Have you seen?

December 2016

Two beautiful Mute Swans were just seen recently on the Low Tide Survey, taken on 12-26-2106. These Swans have not been seen at the Refuge since 2006. Mute Swans are an introduced species, that are identified by the a small black knob at the base of its orange bill and the graceful “S” curve of their necks with the bill pointing downward.

April 2018 arrivals

California Least terns, are now arriving. (April) The first of many have now returned and were recorded on the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge. Their migration takes them to parts of South America every year and then return to Seal Beach and Southern California to nest and raise their young. *Update: The California Least Tern season for 2018 has begun as of Early-June with counts as of June 4, 2018 at 95 nests, 107 eggs and 2 hatched.

August 2017 Birds of Note

In mid-August I saw a juvenile Loggerhead Shrike. While known to breed on the Refuge, this is a species of Special Concern that has been declining throughout its range, so it was heartening to know we had successful nesting this year. Later that month, I saw a textbook (National Geographic Field Guide, sixth edition) dark-morph juvenile Reddish Egret. Listed as Accidental in Spring, Fall and Winter, we usually see adults on our Special Birding Tours, but this was my first juvenile. Very Cool!

September 2017 Sightings

Also very cool, but not bird-related, was an endangered Green Sea Turtle discovered in Perimeter Pond in September. They have only ever been seen in 7th St. Pond, so this is a first. Guess when you’re hungry for eel grass, you’ll brave low levels of water to get to it. Other September sightings were: Rudy Ducks, White-Tailed Kites, Bat Ray and Butterflies.
Fall migration is on, but as of press time, only numbers of shorebirds have increased, not species yet. I hope to see you at the Refuge Coastal Cleanup Day 2017 on October 14th to show you what a magical place the Refuge is or at a last Saturday of the Month Tour, as we get more and more of our winter residents in.

Carolyn Vance

See more birds found on the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge in our Photo Gallery page.