Photo ABCs

Steller's Jay

A Steller's Jay, photographed recently in Idyllwild, California.

Black Skimmer

A Black Skimmer, photographed from a kayak recently at Newport Back Bay.

Burrowing Owl

Another Burrowing Owl, this time perched on the handle of an irrigation device. Photographed last month near the Salton Sea.

Burrowing Owl

Another Burrowing Owl, seemingly winking at the camera. Photographed last month near the Salton Sea.

Burrowing Owl

A Burrowing Owl looks my way. Photographed recently at the Salton Sea.

The owl sits atop a stake which warns farmers of its nest. If you look carefully you can see a tiny drawing of an owl on the plastic attached to the stake! (tap or click to enlarge)

Horned Lark

A Horned Lark, photographed recently near the mouth of the San Diego River in Ocean Beach, California. The bird has insects in its bill, likely bringing them to a nearby nest. I did not stay long photographing the bird, to not disrupt its nesting activities for too long.

The bird was photographed just as the sun was setting.

Long-billed Curlew, Short-billed Dowitcher

A Long-billed Curlew and a Short-billed Dowitcher fly next to each other in a mixed flock of shorebirds. Photographed a few weeks ago at the mouth of the San Diego River in Ocean Beach, California, just before sunset.

 

 

Red-shouldered Hawk

This is a fledgling Red-shouldered Hawk, photographed recently at Santee Lakes. There were two fledglings and two parents in the tree, and the parents took turns looking for food for the hungry youngsters.

The soft green vignette is caused by my photographing the hawk through an opening through the leaves of a tree.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

An Ash-throated Flycatcher, photographed recently in Idyllwild, California. The lighting is very soft as the sun was just disappearing behind the nearby mountain ridge.

Least Bittern

The same Least Bittern as in yesterday's post, photographed from a kayak at Lake Hodges.