Arriving home late the night before, everyone was exhausted so I left them in bed to take a stroll along the beach and take a few photographs before the harsh sun became too bright and the crowds arrived. A couple of new species were added: Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Wandering Tattler and a Dark-eyed Junco. I then noticed a Common Dolphin close in to the shore. I went back to tell the others and this was enough to get them out of bed (Tom also needed Pacific Golden Plover).
After getting good views we left Laguna Beach for a long drive north along the busy Pacific Coast Highway. I was planning a stop at Rancho Palos Verdes to bird, but the drive took longer than expected and the main species to see there (the Gnatcatcher was already in the bag). We therefore carried on to our first destination at Venice Beach. The kids loved the surf here and whilst watching them, a Marbled Godwit flew over and circled the beach several times looking for a place to land among the surfers, bathers, and general weirdo's that inhabit this particular beach. Some Caspian Terns were also fishing offshore.
After several hours on Venice Beach we continued our drive north on the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barba where we arrived shortly after nightfall.
22 August 2012
Brandt's Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Pacific Golden-Plover, Wandering Tattler, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Black Turnstone, Heermann's Gull, Western Gull, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Barn Swallow, European Starling, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco
Venice Beach
22 August 2012
Mallard, Brandt's Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Whimbrel, Heermann's Gull, Western Gull, Caspian Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Barn Swallow, European Starling, House Finch, Great-tailed Grackle
