1. slocobirding@groups.io

Re: Oceano OSVRA peitition? & birds

Jeff Miller
 

Not sure who is circulating the petition, but you might try Oceano Beach Community Association:

https://oceanobeach.org/

 

Anyone interested in protecting Oceano Dunes and Oso Flaco, and snowy plovers and least terns from off-road vehicles should sign up with the Dunes Alliance and/or People for the Dunes. These are the coalition of groups working to protect Oceano and Oso Flaco from State park’s destructive off-roading plans:

https://www.dunesalliance.com/help-protect-our-dunes

https://www.peopleforthedunes.org/

 

You will get email and action alerts when State Parks releases their damaging public works plan for Oso Flaco (expected out this month), which would route off-road traffic through Oso Flaco, destroy the best birding spot in SLO County, expand off-roading into endangered shorebird habitat, and build a campground, race track, and other infrastructure. And their “Habitat Conservation Plan” which will actually expand off-roading and make conditions worse for protected bird species.

 

There is also a Protect Oso Flaco Lake list serve, ProtectOsoFlacoLake@groups.io

 

To keep this post about bird sightings, birded Arroyo Grande Creek mouth this morning – shearwaters were close enough to shore to identify them as Sooty Shearwaters. At the Oceano Campground I had a Black-andWhite warbler and 2 American redstarts.

 

Jeff Miller

Los Osos

 

From: slocobirding@groups.io <slocobirding@groups.io> On Behalf Of Rubba Johanna via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2020 9:11 PM
To: slocobirding@groups.io
Subject: [slocobirding] Oceano OSVRA peitition? & birds

 

Hi,
Please pardon a somewhat off-topic query, but I couldn't think of who else to ask. I was on the Oceano vehicle beach today and some folks (on horses) said that there is a petition to keep the beach closed to vehicles. I know this is an extreme long shot, but I wanted to investigate. Has anybody heard about this? A web search turned up nothing.

I did see some birds on my trip. Upon entering the dunes by the houses on Strand Way, I saw (and heard!) a flock of 50-60 terns sitting tightly together in the little waves. I have some trouble with tern ID. These looked like Elegant Terns--white forehead with black funky crest; not-very-long, thin, red-orange bill. In flight were pure white above, black at wingtips from below. I couldn't distinguish leg color. Lots of krrrack-krrrack going on.

Farther along towards post 5 was a flock of around 100 peeps, hanging out on the dry sand. I didn't get too close for fear of flushing them. If I'm bad with terns, I'm awful with peeps. Probably a mix of Westerns and Sanderlings. Which peep is light grey on its back? There was a good number of those.

I also came upon a sick cormorant, possibly a Brandt's. It was standing on the dry sand, moving very little. Its wings were droopy and the bird looked oiled. It could walk, but didn't walk far, and walked away from the water. I was able to get within two feet of the bird--it did not flush, but peered at me. I was unable to phone Pac Wildlife because of my cell phone. I alerted a contractor who came by in a truck and said she would notify the rangers. Another beachwalker put a call in to Pac Wildlife. The bird was not there on my return journey. 

I forayed out in hopes of seeing the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, but it did not grace me with its presence.

Johanna Rubba
Grover Beach

 

 
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