I usually write my blog in little pieces throughout the month, and then at the end of the month I wrap it all up with a theme and full edits. This month seems to have slipped by in small increments, just little snippets of nature and art with no real theme. I didn't have much to write about during the month. As is typical of August, it just seems quiet out there. Of course I was out and about a bit and always find something to amuse myself. However, I spent a little more time in the A/C. The heat and humidity really take a toll on me. Perhaps I should come back in a future life as a dragonfly to enjoy August.

Locally, August is mostly about dragonflies, shorebirds, and early migrants. I looked for shorebirds at the LA River, San Joaquin Marsh, and Cabrillo Beach, but didn't find anything unusual. Numbers of peeps were low until the final days of the month. I looked for early migrants at Huntington Beach Central Park. While I didn't see any special migrants, I was in the right place at the right time to see the Zone-tailed Hawk. So how did I find it? I followed the pack of crazed birders running and screaming across the park. More people joined the rush. Dog walkers and people out for a Sunday stroll stopped to look, as people from young to old carrying binoculars, cameras, and scopes loped over the uneven grass trying to avoid the holes made by California Ground Squirrels. Even before I knew what it was all about, I joined the rush. I figured it was either a really good bird, or Godzilla was chasing them, and either was worthy of a cardio workout. Fortunately the bird perched, preened its feathers, ignored the commotion, and posed for photos for a little while. This is the sort of thing that rewards the mesolimbic dopamine system of the bird addict's brain. While not rare in California, they are rarely seen along the coast. This was a lifer for me! Then, just before the end of the month, I had another lifer! A kingbird was spotted by a friend as we drove out of the park. We had already spent several hours in the park, and it was hot. I was reluctant to get out of the car, and assumed it was a pale Western Kingbird. He is remarkable at spotting good birds, and it was indeed an Eastern Kingbird visiting our coast!

The other interesting things this month were frogs. There was an enormous Bullfrog (baby Godzilla?) at San Joaquin Marsh. It just sat in the middle of the path as people had to step around it to pass. I was concerned for the frog in the heat and with all the people, but decided it had done quite well for itself to live this large for a highly invasive non-native predator. Another highly invasive non-native frog is the African Clawed Frog. We saw little "fish" jumping out of the water at Huntington Central. I quickly realized they were "flying frogs" or at least tadpoles trying out there new leg stubs. It was a challenge to photograph them, but I succeeded enough to identify them with the help of iNaturalist when I got home.

I went on the Sea and Sage Audubon pelagic trip out of Dana Point. It was pleasant with a variety of storm petrels, jaegers, and a few other pelagic birds. We also saw three types of dolphins including good views of Risso's Dolphins. Apparently they get the white scars on their skin from the teeth of other Risso's in social interactions. There was a young unscarred one travelling with a beautifully patterned adult. The other surprise was a swordfish swimming near the surface. We couldn't see the sword, but we could see the dorsal fin and tail.

I didn't go out on the Irvine Ranch Conservancy butterfly survey this month because it was too hot. However, I did finish up my analysis of 10 years of survey results, created twenty-seven pages of charts, a five page overview, and a four page comparison with The Butterflies of Orange County by Larry Orsak from 1977. I shared it with some of my fellow participants, but I'm not sure what to do with it otherwise. I wrote a separate blog post with a summary of my summary (https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/blog/2022/8/butterflies-of-irvine-ranch). I did attend a blacklighting session with the conservancy. It is much cooler at night. There were a few interesting moths and beetles. 

It was rather quiet on the Los Cerritos Wetlands bird survey this month. The Wetsalts Tiger Beetles were still there, but bird activity was low.

I made more artwork. I'm on a roll -- well at least until the fall migration picks up.

Happy Nature Walks.

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Watch the slideshows or click on the links to look through at your own pace. Links open in a new tab.

Local Stuff:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_aug-2022   

Pelagic Birding out of Dana Point:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/pelagic_aug-2022

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Blacklighting:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/irc_night_aug_2022

Los Cerritos Wetlands Bird Survey:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/hellman_aug_2022