Peanuts In My Pocket

Last week, I dedicated the entire week to birding. One of the places I visited was Newport Beach Pier, and a little farther down the Balboa Peninsula, the Wedge. I usually avoid birding in crowded tourist spots because of the pigeons, and their counterparts, the tourists. Although there were plenty of pigeons, my early morning visit allowed me to avoid most of the tourists, making for a peaceful two hours in the blazing sunshine.

The Newport Beach Pier is located at the northern end of the Balboa Peninsula, in a swanky area where the wealthy live and play. As a teen, I spent a lot of time here biking, body surfing, or surfing. After graduating high school, I spent even more time in the area with my girlfriend. It was a low-cost escape from her nearby university studies. We often ate at Charlie’s Chili, which, to my surprise, is still operating 45 years later. That girlfriend eventually became my wife, and over time, we stopped visiting the area, except to see relatives who live nearby.

I’ve never thought of the Newport Pier as a birding hotspot. But the eBird reports showed a few species I hadn’t recorded yet, so I added it to my list. Same for the Wedge. I’ll happily travel for the chance to see just one new species, and that’s exactly what happened. I spotted and photographed the elusive Brandt’s Cormorant.

Brandt’s Cormorant – A large, dark seabird of the Pacific coast, recognizable in breeding season by its vivid blue throat patch and white plumes. It dives expertly for fish and invertebrates, nesting in dense colonies on rocky cliffs and offshore islands.

I frequently see Double-crested Cormorants, which are more slender, with a longer tail and a “snaky” neck. I’d worried I might not be able to tell them apart, but the difference was obvious, even from a distance. I captured photos both in flight and while it was fishing. Goal achieved: Species #131 recorded!

The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful. I took photos of common birds, so the time wasn’t wasted. I also shifted gears from ID-focused birding to capturing more thoughtfully composed, artistic shots. One highlight stood out: an adult Osprey landed on a light pole while I was on the pier. At first, I mistook it for a large seagull, but quickly realized I was looking at something special.

I’ve photographed Ospreys for years. I love these majestic birds. But I’ve never been closer than 100 yards and usually much farther. This time, I was just 30 feet away and took dozens of high-quality photos. It was an exciting and unforgettable moment.

I also captured close-up shots of Snowy Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons. Local fishermen were tossing small fish and bait to these birds at the end of the pier, effectively hand-feeding them. The featured image for this post is a close-up of the Black-crowned Night Heron. I also caught a nice shot of another bird flying overhead.

After the pier, I headed down to the Wedge. It wasn’t very productive bird-wise, but I enjoyed the visit. I used to bodysurf here. Even though it was a small-wave day, adult me knows that trying that now would likely land me in the hospital. What was I thinking, or not thinking, as a teenager?

I did manage to get a few good shots of Whimbrels feeding along the surf’s edge, but not much else. Not that I’m complaining—the area was alive with people boating, fishing, bodysurfing, and enjoying the views. I chatted with a few folks and even had my photo taken by two older tourists from Spain.

Whimbrel – A large, long-legged shorebird identified by its down-curved bill and boldly striped head. It breeds in Arctic tundra and migrates vast distances to coastal mudflats and beaches, probing for crabs, worms, and other invertebrates.

The Wedge is one of those magical places from my youth that still holds meaning. It’s where I once risked my life on big-wave days, and it’s also where the romance with my beautiful wife began to deepen into the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. I love the place.

My eBird Checklists:

• Newport Pier — 14 species, 87 birds
• The Wedge — 8 species, 39 birds

Up until this trip, I thought the Brandt’s Cormorant was a rare sighting, I’d never seen one before. But the next day, I visited La Jolla Cove and saw hundreds, if not more. They were packed onto rocks near the shoreline, so densely that an accurate count was impossible. Ironically, I had gone to La Jolla looking for another species of cormorant, so it felt a bit like playing “Where’s Waldo.” But that’s a story for another post.