The Early Bird(er)...

After springing forward, we got up early to go birding at the convention centre just after sunrise. The conditions were perfect - low tide, gentle breeze and the water was like glass in places.

I took lots of photos.

The first bird of note (we don't get excited about gulls) was a black-crowned night-heron (nycticorax nycticorax).


















Then we saw a plover of some kind. We're still debating whether it's a Wilson's plover or a juvenile black-bellied plover. (any suggestions?) When we get home I'll confirm what it was when I have a good look at the Sibley.



































A lesser yellowlegs (tringa flavipes).

















A male mottled duck (anas fulvigula).












The 'bird of the day' was definitely the black-necked stilt (himantopus mexicanus), probably because it is not a bird we would ever see at home. Its legs really are bright pink.