading and walking over the plants at the water’s edge. The rails I’ve spotted in San Diego include the Coot, the Ridgeway Rail, Moorhens, and the Sora. The Sora I spotted in San Elijo Lagoon was the first I’ve ever seen. When iNaturalist identified the species of the specimen for me, it was the first time I’d heard of it. According to Wikipedia, the Sora is common, though seldom seen, preferring to stay deep in the safety of reeds.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 16,238 worldwide observations of the Brant. Its conservation status is of least concern. I also spotted a Ridgway’s Rail in the lagoon last summer, making it one of only 2,257 observations. It’s listed as “Near Threatened” and “Endangered” by the federal government.
Pelicans
The White Pelicans are seasonal visitors overwintering in Southern California. The capture above is from Santee Lakes. There are only two species of Pelican that I am familiar with: the White Pelican and the Brown Pelican. The Brown Pelicans are sea birds and year-round inhabitants. They were once on the endangered list thanks to DDT and pesticide poisoning but have recovered nicely since the toxins were banned.
As of this writing, the iNaturalist database has 60,103 worldwide observations of the Brant. Its conservation status is of least concern.
And The Rest
I haven’t included grebes, cormorants, herons, egrets, terns, and seagulls, all seen in San Diego’s lagoons and lakes, as most are year-round residents. It’s nice to find such biodiversity in these areas, although I suspect I am a victim of a shifting baseline for the worse. With some luck, I can add a few more entries for winter visitors before they head back north.
Authors Note: Any uncredited facts come from ChatGPT, which I did not query for its sources.
