Rodeo Lagoon on a Sunny Afternoon

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The River Otters were running around on the beach when I arrived. As the day went on they were able to catch two gulls while the population of pelicans grew to about 100 birds. With the otters around the pelicans didn't stay in any one place for too long. In any case, the slinky predators seemed to prefer chasing easier prey and chose to stalk the gulls and the congregation of resting mallards.

Posted: August 30, 2008

Moments after a kill, a River Otter secures its prey.

Submerging with the gull.

I heard wings whistling and looked up to see 15 mallards escaping overhead. I turned to see the otters emerge from the deep, stalking the last stragglers on the shore.

Later, far out in the lagoon, I saw a wing rise from below the water and realized the otters had found more to eat. I ran ahead to rendezvous with the otter as it made its way across and recognized the prey as Heermann's Gull.

While two otters groom each other, the other starts in on the gull. Given the number of floating feathers, I'd say this is a frequently used dining spot.

Eventually, the log was vacated and the hunter found a stable place to eat. Here you can see the unmistakable red bill in the otters grip.

My presence was momentarily noted before the otter continued to eat. Feathers float back in the breeze. When the other otters returned to the site and ventured on land, I left the scene. With all the little trails in the vegetation, I didn't want to happen upon a territorial little predator guarding its sibling.

Above me the Brown Pelicans cycled in and out of the lagoon continually. This one left a little something behind.

The sky above the beach can be a busy thoroughfare. Gulls and pelicans kept close company today.

The Marbled Godwit circling the lagoon.

Looking for a nice bit of shore.

Coming in for a landing amongst the Phalaropes.

Foraging in dainty spinning circles, this phalarope takes a momentary rest.

Another comes in for a landing after the egrets cause a disturbance.

Looking left I see the Great Egret disciplining the Snowy for getting a bit too close.

Yesterday at Sutro Baths, I heard Redtails calling and out of the grey emerged two hawks, this one carrying a rat.

In the Presidio a banded Red-tailed Hawk looks down as it floats over the parking lot.

At Alta Plaza Park the large female redtail departs with a gopher, leaving behind the branch she carried with her after catching her meal.

The smaller male then arrived to try his luck on the west side of the park.

You can tell when a hawk is hunting rather than just relocating.

Gliding in for the kill but with no success.

A Black-crowned Night Heron emerges into the light at the Palace of Fine Arts.

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External Links

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Guide
John W. Wall's Flickr Page
Bill Walker's Flickr Page
Lineatus' wonderful weekly bird diary on Daily Kos