Hook-billed Kites, Again

I returned to Santa Ana NWR for a morning of hawkwatching.  Mostly Turkey Vultures but a few Swainson's Hawks were moving.  Saw the Hook-billed Kites again.  They appeared and disappeared three times during the morning (web photo).  Managed a nice list of birds just standing there on the levee with maybe fifteen other birders.  It was fun, although nothing new for the year's list.  Drove to Salineno to take another crack at the Muscovy Ducks.  Got a room at the convenience store at Falcon Heights and went to nearby Falcon State Park where I chatted with Wendy, the volunteer bird person at the park.  I had met her in January when she showed us a few birds coming to her feeder operation behind her Winnebago.  Today she threw out some fresh seed and brought me and a couple from Kentucky up to date on what was around.  As far as new birds went not much was around.  So I headed to Salineno as did the couple from Kentucky.  Unfortunately, some noisy Salinenians did too.  After a couple hours of no ducks and much noise, I bagged it and went back to Falcon SP to look and listen for night birds.  Pauraques were sounding off and I showed one to two guys from Arizona.  It was singing from a cement post a foot off the ground, its eyeshine prominently showing.  When it flew, the eyes continued to shine and looked like giant fireflies as the bird moved around catching insects.  Went back to the room which had only one working light bulb.  The bed was comfortable though.  Peanut and jelly sandwich for supper.  Tomorrow I'll try for the ducks again and then figure out what to do.  No new birds today (sigh).