Photo ABCs

Double-crested Cormorant

A silhouette of a Double-crested Cormorant, taken recently at the Salton Sea.

Black-throated Sparrow

A Black-throated Sparrow sits atop a rock in the last rays of the setting sun, in Blair Valley, part of Anza-Borrego State Park.

Western Bluebird

A Western Bluebird sits atop an ocotillo in Anza-Borrego State Park. The creamy background is from the glow of the mountains in the morning sunlight.

Red-tailed Hawk

A Red-tailed Hawk takes flight from a utility pole near Borrego Springs, California.

Snow Geese: Cibola National Wildlife Refuge

Large numbers of Snow Geese return to their evening roosts at the Cibola National Wildlife Preserve.

Sandhill Cranes: Cibola National Wildlife Refuge

I photographed these Sandhill Cranes when it was nearly dark. I liked the composition, but when I opened the image in Photoshop, it was so noisy (grainy) as to be nearly unusable. After applying very heavy noise reduction, a few adjustments later I had this image, which I was pleased with. The noise reduction and the long exposure makes the edges soft, but I like the painterly effect. I even like the effect of the streetlights in the distance, they emphasize the tranquil atmosphere within the refuge.

Cibola Trees

The light was very promising during the afternoon that I was recently at the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge near the Colorado River. There were relatively few birds to photograph in the fields, but the trees, mountains, and clouds made a nice subject in the late afternoon light.

As always, you may click to enlarge (somewhat). Landscapes like this lose a lot of detail when downsized to the width of this blog.

Savannah Sparrow

A Savannah Sparrow, photographed last weekend at the mouth of the San Diego River in Ocean Beach.

Air Traffic Control?

A flock of Snow Geese takes flight near the Sono Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. The wildlife refuge maintains a number of agricultural fields which the wintering geese find attractive. This shot was taken on February 3.

Verdin

A Verdin, photographed recently in Anza-Borrego State Park.