Bird family
A personal shoreline journal
Bird encounters
that become
friendships.
Stories and photographs from daily beach walks with the pigeons, gulls, blackbirds, and other birds who have become part of my bird family.
South Mission Beach Jetty to Crystal Pier
Meet the regulars
Every flock has a story.
Some arrive with confidence. Others take their time. Showing up each morning has turned chance encounters into friendships built on trust.
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Pigeons
A trusting flock that recognizes me before I reach the jetty
Gulls
Jonathan, Uno, and the familiar gulls who share my route
Heermann’s Gulls
Agile coastal companions with their own remarkable story
Crows
Clever coastal observers who never miss what is happening
California Towhees
The backyard family that answers my morning whistle
Brewer’s Blackbirds
Ten quick little regulars who announce their arrival with a familiar chirp
From the beach journal
Moments worth remembering
Bird family
His favorite perch
A Heermann’s gull settles on top of my hat as naturally as landing on a familiar rock. This has become an almost daily part of our walk together.Bird family
A Heermann’s gull, up close
One of several coastal birds I now think of as family. The dark charcoal feathers, pale pink bill, and quiet expression make this young gull unmistakable.Bird family
Where it began with Jonathan
One of my earliest encounters at the South Mission Beach jetty. This beautiful gull would later become Jonathan, one of the first birds to make the morning walk feel personal.Beach life
Peanut-catching precision
Several Heermann’s gulls circle overhead, tracking each toss and catching peanuts in flight. Their timing, control, and agility are extraordinary to watch.Bird family
A stroll with a passenger
Whether I am walking or moving at a faster pace, he glides onto my hat and comes along for the ride. It attracts plenty of smiles because it is not something you see every day.Beach life
The jetty at first light
A quiet early morning looking south from the rocks, with kayakers crossing the glowing water beneath a dramatic San Diego sky.
Photograph by John Cocozza Photography
The daily shoreline
Five miles of beach, every morning.
My route begins at the South Mission Beach jetty and follows the Pacific shoreline north to Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. The walk is exercise, meditation, observation, and reunion all at once.
StartSouth Mission Beach JettyTurnaroundCrystal Pier, Pacific Beach
The walks became a book
“When you show up with patience and kindness, unexpected friendships form, and a special bond with nature begins to grow.”
These early mornings and unexpected friendships helped inspire my manuscript, Reinventing the Next Chapter: Life, Health, and Purpose After 70. The birds became part of a larger story about slowing down, paying attention, and discovering that life can keep opening in surprising ways.
Audio overview · 15:40
The Story Behind the Manuscript
Listen to how retirement, early-morning walks, and unexpected friendships with wild birds became part of this new chapter.
An AI-generated NotebookLM Audio Overview based on my manuscript and personal story.Mark Fleischman · San Diego