Photo ABCs

Osprey

An Osprey takes flight, moments before sunset. Photographed in the San Diego River Estuary at Robb Field in March of this year. (tap or click to enlarge)

Spotted Sandpiper

Always one of my favorite birds, a Spotted Sandpiper. Photographed in La Jolla, on Christmas Day of last year.

 

Bobcat

One afternoon in September, 2016, I stopped by the Idyllwild Nature Center, which is my favorite spot in the Southern California mountains to photograph birds.

This particular afternoon was quite slow, bird-wise, and the woods were nearly silent. I was thinking of leaving. Suddenly, the trees came alive with agitated calls from squirrels, which until then, I hadn't really noticed. I wondered why they were so excited. Looking around, I saw what caused the disturbance: a bobcat wandering nonchalantly through the area!

Just as the cat entered a ray of late-afternoon sunlight, it turned to survey the area, and to glance at me, before proceeding on its way.

I was a thrill to see it so close, and equally thrilling to get a decent photo.

Rock Wren

This Rock Wren was photographed at the Anza-Borrego State Park Visitor Center in March of last year. I was on the walkway on top of the visitor center, and the bird approached within a few feet of me (I had to back up to take the picture). This was not the first Rock Wren I have seen which showed no fear of humans.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

A Golden-crowned Sparrow (immature), photographed in Point Reyes, California in October, 2015.

Great Blue Heron

A Great Blue Heron, in a somewhat unlikely location in a burned out conifer at Lake Hemet, California. Photographed in July of last year.

Pine Siskin

A Pine Siskin, photographed near Yuba Pass in California's Sierra Nevada mountains.

White-breasted Nuthatch

A White-breasted Nuthatch, photographed at the Audubon Kern River Preserve in October, 2014.

Williamson's Sapsucker

A Williamson's Sapsucker, photographed at Bluff Lake (near Big Bear, California), in June of last year.

Did you know? This bird was named after Lieutenant Robert Stockton Williamson (1825-1882), who led a US Army survey of Northern California and described this woodpecker.*

*(from Whose Bird? by Bo Beolens and Michael Watkins).

Cassin's Finch

Looking not unlike a House Finch, the Cassin's Finch is found in coniferous forests in the summer.

Here is one near Yuba Pass, in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Photographed in June, 2015.