Photo ABCs

San Felipe Sunrise: Willet

I passed through San Felipe, Baja California in April of this year.

In the past, fishing boats would line the beach each morning, and there would be discarded fish on the beach which would attract hordes of gulls, pelicans, and other birds. Recently the fishing industry has been mostly shut down as gill net fishing has been banned in the upper Sea of Cortez in an effort to save the vaquita porpoise.

During this visit I found relatively few birds on the beach to photograph. I managed to take a few pictures, though. Here is a Willet searching for food just before sunrise.

Scarlet Tanager

Another Scarlet Tanager, photographed in May 2015.

This bird was migrating north and had flown across Lake Erie the previous night and landed in Point Pelee National Park.

This tired bird took no notice of me just a few feet away as it fed on insects for perhaps ten minutes, gaining strength for another night of flying. It was one of the more magical mornings I have ever spent as a bird photographer.

Scarlet Tanager

A Scarlet Tanager, photographed at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada, in May 2015.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

A Rose-breasted Grosbeak, photographed in Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, in May 2015.

Tree Swallows

 Tree Swallows take flight from an electrical line.

Photographed just before sunset, near the Salton Sea, in January 2016.

Common Yellowthroat

A Common Yellowthroat, photographed at Santee Lakes in March 2017.

Vermilion Flycatcher

A Vermilion Flycatcher perches on a fence at Estero Beach, south of Ensenada, Baja California.

Photographed one month ago.

Although looking at the picture you might think there was snow or heavy fog in the background, it is an illusion.  In order for there to be detail in the bird and fence, which were in deep shadow, the background was heavily overexposed.

House Wren

A House Wren sings away in an old structure in the ghost town of Bodie, California.

Photographed in June of 2015.

American Kestrel

A male American Kestrel, photographed at San Jacinto Wildlife Area in October of 2015.

The unusual colors in the background are due to the late afternoon sunlight hitting  vegetation behind the bird.

Tropical Kingbird

A silhouette of a Tropical Kingbird, photographed near San Blas, Mexico, in February of this year.