Photo ABCs

Yellow-footed Gull

Yellow-footed Gulls are very rare in the United States, but are found very commonly in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). Here one flies in Bahía Concepción, Baja California Sur.

Xantus's Hummingbird

I'm re-posting this entry so that my Baja trip photos will appear together.

I imagine that most bird photographers have their nemesis birds, those birds that either continuously evade one's view, or perhaps a bird that one sees often but just can't get a good picture of. The Xantus's Hummingbird has been that bird for me. (there are others as well!)

Except on rare occasions, the Xantus's Hummingbird is found no where else in the world except southern Baja California. On two previous trips I hardly caught a glimpse of the bird. On my latest trip, I saw the bird day after day, city after city. Each time I got photos good enough to identify the bird, but it always darted away just before I could get a photo I was pleased with.

On my last day in San Jose del Cabo, an hour before my airport shuttle was due, I spotted one feeding from some aloe blossoms six blocks from my hotel. But I didn't have my long lens! I went back to the hotel, got the lens, and headed back to the aloe plants. After seven long minutes the hummingbird returned. I took a few pictures, of which this was the best. (The background was a white wall in direct sunlight).

There are approximately five birds found only in Baja California. So far I have photos of two of them, the Gray Thrasher and Xantus's Hummingbird. The other three are found only in the high mountains of Baja California Sur, and to find them it is necessary to take a two night camping trip with a guide. That's what I'll be doing later this year!

Valle de los Cirios

The Valle de los Cirios park in Baja California is a wonderland of almost every type of cactus imaginable. Here is a landscape with quite a few.

Souvenir Necklaces

Necklaces of all types await the tourist visiting La Bufadora, a popular site south of Ensenada, Baja California.

San Ignacio

San Ignacio is a small town in Baja California Sur. It has a beautiful stone mission which overlooks a lovely town plaza. San Ignacio, as well, has a reputation of being, shall we say, very relaxed. I think these two pictures exemplify the town's pace.

Maria Felix and Pedro Infante

Maria Felix and Pedro Infante were stars of the golden age of Mexican cinema. Here their photos (along with Marilyn Monroe and others) grace the walls of Las Casitas restaurant in Mulege, Baja California Sur (highly recommended!) From a recent trip.

 

Love

A girl examines a trinket at a souvenir stand in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico.

Crested Caracara

A Crested Caracara takes flight from a cardon cactus near the village of Santa Anita, Baja California Sur.

Gray Thrasher

The Gray Thrasher is one of approximately five birds found only in Baja California. Here is one photographed on a recent trip to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur.

Gilded Flicker

This Gilded Flicker was photographed last week near the town of Todos Santos, Baja California Sur.