This adult Western Gull has caught a crab dinner and its young is begging for a bite - but it didn't get any this time. Its parent ate the crab up and didn't leave a crumb for its chick - lol.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Long Billed Curlew - Morro Bay, CA - 12/26/11
The Long Billed Curlew is a large sandpiper, with a very long bill, measuring 4.4 - 8.6 inches long. These birds (once called the Candlestick Bird or Sicklebird) can be seen at shorelines of lakes and oceans, using their long bill to poke and prod at the sand in search of food, such as crabs, fish and insects.
House Finch (female) - Morro Bay, CA - 12/26/11
This female House Finch is brownish in color, while the male has red on its breast, rump and crown. They are popular at bird feeders, eating both seeds and insects.
Golden Eagle - Santa Margarita, CA - 12/26/11
After many years of coming up empty handed, I finally got a pic of a Golden Eagle... and a pretty good one at that. This guy was out on the road to Santa Margarita Lake.
Coyote - Hwy 58 West - 12/26/11
Ok, so it's not a bird, but if I see a photographable coyote, I am not passing up the chance to get a pic ;) We saw 3 of these guys on the trip, but this was the only one that I could get a pic of. He trotted across the road and then turned around to give us a look before trotting off.
Loggerhead Shrike - Hwy 58 West - 12/26/11
The Loggerhead Shrike is a bird I have been trying forever to photograph. I finally got a decent shot yesterday. I always think this bird looks like the Lone Ranger, with its black eye mask - lol.
Red Tailed Hawk - Hwy 58 West - 12/26/11
This bird was perched atop a fence post along Highway 58. It sat for a bit, allowing us to get some nice, close up shots (I barely had to crop any of this photo). Beautiful bird.
Bakersfield - Cattle Egret - 12/23/11
I actually found this bird in town near the Starbucks at White Ln and Stine Rd. At first I thought it was a youngGreat Egret, but judging by the buff colored patches on its body and crown, yellow bill and dark legs, turns out it is a Cattle Egret. I barely had to do any driving to find one of these (and it's the first photo of a Cattle Egret that I have gotten).
Tule Elk State Natural Reserve - Northern Mockingbird
I found this fellow in a tree at the Tule Elk State Reserve. He sat there and let me take quite a few photos of him before he went to chase off another bird that was trying to land in the tree.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Juvenile White Crowned Sparrow
There is a photo of an adult White Crowned Sparrow posted below. The juvenile is not as colorful as the adult, and lacks the white crown.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Northern Shoveler
This colorful fellow is the Northern Shoveler, a type of duck which is related to the Cinnamon Teal and Blue Winged Teal. It's broad bill (which sort of resembles a shovel) is used to strain seeds and small animals such as fish from the water.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Black Necked Stilt
Black Necked Stilts can be found year round at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. These birds make salt and freshwater marshes as well as shallow coastal bays their home.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Snowy Egret
There are a few types of egrets found here at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge, such as the Great Egret, Snowy Egret and Cattle Egret. This Snowy Egret is distinguished by its black bill and black legs with yellow feet. The Great Egret is larger, with a yellow bill and black legs, while the Cattle Egret is smaller than the other 2, with a yellow bill and pale yellow or orange legs (legs are dark in juveniles).
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - White Crowned Sparrow
There are many types of sparrows on the Kern National Wildlife Refuge, such as this White Crowned Sparrow.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Red Tailed Hawk
Red Tailed Hawks are the most common hawks in North America. You will often see them perching atop fence posts, telephone poles and perched up in trees, and of course, soaring high up in the sky overhead hunting for prey.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - White Faced Ibis in flight
The White Faced Ibis is the only Ibis found in the west.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Western Grebe
The Western Grebe is one of a few types of grebes you will see at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. I also spotted a few Pie Billed Grebes too (but they were too far out on the lake to get a good picture of)
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge - Northern Harrier
There were a lot of raptors out in force on today's trip, including the Northern Harrier. The females and juveniles are brown in color with a white rump, while the males are grey.
Unlike the Red Tail Hawk and other hawks who are often seen perching atop fence posts and telephone poles to search for prey, Northern Harriers hunt by flying close to the ground.
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge - Sandhill Cranes
Thousands of Sandhill Cranes were roosting in and around Pixley National Wildlife refuge today.
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge - Sandhill Cranes
Thousands of Sandhill Cranes winter at Pixley National Wildlife Refuge from November thru March. (and there were thousands there when I went today). The refuge is located near Earlimart, CA. From Hwy 99, take Avenue 56 to Road 88. The refuge is located about a mile down the road on the left. (you can also get to the refuge from the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. Take Garces Hwy to Hwy 43. Make a left on Hwy 43 and then make a right on Avenue 56. From there drive to Road 88)
Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Snowy Egret
I caught this pic of this Snowy Egret just as he was flying off.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Olmsted Point - 10/8/11
A snow-covered Cloud's Rest, as seen from Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park.
Tuolumne Meadows - 10/8/11
It's almost hard to believe that just a few months ago, I was up here taking pics of wildflowers, amongst a completely green meadow, which is now buried under the snow.
Rock Creek Lake - 10/8/11
The brilliant colored aspens are the only way you can tell that this pic was taken in the fall, and not the winter.
Lake Sabrina - 10/8/11
It was a chilly 32 degrees when I visited Lake Sabrina on Saturday, October 8th. The snowy mountains surrounding the lake were dotted by yellow-orange and green trees. Fall in the Eastern Sierras.....beautiful.
Mt Whitney - 10/8/11
It was a nice, cool, clear fall morning in Lone Pine. Got a quick snapshot of Mt Whitney. I love the Eastern Sierras.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
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