Snow Goose and Purple Finches at Laguna Niguel Regional Park – January 31, 2015

A mid-afternoon visit to the Aliso Creek channel offered good views of 3 female Hooded Mergansers at the spillway.  Shortly thereafter, I had ventured over to nearby Laguna Niguel Park and across from the tennis courts in the creek were several Song Sparrows, Black Phoebes and also two Purple Finches.  They were perhaps immature, female or both as immature and female Purple Finches are basically indistinguishable.  Near shelter six in the grassy knoll area were 54 Canada Geese and 1 juvenile Snow Goose.

Photos of a Purple Finch, Snow Goose and Hooded Mergansers are shown below

eBird checklist for today, January 31 2015 can be found here for Aliso Creek and here for Laguna Niguel Regional Park