{"id":2392,"date":"2016-07-31T13:29:13","date_gmt":"2016-07-31T20:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ocbirds.com\/?p=2392"},"modified":"2024-07-11T09:36:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T16:36:36","slug":"oso-reservoir-rancho-santa-margarita-july-30-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbirds.com\/?p=2392","title":{"rendered":"Oso Reservoir, Rancho Santa Margarita July 30"},"content":{"rendered":"

A late afternoon visit to the reservoir yesterday proved eventful especially with the shoreline visible (typically submerged with higher water levels reducing any possibility of shorebirds). About 7:15pm I noted (11) Long-billed Dowitchers, (4) Semipalmated Plovers, (1) Greater Yellowlegs, (8) Western Sandpipers, (1) Killdeer and (2) Black-necked Stilts.\u00a0 Outside of Shorebirds there were 2 areas where the (threatened) California Gnatcatcher were found.\u00a0 There was a total of 5 but surprisingly no Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in the areas I had surveyed.\u00a0 One area was just past the archery (1 male and 1 female) below the homes and another was below the main gate on the left as you walk toward the 241 Toll Road.\u00a0 One male and two females were located and calls could be heard as I entered this gravel road.\u00a0 Of additional note was earlier in the year I had found a male Costa’s Hummingbird however this time around an immature male Costa’s Hummingbird was located in the same general area.\u00a0 This is possibly a good sign that nesting took place on the premises and this is the actual offspring.<\/p>\n

I’ve included a California Gnatcatcher video and a few photos below (click any photo to view larger image for better detail, press the ESC key to close image).\u00a0 The Costa’s Hummingbird photo insert description also contains a link to Flickr where this video has been posted<\/p>\n

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“California Gnatcatcher” (female).\u00a0 Photo taken at Upper Oso Reservoir, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on July 30, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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“Costa’s Hummingbird” (immature male). Photo taken at Upper Oso Reservoir, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on July 30, 2016.\u00a0 Video reference on Flickr:<\/em>\u00a0 Costa’s Hummingbird (immature male)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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“Semipalmated Plover”. Photo taken at Upper Oso Reservoir, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on July 30, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“Black-necked Stilts”.\u00a0 Photo taken at Upper Oso Reservoir, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on July 30, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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“Long-billed Dowitchers”. Photo taken at Upper Oso Reservoir, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on July 30, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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“Western Sandpiper”. Photo taken at Upper Oso Reservoir, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on July 30, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\"California<\/a><\/p>\n