A Bewick's Wren, photographed at Hacienda Tepetzala, a lovely ranch in the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico. Photographed in November of last year.
An Inca Dove perches on an artistic light fixture at the Hacienda Galindo Hotel near Querétaro, Mexico.
A Violet-crowned Hummingbird, photographed a few minutes later:
The Steller's Jay is a handsome bird. I think it would be more prized by birders if it were not so abundant!
This one was photographed in Idyllwild in October of last year.
The Gulf Fritillary is a butterfly found throughout the southern United States and most of Mexico and Central America.
Here is one at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, California.
Photographed in September of last year.
Another, photographed at Lindo Lake in May of this year.
Last year I traveled with friends to Oaxaca City to see and photograph Day of the Dead activities.
I did manage to get a little birding in, with the help of friend and guide Roque Santiago.
Here is a Bridled Sparrow, photographed at Hierve del Agua.
Green-fronted Hummingbird:
Russet Nightingale-Thrush. This was my favorite bird of the trip. It perched for just a few seconds on this branch, turning its head towards me for an instant.
A Cattle Egret struts its stuff next to an irrigation ditch near the Salton Sea.
Photographed in July of last year.
One of my favorite places for a weekend getaway is the Estero Beach Hotel, south of Ensenada, in Baja California.
The hotel overlooks a large estuary (thus its name), which is guaranteed to have abundant bird photo opportunities. This was true during my visit in July of last year.
There is a certain spot in the estuary where, invariably, there is a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Here is a juvenile, stretching its wings.
A Long-billed Curlew, photographed a few minutes later and a few feet away.
A Lincoln's Sparrow, photographed in July of last year, near the Trail of 100 Giants in Sequoia National Forest.
A juvenile Red-breasted Sapsucker, photographed a few minutes later.
Birds photographed at the Salton Sea in August of last year.
Black-necked Stilt:
Common Ground Dove
These three birds were photographed from my car one September morning at the Salton Sea last year.
Sora:
Ridgway's Rail. This bird was dashing from one set of reeds to another. I was pleased to get a shot of it in the open.
Least Bittern. This bird blended in so well with the reeds I did not see it at first.
Two small birds photographed at South Coast Botanic Garden in Rancho Palos Verdes, in September of last year.
The Chestnut-sided Warbler here is either female or an immature male. They are typically only found in the eastern half of the continent, so to see one in Southern California is very unusual. This one likely got lost during its southerly migration. Thanks to my friend Randy for pointing out and identifying this bird!
Hutton's Vireo is only found in the west coast of the United States, as well as much of Mexico. I don't, however, have many photos of this bird. It looks a lot like a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, with a thicker bill. It also doesn't move around as quickly!
