http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Marbled-Godwit.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-394-jpg.aspx" alt="Marbled Godwit" />The Marbled Godwit is uncommon on expansive mudflats and sandflats and on beaches. Nests around prairie ponds. May form flocks; often associates loosely with other shorebirds. A large sandpiper. with very long, slightly upturned bill. Overall buffy or cinnamon color without contrasting wing or tail markings. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Song-Sparrow.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-503-jpg.aspx" alt="Song Sparrow" />A medium-sized American sparrow pictured here in the Cloisters Park, Morro Bay. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Marbled-Godwit.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-394-jpg.aspx" alt="Marbled Godwit" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Pelicans.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-438-jpg.aspx" alt="Brown Pelican" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Long-Tailed-Duck.aspx 2010-08-25 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-400-jpg.aspx" alt="Long-tailed Duck" />An unusual bird for Morro Bay, found on our 2009 Bird List. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Long-Tailed-Duck.aspx 2010-08-25 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-400-jpg.aspx" alt="Long-tailed Duck" />Now does it flow?  Nope.  How do we write about this guy?  where will he show? what if we want to write a bunch of text about one of these guys, and not have any at the top?  can we do it. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/mallard.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-525-jpg.aspx" alt="Mallard" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Osprey.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-461-jpg.aspx" alt="Osprey" />Called the "fish hawk", it is common in some coastal waters. Seen in Morro Bay in winter. Perches high on poles and boat masts. Soars high above water and hovers and then plunges, head and feet first, to grab fish. Makes bulky stick nests on large poles or bare trees. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Common-Loon.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-458-jpg.aspx" alt="Common Loon" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Brant-Goose.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-425-jpg.aspx" alt="Brant Goose" />The Brant, part of the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival's logo, winters here in the estuary. This bird is quite common, but its winter range habitat has been eliminated up and down the coast, leaving the Morro Bay one of the few remaining estuaries where it finds its primary food, eelgrass. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Brant-Goose.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-425-jpg.aspx" alt="Brant Goose" />The Brant, part of the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival's logo, winters here in the estuary. This bird is quite common, but its winter range habitat has been eliminated up and down the coast, leaving the Morro Bay one of the few remaining. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Horned-Grebe.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-433-jpg.aspx" alt="Horned Grebe" />Horned grebes are common in winter on the Pacific Coast- uncommon to rare inland. Winters on open water, mainly ocean and bays, but also large lakes, sometimes in groups of ten. Seen regularly on Morro Bay, often in company of eared grebes and often mistaken for eared grebes. Best distinguished from eared by bill and head shape and by details of head pattern. Dives for fish and aquatic insects. This grebe most likely will be seen at the bird festival by groups in field trips for beginning birders, bay cruises, and kayak groups. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Horned-Grebe.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-433-jpg.aspx" alt="Horned Grebe" />Horned grebes are common in winter on the Pacific Coast- uncommon to rare inland. Winters on open water, mainly ocean and bays, but also large lakes, sometimes in groups of ten. Seen regularly on Morro Bay, often in company of eared grebes and often mistaken for eared grebes. Best distinguished from eared by bill and head shape and by details of head pattern. Dives for fish and aquatic insects. Is smaller than red-necked grebe with smaller bill. This grebe most likely will be seen at the bird festival by groups in field trips for beginning birders, bay cruises, and kayak groups. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Surf-Scoter.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-431-jpg.aspx" alt="Surf Scoter" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Great-Blue-Heron.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-441-jpg.aspx" alt="Great Blue Heron" />Great blue herons are common in San Luis Obispo County. Found near water and inland. Nests in colonies near Central Coast natural History Museum as well as inland locations. Forages in many types of habitat from stream and pond edges to wet meadows and upland fields. Feeds on fish, small mammals, and other prey. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Great-Blue-Heron.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-441-jpg.aspx" alt="Great Blue Heron" />Great blue herons are common in San Luis Obispo County. Found near water and inland. Nests in colonies near Central Coast natural History Museum as well as inland locations. Forages in many types of habitat from stream and pond edges to wet meadows and upland fields. Feeds on fish, small mammals, and other prey. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Great-Egret.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-552-jpg.aspx" alt="Great Egret" />Common large wading bird. Nests and roosts in mixed colonies in trees -- seen nesting near great blue herons in Heron Rookery near Museum of Natural History. Forages in shallow water or in grassy marshes, moving slowly with neck extended in search of fish and other aquatic prey. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Great-Egret.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-552-jpg.aspx" alt="Great Egret" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Green-Heron.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-448-jpg.aspx" alt="Green Heron" />Uncommon and local along wooded streams and around edges of wooded ponds where it crouches in shadows waiting for fish to swim by. Nest and roosts singly in trees. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Green-Heron.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-448-jpg.aspx" alt="Green Heron" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Eared-Grebe.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-449-jpg.aspx" alt="Eared Grebe" />Common on Morro Bay throughout the winter. Very small diving bird often seen in groups. Eats aquatic insects, crustaceans, small fish. Smaller than horned grebe with thinner neck and bill and peak on crown farther forward. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Eared-Grebe.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-449-jpg.aspx" alt="Eared Grebe" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Clarks-Grebe.aspx 2010-08-26 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-451-jpg.aspx" alt="Clark's Grebe" />Uncommon, ususally found with Western Grebes. Habitat and habits similar to Western. Appearance similar except more white and less black in plumage, particularly on face with white surrounding eye. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Clarks-Grebe.aspx 2010-08-26 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-451-jpg.aspx" alt="Clark's Grebe" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Black-Crowned-Night-Heron.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-434-jpg.aspx" alt="Black-crowned Night Heron" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Double-Crested-Cormorant.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-456-jpg.aspx" alt="Double-crested Cormorant" />Common on clear open waters from ponds and rivers to open ocean. Roosts in trees. Nests in Heron Rookery near Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay. Dives for fish sometimes in large flocks. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Double-Crested-Cormorant.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-456-jpg.aspx" alt="Double-crested Cormorant" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Osprey.aspx 2011-08-27 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-461-jpg.aspx" alt="Osprey" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Pied-billed-Grebe.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-457-jpg.aspx" alt="Pied-billed Grebe" />Found on ponds, bays, and other open water, usually near aquatic vegetation. Usually solitary or in small groups. Dives for aquatic insects, crayfish, and small fish. Stout bill and overall brownish color. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Pied-billed-Grebe.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-457-jpg.aspx" alt="Pied-billed Grebe" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Common-Loon.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-458-jpg.aspx" alt="Common Loon" />Common locally in Morro Bay during winter. Usually solitary but sometimes in small groups. Dives for fish. Heavy bill, large, long bodied. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Franklins-Gull.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-402-jpg.aspx" alt="Franklin's Gull" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Song-Sparrow.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-503-jpg.aspx" alt="Song Sparrow" />A medium-sized American sparrow pictured here in the Cloisters Park, Morro Bay. http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Franklins-Gull.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-402-jpg.aspx" alt="Franklin's Gull" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/Heermanns-Gull.aspx 2010-03-13 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-533-jpg.aspx" alt="Heermann's Gull" /> http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/bird/59-Yellow-billed-Magpie.aspx 2010-08-25 <img align="left" src="http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/pictures/size-105-file-566-jpg.aspx" alt="Yellow-billed Magpie" />