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Jan Gano  > Birds > Birds of Sunbeam Lake RV Resort El Centro, CA
Birds commonly found at Sunbeam Lake in Winter
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Osprey. Sometimes know as the fish hawk. This is a large raptor sometimes seen cruising fairly high above Sunbeam Lake in search of a fish near the surface. This bird will dive on the fish with it's talons leading. Once it has a fish, it maneuvers it so that it is pointed forward and streamlined to reduce drag.
Loggerhead Shrike. Ocaisonally seen perched in upper parts of trees near I-8 on upper lake. Also known as the Butcher Bird for it's habit of impaling it's prey, usually smaller birds, on a thorn or barbwire fence while devouring. Black eye mask and hooked bill is distinctive. Smaller than a robin.
Sharp-shinned Hawk. A small accipiter. Skinny legs and small. Difficult to distinguish from the Cooper's Hawk. Feeds on small birds and hangs out in larger trees around Sunbeam. Less common here than the Cooper's.
Cooper's Hawk. A small hawk that preys on small birds and mammals. Difficult to distinguish from a Sharp-shinned hawk. Seen moving on the fly around our larger trees.
Killdeer. A very common shorebird that prefers searching for insects in the lawns and open soil. Usually call 'killdeer' in flight and can sometimes be heard calling in flight shortly after dark. Nests in the open, usually in gravel.
Common Gallinule. This bird was known as Common Moorhen until 2012 and is probably in your birding guide as Common Moorhen. Very similar in appearance to the American Coots which are common on the lakes. The white on the flanks and red bill are tip-offs.
Black-crowned Night Heron. Regular resident of the upper lake day roosting in the Tamarisk/Salt Cedar. Hunts for fish at night leaving the day roost at dusk. A few are usually visible in the trees on the upper lake but they often move into the center of the trees to hide.
Double-crested Cormorant. A large large diving fish eater. Has no oil gland to water proof it's feathers so spends a lot of time with wings spread to dry them. Common on both lakes.
Sharp-shinned Hawk. A small accipiter. Skinny legs and small. Difficult to distinguish from the Cooper's Hawk. Feeds on small birds and hangs out in larger trees around Sunbeam. Less common here than the Cooper's.
Sharp-shinned Hawk. A small accipiter. Skinny legs and small. Difficult to distinguish from the Cooper's Hawk. Feeds on small birds and hangs out in larger trees around Sunbeam. Less common here than the Cooper's.
Sharp-shinned Hawk. A small accipiter. Skinny legs and small. Difficult to distinguish from the Cooper's Hawk. Feeds on small birds and hangs out in larger trees around Sunbeam. Less common here than the Cooper's.
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