An Allen's Hummingbird, photographed at Peñasquitos Lagoon (south of Del Mar) in May of this year:
A Cassin's Kingbird, photographed at El Monte Park in Lakeside, California, in May of this year:
Another, also photographed in El Monte Park, in June of this year:
While birding a few years ago at Anza-Borrego State Park, a non-birder asked me: "What is that beautiful bird with the red head and chest?"
He was referring to the House Finch.
While few birders would give a House Finch a second glance, it is worth considering the significance of this gentleman's question. The male House Finch really is a beautiful bird!
While it is an introduced species in the Eastern United States and might be considered a pest there, it is native through much of the Western United States.
I think it's time to appreciate this strikingly colorful bird!
These photos were taken at El Monte Park, Lakeside, California, in June of this year:
The less colorful female:
Nasturtiums make a colorful background, I think, for these two common birds, photographed in Presidio Park later the same morning as the previous three posts:
Black Phoebe:
House Finch:
A Black-chinned Hummingbird, photographed in Presidio Park the same morning as yesterday's post:
Likely a juvenile female Anna's Hummingbird:
Allen's Hummingbirds, photographed in Presidio Park later the same morning as yesterday's post. The hummingbirds love the Pride of Madeira flowers!
A Dark-eye Junco sings in the rain.
Photographed in Presidio Park in San Diego, one rainy morning in May of this year.
In high school and college, Presidio Park was one of my favorite destinations for a bicycle ride.
I have largely ignored the park since then, until recently when another birder mentioned how good the birding there can be. Now it's one of my go-to spots for birding!
Here are three shots of Savannah Sparrows, photographed in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, in April, 2017.
If you see an estuary with pickleweed (pictured below), you are likely to see a Savannah Sparrow!
Did you know?
The town of Guerrero Negro, located at the northern end of Baja California Sur, was founded in 1957, and was named after an American whaling ship, the Black Warrior, which shipwrecked in the lagoon a century before in 1858. It is home to the world's largest salt plant, has Baja California's best birding (in my opinion!), and has one of the lagoons where you can see California Gray Whales up-close.
Two shots from La Mesa's Harry Griffen Park, photographed in May of this year.
Anna's Hummingbird:
When there aren't any other interesting birds to photograph, there's always the Black Phoebe!
A couple of birds seen at Guajome Regional Park in April of this year.
A Great-tailed Grackle, silhouetted against the pond:
A male Bushtit:
