Photo ABCs

Estero Beach Birding: Brown Pelicans

How many pelicans fit into the sun?

Sunset at Estero Beach, in August of this year: (tap or click to enlarge)

Estero Beach Birding: Reddish Egret

A Reddish Egret gets a little more dining in at sunset:

Photographed at Estero Beach in August of this year.

Estero Beach Birding: Elegant Terns

More Elegant Terns, photographed at Estero Beach in August of this year:

 

 

Estero Beach Birding: Yellow-crowned Night Heron

In the small enclave next to the Estero Beach Hotel there is a community pool.

Often during the early morning, before people show up to enjoy the pool, it is already being used--by Yellow-crowned Night Herons!

The morning I photographed this bird I counted five others on the edge of the pool.

Bath time!

Thank goodness for chlorine!

Photographed in August of this year.

Estero Beach Birding: Long-billed Curlew, Greater Yellowlegs

Long-billed Curlew:

Greater Yellowlegs:

Photographed at Estero Beach in August of this year.

Estero Beach Birding: Great Egret, Snowy Egret

A Great Egret:

And a Snowy Egret:

Photographed at Estero Beach in August of this year.

Estero Beach Birding: Western Sandpiper

A Western Sandpiper, still showing some of its breeding plumage (the triangles on its breast and rufous color):

 

Estero Beach Birding: Anna's Hummingbird

An Anna's Hummingbird, photographed last month at Estero Beach, south of Ensenada, Mexico:

Estero Beach Birding: Elegant Terns

Elegant Terns typically breed primarily on Isla Rasa in the Sea of Cortes, and disperse afterwards, though this may be changing due to changes in the fish population in the upper gulf.

While visiting Estero Beach in August of this year, there was a flock of perhaps one or two thousand Elegant Terns. I don't know if they bred there earlier in the year.

I did observe at least one pair exhibiting courtship behavior. I don't know if this pair was very early (for next year!) or very late (for this year).

Here is part of the flock lifting off:

(tap or click to enlarge)

 

Estero Beach Birding: Snowy Egret

A Snowy Egret poses.

Photographed last month at Estero Beach, Ensenada, Baja California, one of my favorite places.