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The same Great Egret, and the same Neotropic Cormorants, as in previous posts, taken at the Tonaquint Nature Center in St. George, Utah.
As before, I was shooting through a small opening in the branches and leaves of a tree, thus the vignetting and softness of the image.
A Great Egret, photographed during my short time at the Tonaquint Nature Center in St. George, Utah earlier this month.
A Cooper's Hawk, photographed at the Tonaquint Nature Center in St. George, Utah, at the beginning of this month.
Neotropic Cormorants, in St. George, Utah. Photographed on September 1 of this year.
The green background is from algae-filled water in the Santa Clara River. The unusual texture is due to shooting through a very small opening in the branches, twigs, and leaves of a tree that they were behind.
I traveled recently to the Grand Canyon. On the way home I stopped briefly in St. George, Utah, long enough to visit the Tonaquint Nature Center located along the Santa Clara River.
I've always found that I've had better luck looking for cooperative birds to photograph at places like nature centers, botanical gardens, etc. where the birds become somewhat accustomed to people.
Little did I expect to find, though, Neotropic Cormorants! These are birds of mostly the tropics, as well as Texas. I had heard that their range was expanding northward through parts of Arizona, but was surprised to find them in a city park in Utah. Using my Merlin birding app, I discovered that they could be found in St. George, Utah.
Here is one, drying its wings in the sun. More will follow in a few days.
One of my favorite birds, the Spotted Sandpiper, just after sunrise in La Jolla. Photographed in February of this year.
The Spotted Sandpiper only has spots during its breeding season.
A Great Blue Heron takes flight.
Photographed at Santee Lakes in February of this year.
A flock of White-faced Ibises flies to its evening roost. One ibis struggles to keep up. (tap or click to enlarge)
Photographed in December of last year at the Salton Sea.
Sandhill Cranes, flying in the morning light. Photographed last December at the Salton Sea.
The thin dark smudge-like line in the background, above the snow-covered mountains, is a line of more cranes.
This is the first Wilson's Snipe that I've successfully photographed.
This was taken on the same late December afternoon as the other Salton Sea photos I've been posting recently. It was a successful day for bird photography!
