Diario de sgstasi

Walked from the cement ship to Hidden Beach, 9-11:30 AM. Mostly overcast with sun breaking through. Cormorants, gulls, pelican, and pigeons on the ship. Saw a group of 4 whimbrel, feeding in the surf as I walked south and resting in the river mouth when I returned. Swallows flying low over the river and beach. Could hear and see terns in flight and a really large (100's) flock of gulls passed overhead. Saw gooseneck barnacles on the wharf piling.
At Rio Del Mar had fun watching brewer's blackbirds and there was a small flock of California gulls.
Not much action until closer to Hidden beach, saw a single surf scoter. At Hidden beach, unfortunately, saw a stranded sea lion pup and called Marine Mammal Rescue. It was alive but looked kind of emaciated to me. It moved when it saw me so I got out of there after I called and reported it, so as not to stress it further. I forgot to take a picture; it was kind of a surreal experience. Very unexpected to see it where it was, far from the beach almost to the base of the stairs.
Plants included the usual suspects; verbena, wild radish. A bright yellow flowering bush on the riverbank at Rio Del Mar - bushy sunflower?

Did a photowalk this morning at Sunset SB. 8:00 AM and overcast. Jason went fishing.
Hiking in to the beach I used my camera phone to capture shots of the plant life. Lots of wildflowers (both native and invasive) in bloom including California poppies and mustard. Several White-crowned sparrows could be heard and seen in the chaparral adjacent to the parking lot.
As we approached the beach I could see a flock of Marbled godwit and sandpiper (either Western or Least) feeding in the surf. I shot them for a while and then walked south and captured some shots of a flock of California Gulls resting at the high tide line. Some brown pelicans flew by and I saw a single surf scoter. There were swallows flying over the dunes and sand that I did not capture.
When I visit this beach again I will bring a trash bag as there was a lot of stuff that could have been picked up.
Walking back to the car I saw but could not capture a Bewick's wren.
We stopped by New Brighton SB as well. Sparrows and swallows I could hear but not see. Got a shot of a song sparrow just as we were leaving. Lots of amazing flowers in bloom there as well.