Morning Flock

A snowy egret beats its broad wings as it comes in low over the water. Some Buffleheads splash and dive for polychaete worms, indifferent to the flight of their great cousin. The marbled godwits, though, have stopped and look her way. The egret arcs around some saltbush, drawing a wide circle before gently skimming her webbed feet across the placid surface, folding her wings and touching down. The morning eruption goes on around her: thousands of birds of all kinds greet the day with flapping wings and throaty calls as they snap up fish and insects for breakfast. Several hundred western sandpipers fly in the distance, shimmering in the still morning air as they change direction in unison. Researchers still don't know how the birds do it.

As is his custom on each month's first Saturday, Laguna Beach bird-lover John Heussenstamm follows the bend of Back Bay Drive, and pulls to the curb just before the entrance to the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. He waits for his flock to gather around 8 a.m., and once there, the bird watchers head into the reserve, with eyes peeled for congregations of waterfowl. The others benefit from his knowledge and enthusiasm. Heussenstamm has been birding for 45 years, and knows each of the roughly 100 species wintering here not only by sight. For those hiding in the bushes, he can identify them by call. When he makes a good spot he gets excited, manning the spotting scope, lining up the distant bird, then encouraging the others, "Get a look at that one, quickly! That osprey is eating a fresh kill."

Birds: The Eurasian Wigeon, top, very rare in Southern California, has settled in with some of it's American counterparts for a winter in Newport. A snowy egret flutters into Newport's Back Bay. Photos courtesy Paul Thai. Top to bottom, left to right: John Heussenstamm shares his field guide with Barbara and Dick Harley, as they confirm the identity of a bird in the estuary waters. John Heussenstamm surveys the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, and spots an osprey. Bikers encounter bird watchers as they ride along Back Bay Drive. Staff photos by Ted Reckas The group chats about birder things as they scan the estuary for interesting birds. The reward for them is the rare find, the Eurasian Wigeon that wandered off course, possibly following an American Wigeon it mated with, and now sits within view of the few who are here to know it. Heussenstamm talks with the others about rare birds they have added to their list of sightings, and they compare field identification methods.

The activity this morning is not isolated to Heussenstamm's flock, however, or the waterborne birds. On the bike path there are runners and walkers, roller-bladers and cyclists. Their conversations get louder as they approach, then fade as they follow the bay's curve toward its inland terminus, pushed by the onshore breeze, with no idea they just passed a once in 15- year phenomenon.

Heussenstamm plays jazz and blues guitar by trade. A past member of several bands, the Surf Punks, Alligators, and Innocent Bystanders among them, he is more selective about the concerts he takes on now. Can't be up partying until the wee hours if you want to get out with the birds on time. Over the years, he's shared his expertise leading bird walks in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and elsewhere as well.

At the end of the day, Heussenstamm just wants to set up his tri-pod at water's edge, look out over the bay and see what he can see. Whoever wants to join is welcome, but he will still be there even if no one shows. If you do take the time to have a look, you'll be surprised what exists alongside the urban sprawl of Fashion Island. More than half of all U.S. wetlands have been drained or filled since the time of European settlement in North America, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but there remains a thriving beacon of avian activity just under our noses. John will show you.

Heussenstamm is changing

locales this Saturday, Jan. 31, and will break out his field glasses by 8 a.m. at Tresles near San Clemente.

Directions: south on Interstate 5 to Christianitos exit, then turn left and go across the overpass.

Staff photos by Ted Reckas Heussenstamm and Rebecca Porter on the search for rare birds.