October 9, 2021
October 9th marked eBird’s annual Global Big Day, a 24-hour period for birdwatchers around the world to document as many bird sightings as they can. A Big Day typically entails mapping out a strategic route to multiple locations, often beginning before sunrise and concluding at sunset.
I thought about following an extensive birdwatching route all around San Diego County, then shortened the list to a few Anza-Borrego desert hotspots. After too much coffee kept me up past midnight the night preceding Global Big Day, I landed on celebrating locally at Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach, CA.
I spent the morning zigzagging up and down every winding path at Huntington Central Park. Like some of the best days birdwatching go, I was daydreaming on my way back to the parking lot when an interesting bird behavior caught my attention. An American Kestrel was relentlessly mobbing a Red-shouldered Hawk, who remained high up on a leafless tree. I hurried over to an isolated riparian area for a better view, only to find a pond containing several Scaly-breasted Munias bathing. I saw a log out of the corner of my eye and sat down to give my legs some relief while I took pictures; I knew I’d probably be there a while.
My body must have been camouflaged pretty well because a Sora suddenly emerged from a pile of sticks no more than three meters in front of me. Although Soras are widespread across North America, they’re incredibly elusive. The Sora flaunted its chunky, yellow beak and gorgeous back feathers for a good 90 seconds before returning to concealment. I could have died and gone to heaven.
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Gone Birdin' 