san lorenzo river habitat
Bird Species on the San Lorenzo River
Santa Cruz County birding expert Steve Gerow has compiled a list of 122 bird species regularly using the Lower San Lorenzo River area in Santa Cruz. The list includes species with a regular pattern of occurrence along the San Lorenzo River from Highway 1 to the mouth. The list does not include rarities and species that are very irregular or marginal to the river habitat, and a number of primarily ocean, bay and beach species that occasionally go a very short distance up the river in the vicinity of the mouth (Surf Scoter, Brown Pelican, etc.). Click Here to see the list.
The San Lorenzo River (downtown area) is #11 on a list of 100 eBird hot spots in Santa Cruz for its number of birds. This is a significant indication of how birds are populating this important habitat.
The San Lorenzo River (downtown area) is #11 on a list of 100 eBird hot spots in Santa Cruz for its number of birds. This is a significant indication of how birds are populating this important habitat.
Photo by Barbara Riverwoman
Common merganser chicks (Mergus merganser)
Just north of the pedestrian bridge at Felker Street
Common merganser chicks (Mergus merganser)
Just north of the pedestrian bridge at Felker Street
November 6, 2015
Photo by Jane Mio
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with fresh caught meal,
observed in the trees above the San Lorenzo River trestle.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with fresh caught meal,
observed in the trees above the San Lorenzo River trestle.
October 23, 2015
Photo and mystery story by Jane Mio
I observed this 19-21" hawk perched on the south side cliff of the San Lorenzo River mouth overlook. It was wide across the chest, looked strikingly dark. Never saw the tail. I watched it for about 10 minutes and upon returning to look again, it was gone. Various identifications have been made of this hawk, with the probable identification being a dark-morph Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). To read about the variation of colors of Red-tailed hawks, go HERE.
Click image to enlarge. |
October 10, 2015
Photo by Jane Mio
Vermillion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Treasure in the Tules
September 9, 2015
Click HERE for Treasure in the Tules, a wonderful story of a Pied-billed grebe hatchling on the San Lorenzo River, the September 9th entry on San Lorenzo Mysteries, by Barbara Riverwoman.
Click HERE for Treasure in the Tules, a wonderful story of a Pied-billed grebe hatchling on the San Lorenzo River, the September 9th entry on San Lorenzo Mysteries, by Barbara Riverwoman.
September 5, 2015
Photograph by Barbara Riverwoman
Green heron (Butorides virescens)
May 15, 2015
Photographs by Barbara Riverwoman
Mallard family of 5 near San Lorenzo Park Pedestrian Bridge Family of 3 near Water St. Bridge
Family of Five in the grasses - can you see at least two babies? Reaching a hard to get morsel.
May 1, 2015
Photographs by Jeff Bleam
Common mergansers (Mergus merganser)
December 26, 2014
Photographs by Barbara Riverwoman
October 24, 2014
Photographs by Michael Lewis
Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) taken from the Soquel Avenue bridge.
September 7, 2014
Photographs by Michael Lewis
Birds on the San Lorenzo River
Photographs by Lisa Sheridan