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The White-headed Woodpecker can be found in mountainous areas of the far-western United States. I regularly see it in Idyllwild, California, but it is always a special treat, as the Acorn Woodpecker is much more abundant.
I photographed this one earlier this summer.
Over the years I have shared pictures of various "nemesis" birds. A nemesis bird is a bird, usually fairly common, which for some reason eludes one's sight, or in the case of a bird photographer, one's camera.
The Mountain Quail is not a common bird, and is very secretive and shy by nature, so may not qualify as a nemesis, but after dozens of bird photography trips to California mountain areas I had exactly zero photographs and perhaps two or three fleeting glimpses of this bird.
Earlier this summer I was in Idyllwild, where a feeder and small pond draw most of the common southern California mountain birds. I was ready to leave when I realized that a Mountain Quail was approaching, not fifteen feet away. I was thrilled! I was also more than a bit frustrated, since a manzanita bush stood between me and the bird.
If I stood and moved for a better view, the bird would certainly fly. So I waited, hoping that the bird would continue around the bush and give me a good shot.
Well, I waited for quite a few minutes. Finally, the bird flew away!
I was left with this shot, not good, but a memory. The Mountain Quail remains one of my (many) nemesis birds!
Few things are nicer than watching the light fade at a spot with a great view.
I photographed this scene from the top of Glendora Ridge Road (southwest of Mt. Baldy, in southern California) earlier this summer.
While it is difficult to capture the soft and subtle gradations of the fading light on the layers of mountains and hills, I think this is a fair approximation.
A Great Blue Heron preens and a Hooded Oriole stops to rest on a dead tree. Photographed recently in Chino, California.
I made the photograph shortly after sunset, and converted it to a black and white silhouette in Photoshop.
Three American Crows return to their roost near the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, California.
One of my favorite things in bird photography is to try to place a bird in front of the rising moon or setting sun (very occasionally a rising sun or setting moon!) And yes, in the camera, not in Photoshop...
In the right setting, it is not as difficult as it would seem, though a bit of luck certainly helps. (It also helps not to leave once the sun sets!)
For instance, every night, well after sunset at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, hundreds, if not thousands of American Crows fly from west to east looking for their evening roost. On a night with a nearly full moon, such as last Wednesday, in the right position many of these crows will appear to fly in front of the moon.
Since the crows were somewhat distant and difficult to focus on, I pre-focused on a crow in a group flying past. I then waited for another group at a similar distance to fly in front of the moon, shot, and hoped for the best! This was the most successful of the images, since the bird is "entering" the moon, rather than leaving it, is in a bright area of the moon, and has its wings up in a pleasing position.
Processing the image in Photoshop is a bit of a challenge. Due to the very low light in the sky, there is a lot of digital noise present (though with the new Nikon D500, not nearly as much as would be present from an older camera). I applied very heavy noise reduction only to the sky, but not to the moon. Keeping the sky dark (as it was in person) keeps the appearance of noise to a minimum as well. I then increased the contrast in the moon to bring out its features. I am pleased with the result. (tap or click to enlarge)
Here are links to three of my earlier attempts at birds in front of the sun or moon. Here, here, and here!
An Osprey shakes its wet feathers, while perched on a snag overlooking San Elijo Lagoon just north of Solana Beach, California.
I waited patiently for a time, hoping it would take flight for a more dramatic picture, but to no avail. (tap or click to enlarge)
I took a walk this afternoon with two friends, on the south side of San Elijo Lagoon in Solana Beach. Ordinarily I am the one pointing out birds to them, but just after starting on a trail, my friend Peter motioned to me to come to where he was standing. Not fifteen feet away was this Great Horned Owl, looking completely calm and unperturbed by our presence. There were two openings through the branches of the tree which gave a good view of the bird.
An hour later, returning from our walk, the bird had not moved, waiting to begin its search for a nocturnal meal.
Did you know? The "horns" or tufts on the owl's head are not ears. The ears are located on the sides of the head, covered by feathers.
A young man occupies himself at a cafe in Tijuana, in an alleyway full of art galleries and murals.
I love the name Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush!
This species is found only in Mexico and Central America.
This bird was photographed earlier this year in the state of Colima, Mexico.
Woodcreepers are not found in the United States or Canada, but at least 17 species are found in Mexico or Central America.
Here is the Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, photographed earlier this year near Comala, in the state of Colima, Mexico.
The Brown Creeper, found in the United States and Mexico, looks similar, though smaller, and is in a different bird family.
