A father/son birthday birding day at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA

My son turned 16 over the weekend and I asked him what he wanted as a birthday present. And he, diehard birder that he is, wanted me to drive to Bolsa Chica at 6am for a morning of birding. I love this kid!

Anyway, we had a great father/son day there... got 64 species that is a record for us for one trip to a single eBird hotspot (i.e. not including big day, CBC, etc.). Also got two lifers - reddish egret and tricolored heron.

Anyway, here are a few shots. Hope you like them. All taken with the 7D2 + 500/4 II + 1.4X III.

1. Reddish Egret

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Really like the Reddish Egret. Were there any terns or Black Skimmers there?

Paul, we saw many Forster's terns and a few Caspian terns, but no skimmers.

Amazing series of beautiful birds.
You really captured them beautifully.

That would have been an awesome experience and privelege.
To me that would have been a birthday with extras. Great stuff for both of you.

I learnt something too. Say's phoebe. First time I've seen it with an apostrophe. Lots times here one is posted and I just thought it was some Americanism, a witty saying. The apostrophe sent me looking more!

Appreciate your sharing.

Thank you for the kind words, Richard! I am very fortunate that we share hobbies and it enables me to spend quality time with him doing something we love. I've got a couple of more years with him before he heads off to college and a life of his own, so I hope to make the most of it!