10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2014

One or two Tufted Ducks show up at Lake Merritt in Oakland every year, with this drake in particular often lending itself for soul-satisfying views. The lake is a great place in winter for seeing grebes and diving ducks close up, and can offer some good gulling as well. Southern California pelagics (San Diego to Morro Bay).

California 204

California San Diego Birds Oakland 204

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific. Other birds with webbed feet, including ducks and geese, have only three webbed toes; the hallux (which in birds is usually the “hind toe&# and in humans, the “big toe&# ) is free. Make up your mind, Ringer!

2011 154

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 154

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2020

Splits were once a much more subjective determination, based on differences in appearance, vocalizations, habits, and breeding preferences. I have seen Mallards in places as distant as San Francisco and Munich. But you pretty much must come to Mexico to see the Mexican Duck , which I see every time I go to our nearest lake.

San Diego 181

San Diego San Francisco Mexico Baltimore 181