California poppies and primroses are in bloom along the dunes.
The elegant terns are back, and more are arriving each day to court and soon lay eggs and rear young. No least terns sited yet, but I did see three snowy plover nests in the nesting area just north of the footbridge.
The black skimmers have yet to arrive, and while many of the ducks have left, the few ruddy ducks left are indeed ruddy with bright blue bills. Many dowitchers have started their journey to Alaska, and Canada to breed. The ones I saw today were all busy filling up for the long flight in their future.
The bird on the left has already molted into breeding plumage, while the one on the right is still in winter plumage.
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