Jewels of La Jolla: EYES Wildlife Walk Brandt’s Cormorant and a Great Egret
La Jolla Wildlife © Wildlife Jewels® / by Azi S.
Shining a light on two precious birds from our EYES™ La Jolla wildlife walk: A lovely Brandt’s Cormorant and a rare treat—an elegant Great Egret!
During our recent EYES La Jolla wildlife walk, we had the joy of observing two remarkable coastal birds—our familiar resident Brandt’s Cormorant and a special, less frequent visitor, the Great Egret. Brandt’s Cormorants are year-round inhabitants along the La Jolla cliffs, easily recognized by their dark plumage and striking turquoise throat patch during breeding season. These expert divers rely on the rich marine life near the kelp beds, feeding primarily on small schooling fish. In contrast, the elegant Great Egret, with its long neck and brilliant white feathers, is a rarer sight along this stretch of coast, typically preferring estuaries and wetlands. Its graceful presence reminds us of the ecological connectivity between these habitats—how the health of our ocean and wetlands supports the diversity of coastal bird life. Each observation we make through EYES contributes valuable data that helps monitor species presence, seasonal patterns, and changing environmental conditions along our shores.
Get involved: Join EYES La Jolla to help spot, document, and report coastal wildlife and hazards during your regular beach walks.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew. click HERE
Jewels of La Jolla™ is part of Wildlife Jewels Arts & Education. We raise awareness of La Jolla’s unique wildlife—and the threats they face—share their beauty through art, and empower the local community with hands-on monitoring and rescue skills.
