Photo ABCs

Burrowing Owl

A Burrowing Owl, perched near a farm field in the Imperial Valley. Burrowing Owls frequently nest in the soil of irrigation ditches next to agricultural fields, and perch on nearby sticks.

Long-tailed Weasel?

I was at Lindo Lake on Tuesday looking for birds to photograph. Over the years I have been going to Lindo Lake, the park has had an abundance of gophers, then squirrels, and now, apparently, weasels! I observed a network of burrows northeast of the east lake with at least four of the critters peeking out over the course of about ten minutes. At first I thought it was a feral colony of ferrets, but looking online apparently weasel sightings are becoming more frequent in San Diego. Having recent experience of trying to keep a squirrel from digging up my yard, the cuteness factor of small burrowing mammals has diminished for me, but it looks like these weasels will be popping up where you least expect them!

Burrowing Owl

A Burrowing Owl returns to a perch in a tree near the Salton Sea. Photographed last week.

Black Phoebe

Black Phoebes are very common around here, but I like how this one is sporting a crest! (actually birds can raise and lower the feathers in the crest area). This was at Lake Hodges a week or two ago.

Northern Mockingbird

A Northern Mockingbird at Lake Hodges last week.

Blue Grosbeak

Hiking at Lake Hodges last week, I heard a chipping call similar to one made by the California Towhee, one of the more commonly seen birds in the area. I was surprised to see a bright blue bird as the source of the call. There were a number of Blue Grosbeaks  making the calls, this was one of them.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

A Black-crowned Night-Heron, nicely showing its breeding plume, last week at LIndo Lake, Lakeside, California.

Verdin

A Verdin, with nesting material, Anza-Borrego State Park, photographed late Tuesday.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Another Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Lake Hodges, Escondido, California.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Numerous Northern Rough-winged Swallows feed at the shores of Lake Hodges. Here one alights on a snag for a break from feeding. Photographed last weekend.