Photo ABCs

Spotted Sandpiper

Now matter how many photos of Spotted Sandpipers I have, one more is always welcome!

Here is one photographed in La Jolla in April of this year.

I expect that if I see a Spotted Sandpiper this weekend it should be full of spots!

Wrentit

Wrentits are more often heard than seen.

This one shows itself in La Jolla in early April of this year:

Orange-crowned Warbler

An Orange-crowned Warbler sings. Its orange crown is barely visible.

Photographed in La Jolla in early April of this year.

 

Song Sparrow

It's spring in Southern California, which means the Song Sparrows are singing their distinctive song.

Here are some photographed in La Jolla in early April of this year:

 

My shutter speed was fine for a perched bird, but not fast enough when the bird flew. I don't mind the blur, though:

American Crow, Red-tailed Hawk

Most people who engage in birding consider it a relaxing pursuit.

What we often forget is that the birds we are watching are engaged in life-or-death activities every minute of every day.

Their survival depends on feeding, breeding, raising their young, and avoiding predators.

The life of a predatory bird is not a simple one, since other birds recognize it as such and will mob it, especially if they should happen to have a nest or youngsters nearby.

 

Earlier this month I was exiting my car in Escondido, California, when I looked up and saw a Red-tailed Hawk being mobbed by an American Crow.

Luckily I had my camera, and spent the next five minutes watching the crow repeatedly attack the hawk, not deterred by the hawk's piercing screams.

Eventually I had to go, but the sight of the crow mobbing the hawk was a thrilling to me, perhaps less so for the hawk!

 

Black-bellied Plover

A Black-bellied Plover, photographed in La Jolla, California, in January of this year.

The Black-bellied Plover only has a black belly during breeding season. They breed in Arctic tundra, but if we are lucky we can see them in breeding plumage just before they depart for the arctic or just after their return.

Willet

A Willet takes flight in Coronado.

Photographed in early April of this year.

Surfbird

A Surfbird faces an oncoming wave in a similar manner to a body-surfer heading out into the surf.

Photographed in early April of this year.

Surfbirds

At the beginning of April it was reported that a large flock of Surfbirds was to be found on the jetty in front of Hotel del Coronado.

I ventured there one cloudy afternoon and again a few days later, before sunset.

Sure enough, there were about fifty Surfbirds, completely ignoring the many tourists (and a photographer) nearby.

Probing for food:

Squabbling over position on a rock:

Spotted Sandpiper

A Spotted Sandpiper catches a small fly.

Photographed in La Jolla in early March of this year.