Over 200 species of birds. That is the winter bird count in Morro Bay, on the Central coast of California. The Audobon Society lists it as one of the top five areas for birding in the United States. So where do you think I took myself on Friday, along with my husband and sister? To the Winter Bird Festival right down the road. 
There's sighting walks, and boat rides, hikes, and a Common Room with bird related things for sale. This work above is by a pottery friend, Paula Teplitz. I thought seriously about one of her mortar and pestles to grind herbs. Aren't they wonderful?
I turned a little dizzy I looked through so many books.
Here's the one I chose. And one of Paula's tiny cups painted with a beetle.
In the late afternoon I did a little birdwatching on my own. Can you see the group of birds sitting on the rock? Black cormorants. This rock is usually crammed with white pelicans, so this was an interesting sighting.
Here's the ranch where I go birding, just a couple of blocks from our house
Looks like I found a bird egg. But its a sea rock, rolled and tossed into an egg shape over many years at sea.
It came home with me too. The Bird Festival is every mid January in Morro Bay. If you want to attend, I'll share the best places to camp or stay, and restaurants too. Don't forget your birding binoculars.
xx
julie
juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com
13 comments:
Julie~ Enjoyed your pictures! Love watching the birds! ~Mandy (We loved going to Morro Bay to watch fireworks!)
My dad is a bird enthusiast and can name almost any bird he hears when we are out for a walk or a hike.
There are black cormorants here, too; I like their sleek shape and elegant colouring, but I like herons even more.
In spite of living in one of the most densely populated areas of Germany, we do get to see a lot of herons, bussards, kestrels and many more - if we look.
I suppose many a town dweller never raises their eyes above tree level and so they miss out on a lot of fascinating and beautiful sights.
By the way - what do elephants have to do with birds? :-) (referring to one of the pottery objects for sale)
Thanks for sharing your lovely day out Julie, like the pebble you found and your bird goblet. Bfn. Lesley
Loved seeing all of it..love that little egg rock..and the walk along the ocean...
cute bird book and nice little cup from Paula....
I have got to go next year....
Love,
Me
What a wonderful day. You are so lucky to have such a beautiful place so close to your house to walk, it must be nice being so close to the ocean.
Julie- Thanks for sharing your beautiful place, host to such a fabulous event. Anything birds, I am there!
The New England coast, and my beloved Onset, has many cormorants. You see them on the jetties and buoys airing their wings. Lots of bluebirds, too.
Love the beetle cup.
Xoxo Liz
Julie...What a fascinating window into your life and some of the birds of where you live. So very beautiful and such a joy to see.
Julie...What a fascinating window into your life and some of the birds of where you live. So very beautiful and such a joy to see.
such a beautiful rock!! I also noticed that you are wearing my "true north" bracelet...first i wondered who have used such a beautiful beads in a bracelet.
I will leave in Tunisia on February, i am always an explorer there! I can not wait to gather some stones from the beach near my parents house.
Joy,
Delila
Lovely photos- and that egg-rock is very special- it all looks a real joy!
Annamaria
Hi Julie!
Beach rock turned birds egg = lucky treasure!
xo
Dear Julie!
You live in a very beautiful area I can tell from the photos!
I`m so much looking forward to wear your beautiful necklace, I will proudly tell everyone that it´s my extremly talented" Fairy Tale Friend Julie" who has made it!
Can´t wait to see it.
Hope the weather is better by now, have a great weekend.
Love
Becky
Thanks to everyone for you welcome comments. Yes, Delila, that is your True North Bracelet, a handy thing to wear on walks, since it always leads me right back home!
xx
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