All photographs ©2004-2006 by Mary Beth Stowe
Game Birds and Rails
American Coots often join the domestic waterfowl at Guajome Regional Park when there's a handout...
This American Coot was literally "rowing" with the reed in his beak!
You know it's winter when the coots start covering the "lawn"!
Close-up, showing the lobed toes (both shots from Santee Lakes)
This juvenile Clapper Rail at the Tijuana Slough definitely had an attitude!
It's hard to tell from this photo, but this was probably a hybrid California x Gambel's Quail; the bird had quite a pronounced black belly spot. Both species occur in the Borrego Springs area, and hybridization is not uncommon.
A family of Mountain Quail cross Otay Mountain Road
A family of Common Moorhens at Lindo Lake
A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron eyes a couple of juvenile Common Moorhens exploring the bushes at Los Jilgueros Preserve