September comes in warm, and on some days I can see a lone merganser sunning on the beach. As I went hiking, I heard and then saw a juvenile tern on a rock, crying out. Soon, its mother joined the youngster, and it calmed down.
On another day, I saw a group of young mergansers sunning themselves on some rocks at the edge of the bay. They looked like a true family group, all sitting together. They then all went into the water together, and swam off.
While driving back from town at the beginning of the second week of September, I saw several hawks all perched at various places at a road I have privately dubbed “hawk alley” because they so often can be seen here. They must be migrating, since I spotted five.
One was on a fence; another was perched on a light fixture; another was perched on a pole; and another two flew off before I could take their picture.
The herons are still here, and I am already wondering for how long, before they go south, as the days are getting shorter.
On the way back from church, I spotted a juvenile bald eagle flying overhead near the bay.
I saw a small bird on the ground near the rocks; I am not sure what kind it is; it looks like a type of thrush. It has a yellow breast that is spotted and a white ring (spectacle) around its eyes. I will have to look it up.
A few days later, I went to Presque Isle, and saw a pair of mallards sunning themselves in a small marsh pond there. I also saw a brown creeper going up and around a tree. There was a kingfisher at the marsh pond, but he flew away quickly and seemed fairly shy. I also saw a yellow-rumped warbler.
A few days before Rosh Hashana, I saw an egret on Isaacson’s bay. They are still here, and I am glad. I also saw a juvenile blue heron in the grass across from the bay. I also saw a juvenile bald eagle flying overhead.
When I went hiking, back in the muddy marshes, I saw a new bird-a solitary sandpiper. True to its name, it was all alone among the reeds and muddy waters there. It would occasionally bob its tail up and down, much as a killdeer does. The white spots on its dark brown back are quite striking.
During the last week of September, I saw a bald eagle flying over El Cajon Bay; it was beautiful.
Then, some friends and I hiked to a nearby sinkhole, where I saw a cormorant in the grasses.
