Photo ABCs

San Felipe birds

In early March of this year, I took a trip to San Felipe, Baja California. Traveling to San Felipe, the borders were still open for travel. Coming home, it had been announced that the borders were closing to non-essential travel, and that southern California (and most of the country) was in lockdown. What a long time ago that seems!

I came down with a cold during the trip (a regular cold?) so stayed inside most of the time, but did get out for a little birding, away from others!

Ash-throated Flycatcher. Photographed at the Valle de los Gigantes cardon cactus sanctuary south of San Felipe.

Ring-billed Gull:

Phainopepla. Photographed in the hotel parking lot:

Osprey:

A Brown Booby, photographed at Alfonsina's, a hotel in Gonzaga Bay.

Catching dinner:

A close-up:

 

Common Yellowthroat

A female Common Yellowthroat, also photographed at Santee Lakes in March of this year.

Wood Ducks

Wood Ducks, photographed at Santee Lakes on the same day as yesterday's post.

Ring-necked Duck

When photographing ducks on still water, I always pay attention to reflections in the water.

There are colorful paddleboats on one of the Santee Lakes. I found the reflection of a yellow one, lay down with my camera in a suitable spot, and waited for a duck to swim into the picture.

Photographed in March of this year.

Ring-necked Duck:

White-winged Dove, Verdin

Two more birds photographed the same morning as yesterday's post.

White-winged Dove:

Verdin:

Cactus Wren

Cactus Wrens, photographed in February of this year near the Anza-Borrego visitors center.

Monarch Souvenirs

On the way to El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve, like many tourist attractions in Mexico, you run through a long gauntlet of souvenir vendors and eating establishments.

I love photographing colorful souvenirs, and there were plenty to see:

Monarch Butterflies

Michoacán's Monarch Butterfly preserves attract thousands of visitors per day during the winter season.

I visited the El Rosario preserve near the towns of Ocampo and Angangueo, in January of this year.

There is a steep hike or horseback ride to the area where the butterflies congregate, at the altitude of 10,000 feet.

The area where the butterflies are densest is cordoned off from visitors, but there is still a good view.

The atmosphere in the preserve was one of tranquility and even reverence. There are signs and volunteers urging silence, and the Sunday crowd definitely kept silent, in awe of the countless butterflies in the trees. Most of the butterflies were in hibernation, but many would alight on flowers, or sometimes, people!

Thousands of monarchs in one tree:

A closer view:

A monarch visits one of the docents:

More butterflies:

 

A Few Birds of Michoacán

I took a very quick trip to Michoacán in January of this year to visit a Monarch butterfly sanctuary. (How long ago that seems!)

Of course I managed to find a few birds.

The Canyon Towhee is as common there as the California Towhee is in southern California. Here is one in the town of Ocampo.

The birding highlight of the trip was getting a glimpse of the Golden-browed Warbler, a bird found only in Mexico and parts of Central America. The Merlin birding app describes it as an "attractive warbler of shady dense understory in highland forest... often quite skulking... can appear rather drab unless the striking head pattern is seen."

This bird was seen at the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve near Ocampo. I actually like that the bird is partially obscured by pine needles.

After visiting the El Rosario preserve, I birded the parking lot at the Chincua preserve, about 45 minutes away, just as that preserve was closing. It was worth the visit, as there were quite a few birds in the fading light.

Townsend's Warbler:

Hermit Warbler:

The spectacular Red Warbler, a Mexican endemic.

A Striped Sparrow (below), another Mexican endemic species.

The Merlin app describes this bird as a "big, fat, rather social and conspicuous sparrow...endemic in highlands of Mexico." How'd you like to be officially described as big and fat?

Stay tuned tomorrow for butterfly pictures!

 

Broad-billed Hummingbird

A Broad-billed Hummingbird, photographed a few minutes before and a few feet away from yesterday's bird.