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18 | OHCC LIVING | OCTOBER 2020 | Birdwatchers Fall Migration: This is an exciting time of year for birders. Fall migration is in full swing and the population of waterfowl and shorebirds is increasing daily. Some birds, like tiny Red-necked Phalaropes, will stay only a short time as they pass through our county on the way to warmer winter climes. Others, like American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, and Bufflehead, will remain until late spring, when they will fly to their breeding grounds as far north as Alaska. We are fortunate to have several local natures preserves with lakes, where we are likely to see these birds, as well as the San Diego River Estuary and lagoons beside the coast. One of these is San Elijo Lagoon beside Cardiff beach, which has been undergoing massive reconfiguration associated with the restructuring of I-5 near Encinitas. There is now a beautiful pedestrian bridge connecting several trails and offering wide views of different parts of the lagoon. At low tide you may see hundreds of birds, both residents like Willets, Marbled Godwits, Whimbrels, and impressive Long-billed Curlews, as well as winter visitors like Avocets, Black- bellied Plovers, and Semi-palmated Plovers. Identifying shorebirds can be tricky. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Website www. allaboutbirds.org is an excellent resource. Just enter the name of the bird in the search bar and you will see detailed photographs, as well as information about behavior, food preferences, and breeding. Try it with the birds I have mentioned above. I also use an app on my iPad called iBird, which is not free but worth every cent. Although we are still somewhat restricted by the pandemic, I thoroughly recommend a visit on your own, with a friend, or with family to San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center trails, Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad, Whelan Lake and Guajome Regional Park in Oceanside, as well as Oceanside Harbor, and (if you don't mind driving further) the San Diego River Estuary trail beside Robb Field near Ocean Beach. Happy birding! ~ Ann Baldwin TAG members are here to offer assistance with computers, tablets, smart phones as well as other technologies to all OHCC residents. Until the computer room in the Clubhouse becomes available, volunteers can only provide limited support via the phone or Zoom conferencing. We have resident enthusiasts in Genealogy, 3D design/printing, Windows, Apple, Google, Android, etc. We have people with the experience to help with email, browsers, televisions, sound systems, home automation, WIX and Zoom! Technical Advisory Group Just in case: Check with your club contact to confirm meeting place, date, and time. Semi-palmated Plover Male Bufflehead Blue-winged Teal Black-bellied Plover American Wigeon Avocet