Photo ABCs

Burrowing Owl

A Burrowing Owl perches on a handle to an irrigation gate in the Imperial Valley, near the Salton Sea.

American Kestrel

An American Kestrel takes flight from a snag at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. The bird was backlit from the setting sun, while the mountains in the background are in deep shadow.

Willet

A Willet flaps its wings after bathing amidst the pickleweed. Photographed in the late afternoon recently at the San Diego River Estuary.

Black Skimmer

A Black Skimmer takes a break from feeding. Photographed recently in the late afternoon at the San Diego River Estuary.

Greater Roadrunner

A Greater Roadrunner, photographed last month along an irrigation ditch near the Salton Sea.

Before reviewing pictures of this bird, I had never noticed the color of the outer tail feathers before. They are not always visible.

White-crowned Sparrow

The White-crowned Sparrow is mostly a bird of the winter months in Southern California. Here is one in Anza-Borrego State Park, photographed in March of this year. The soft light is from shooting well after the sun had disappeared behind the mountains.

Canada Goose family

A family of Canada Geese takes a swim into the sunset, at Lake Murray, La Mesa, California. Photographed in April of this year.

American Coot

A very young American Coot says "I'm hungry!" to its parent behind it, who has gathered a snack of some type of vegetation.

Photographed at Lake Murray, La Mesa, California, in June of this year.

Pied-billed Grebe

A young Pied-billed Grebe takes a swim at Lake Murray, La Mesa, California.

The grebe entered a shaft of late afternoon sunlight, giving it its warm coloration. The water appears very green mostly from reflections of reeds behind the bird.

Mallard Duckling

A Mallard duckling takes a swim at Lake Murray, La Mesa, California. Photographed in March of this year.