Photo ABCs

White-crowned Sparrow

An immature White-crowned Sparrow, photographed in Chino, California, in October 2014.

Northern Red Bishop, male

Here is what the male Northern Red Bishop looks like in breeding plumage, showing why it used to be called the Orange Bishop! The male can also can be bright red. See yesterday's post for the female.

Unfortunately this picture is not perfectly sharp, I hope to get a better one this year!

Photographed in October 2014 at the San Joaquin Marsh.

Northern Red Bishop, female

The Northern Red Bishop, previously known as the Orange Bishop, is an African species introduced to southern California and the Phoenix area during the past forty years.

In breeding season, the male is bright red or orange. The females and non-breeding males look like this. Photographed in October of 2014 at the San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, California.

A pink wall forms the slightly unusual background in the photo.

 

Sooty Grouse

I photographed this Sooty Grouse near the Bald Mountain lookout station, in Sequoia National Forest, in October, 2014.

I returned a few weeks ago hoping to get more photos, but the highway leading to the lookout was closed due to winter conditions. I'll have to try again!

George Bennett

George Bennett of New Zealand, riding for team Lotto Jumbo, placed fourth in the stage 6 Big Bear time trial, but beat race leader Rafa Majka by enough time that he assumed the race lead. As the positions did not change on stage 7, George Bennett surprised everyone by winning the 2017 Tour of California!

Rafa Majka

Rafa Majka, in the race-leader's yellow jersey, competes in the stage 6 time trial at Big Bear Lake during this year's Tour of California.

Though he rode well, Majka would lose the overall lead to George Bennett.

Peter Sagan

Everyone's favorite bike racer, Peter Sagan, competes in the Tour of California, during the stage 6 time trial at Big Bear Lake, on May 19 of this year.

He is wearing his green points-leader jersey, which he has won seven times!

Andrew Talansky

As the Tour de France is rapidly approaching (it begins on July 1!) I should get around to posting a few photos I took at this year's Tour of California bicycle race, held during May of this year.

Every year I try to see at least one or two stages (usually more). This year I watched the end of stage 5 at Mt. Baldy, and stage 6, the time trial at Big Bear Lake.

Here Andrew Talansky edges out disappointed race leader Rafa Majka for the stage win on Mt. Baldy, as George Bennett follows just behind (in the shadows) and ahead of Ian Boswell (in front of the motorcycle camera).

Eurasian Collared-Dove

A Eurasian Collared-Dove takes flight. The bird was in direct sunlight, while the background was in deep shadow, thus the dramatic lighting. (plus a little Photoshop to darken the background a little further)

Photographed a week ago at Los Alamos Park, Los Alamos, California.

Acorn Woodpecker

A female Acorn Woodpecker, flapping her wings on an oak tree. Two other woodpeckers had just flown into the same area of the tree, and they were communicating in some way with their wings, as well as with their raucous voices.

Photographed a week ago at Los Alamos Park, Los Alamos, California.