Snowy Plovers at the mouth of Tijuana River

From the end of Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach it is a mile south on the beach to the Tijuana River mouth. See site guide here. That's where the rare and endangered Snowy Plovers are found, year-round.

Here are some photos from July and August 2017:

Snowy Plovers spend much time just resting and hiding on the dry upper beach.

Often you don't notice a Snowy Plover until it runs from you.

A Snowy Plover blends into the sand by resting in a footprint or tire track.

A tiny little ball of fluff.

Snowy Plovers lay their eggs and raise their young on empty sandy beaches.
Human beach recreation and nesting Snowy Plovers don't mix well.

Snowy Plovers are the color of dry sand and blend in well on the upper beach.