Canada Goose and Ruddy Duck at Westlake Park

October 6, 2025- Sunny day at Westlake park, starting with setting up cones to play soccer, per group request. We walked the perimeter of Westlake Park and identified American Coot, Snowy goose, Mallard Duck, noting male and female and plumage differences, Western pond turtle, and Ruddy Duck. 

Ruddy Duck is a fun bird to view in the springtime, as the males display a bright blue bill during mating season. Last year we saw two male ruddy duck's, and were able to identify them now in fall too, as their beaks had traces of a bluish tint and plumage matched that of ruddy duck. The Santa Cruz Natural History Museum has nice laminated pocket bird guides for purchase, that we use often in nature club to identify birds in the field, and to look at the birds that could be present in the biome that we're exploring. 

We also saw a Canada Goose, a more rare sighting than the common ducks and Snowy Goose seen at Westlake Park land in the pond. Was a perfect segway to a reading of a National Geographic Migration book.

ID'd and discussed Tule's importance in Native American communities in weaving for boats, baskets, mats, clothing, shelter, and more. Parts of the Tule plant are also edible, including the rhizome and flower heads. 

Students played Godzilla imaginative play at the playground and more soccer, as well as tree climbing at the northern side of the pond. Good climbing trees circled on map below.

Ruddy Duck spring vs Fall beak