Photo ABCs

Cattle Egret

Cattle egrets are abundant in the fields in the Imperial Valley near the Salton Sea. This shot was taken shortly before sunset recently.

Burrowing Owl

I saw a pair of burrowing owls along Davis Road near the San Jacinto Wildlife Area last week, the first time I had seen one there. They were a bit shy.

Great-tailed Grackle

Just before sunset, near the Salton Sea.

Bull and Capote

A bull, Remolon, charges the capote held by Alberto Espinoza, "El Cuate" in Sunday's bullfight in Tijuana.

Hand of Man

I entered these four photographs into Art Morris' bird photography contest this year in the category "Hand of Man." Photos in this category had to include evidence of man-made structures or presence in the image. The first, a silhouette of a vermillion flycatcher on a fence was a finalist in the category. The winners, shown here, were simply wonderful photos. 

I happen to consider my other three entries much stronger pictures than the vermillion flycatcher, but I wasn't a judge!

 

Vermillion Flycatcher Silhouette:

 

 Osprey and geothermal plume (near the Salton Sea):

 

Mourning Dove on a wire:

 

White-faced Ibises and jet (San Joaquin Wildlife Preserve, next to John Wayne Airport):

 

Coyote Pup

Another picture of one of the coyote pups near the San Jacinto Wildlife Area.

Coyote Pup

I spent late Friday afternoon at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area north of Hemet. It was not productive for bird photography, but driving away I saw two very young coyotes practicing their hunting skills. Here is one of them. 

George Hincapie

George Hincapie competes in the Bakersfield time trial in the 2012 Tour of California.

Tejay Van Garderen

Tejay Van Garderen competes in the 2012 Tour of California time trial in Bakersfield.

Chris Horner

Chris Horner, winner of the 2011 Tour of California, competes in the Bakersfield time trial of the 2012 Tour of California.