The Playa el Coyote New Year's Ball Welcomes 2015!

We awake to this new year morning to the sound of rain drops on the RV..??  Maybe only gull toes tapping on our metal roof?  A check outside the window confirms clouds forming a grey ceiling covering our bay.  Something I would expect in the Pacific Northwest, but not in our southern destination of Baja Sur.  So, plans change.  It's not kayaking or paddle boarding or swimming or sitting on the playa today.  But, it IS birdwatching!

It seems there's a New Year's Ball happening just feet from our campsite and everyone is invited!  Best of all, everyone is dressed in their finest outfits, featuring feathers!

First we are visited by four herons (lovely in white)  known as "Golden Slippers"....and you can see why!

"Oh dem golden slippers, oh dem golden slippers..."

One thing I find about the birds here is that they do not "fluster" easily, so they are great photo subjects as the photographer has lots of time to slowly walk nearby and snap away.  No red carpet needed, just sand and water.

Time for the "Solar Bear" swim at Coyote?

"I'll go if you go.......on three!"

Then there's this wee gull with his/ her own dance step.  Maybe "hip hop and drag your toes" across the dance floor...or...sand.  The Bonaparte gull is one of the smallest gulls, and does an incredible yearly migration.  We see them in early May in the San Juan Islands, headed north...with beautiful breeding coloration of solid black caps.  Then we see them again in late August or September, flocks of over 100 birds swooping down upon the waters of the Salish Sea for a rest stop.  Now, here on day one of this new year, right on my doorstep in Baja.  Wonder if it recognizes me?

Bonaparte Gull

Who else shows up?  It wouldn't be a ball without a spectacular entrance....and in fly 15 Brown pelicans announcing their arrival with incredible sky dives into the water directly in front of us!

Mr. Big Mouth

The small fish this year have attracted many many pelicans and they seem to like the menu.  The buffet is served 24/7 at this playa restaurante.  

The Eared grebes, usually in a small group of 2 - 5, appear today in a crowd of over 50.  I love watching them swim underwater using their really cool feet with built in flippers.  They don't use their wings to swim at all, like some of the auklets we see regularly at home.  They also spend time with their head just under water, swimming along, scouting for fish.  They must have built in goggles too!

Eared Grebe

Mr. Herrmann gull shows up too.  After all, if you have that flashy orange beak without even bothering with lip stick, you're automatically dressed for the ball.  (Not to mention the orange the orange eyeliner! )  Soft grey, bright white and orange...with a dash of black.  Wow!  

Another bird we see at home who also gets away from the winter weather by migrating south.

Flashy!

That is all for the seabirds on this grey and rainy morning, but our little Costa hummingbirds have gotten the chirp about the grand celebration and ball...and come dressed for the occasion.

Mr. Darth Hummer

I haven't seen the final tally of votes for "Best Dressed"...but....

Costa Hummingbird

A fine way to usher in 2015!