Date: 7/3/25 8:16 pm From: Kaaren Perry via groups.io <surfbird1...> Subject: [slocobirding] Morro Creek mouth. - 7/3
Hi Birders!
Yes, we birders are often found now patiently waiting for late July- Aug. when shorebirds begin to return in numbers or perhaps an early migrant to arrive in a local park etc. I've been able to entertain myself during this typically quiet birding season by learning as much as I can about our visiting SLO rarity, the Neotropical Cormorant. I returned to Morro Creek mouth around 12:30 pm today to find it resting quietly on the floating log just upstream from the bridge. During the next 30 minutes I was able to watch as it rested, stretched, yawned, briefly interacted with nearby heron and egrets, before finally sipping a drink from the creek, taking a quick bath and then launching a deep dive and quickly swimming underwater downstream and out of view. How much longer will it be visiting us?
While watching I noticed that there were no egrets or herons roosting on the now well photographed sycamore, usually occupied by the NECO and friends. Slowly egrets and herons flew in from on high, dropping down to the creek until there were close to 25+ all feeding in the up steam waters. When I left there were still no egrets roosting in the usual snag but about 25 still feeding in the creek and nearby reedy shores and islands.
One of the treasures in the life of a birder… always something new to learn.
