Travels and Adventures: January 2013

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Point Lobos State Reserve - 1/29/13

On the Bird Island/China Beach trail

Elephant Seals at San Simeon - 1/29/13

Sunset at Morro Bay - 1/29/13

A wave crashes over the jetty as the sun sets

17 Mile Drive - Carmel, CA - 1/29/13

The Pacific Ocean at Pebble Beach - 1/29/13

Monday, January 21, 2013

Merced National Wildlife Refuge and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge - 1/20/13

I traveled up to Merced on Sunday to visit the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, and since I was in the area, I also visited the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, as it was only about 30 miles away. It was a very foggy morning when I arrived at the Merced NWR. However, after a while, the fog started to burn off. There were thousands and thousands of geese there.... Ross's, Snow and White Fronted Geese. You could hear their calls thru the fog, altho I could not see them at first. But once the fog burned off, I saw them....so many! Sandhill Cranes were also there, but not in as large numbers as the geese.

At the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge in Los Banos, CA, the first thing I saw was the Tule Elk. The bulls were grouped together some distance from the fence. In a month or so, they will drop their antlers. I drove along the waterfowl tour route and got to photograph my first Common Snipe. First time shots are always pretty awesome. I also got to photograph my first American Pipit at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. All in all, a good day. The only thing that would have made it better, would have been to get a good shot of the White Tailed Kite (a bird that continues to elude me), and if that darned Barn Owl would have sat on the fence long enough for me to get a picture....someday!

The full photo album can be seen here... Merced and San Luis NWR - 1/20/13

Next weekend, I think I may travel to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge up in Willows, CA. I haven't been there in years. I think I am due for a trip.

Until then, happy trails!

Here are some links for info on the refuges:

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Cottontail - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - Cottontail (10), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

It's not all about the birds at the refuges. Cottontail Rabbits are very common at the refuges. Several were in the parking lot, in fact.

San Luis NWR - White Tailed Kite - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - White Tailed Kite (1), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

One day I shall get a good shot of this bird, Until then, here is a less than stellar pic of a White Tailed Kite.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - American Pipit - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - American Pipit (3), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The American Pipit is a common sight in the fall, winter and spring at the refuges. He is usually way more shy about getting his pic taken though. This is my first good shot of this particular brid.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Red Tailed Hawk - 1/20/13

MNWR - Red Tailed Hawk (3), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This Red Tailed Hawk was just sitting in a short tree, not 10 feet from my car. Of course, he was on the passenger side of my car and I was driving - lol. He sat there while I took pic after pic of him. He was actually too close to get a full shot of with the lens I had on the camera. This photo isn't cropped at all. He seemed totally indifferent to my presence - lol.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Great Egret - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - Great Egret, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This Great Egret struts his stuff in the early morning fog.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Sandhill Crane - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - Sandhill Crane (4), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Sandhill Crane is the largest bird you will find at the refuges. They start arriving in the fall and stay thru winter. It was a foggy morning at the refuge.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Killdeer - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - Killdeer (8), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Killdeer are year-round residents of the refuges.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Common Yellowthroat - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - Common Yellowthroat (36), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

I love these guys. The males look like little bandits.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Song Sparrow - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - Song Sparrow (1), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Like their name implies, the Song Sparrow likes to sing!

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - American Avocet - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - American Avocet (2), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This American Avocet is in his winter plumage. He is a tan color instead of grey the rest of the year.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge - White Faced Ibis - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - White Faced Ibis, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

I posted this pic, as it was the only shot I got of this White faced Ibis. He just would not come out of the shade! They are not commonly found on refuge, but not rare either. Just not found in large numbers like the ducks and geese.

San Luis NWR - Northern Shoveler - 1/20/13

cr_MNWR - Northern Shoveler (8), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Northern Shoveler is one of the most abundant ducks (and one of the most brightly colored ones, too) at the refuges in the winter.

San Luis NWR - Great Blue Heron - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Great Blue Heron (1), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Great Blue Heron is a stately bird - one of the largest you will see on the refuge.

San Luis NWR - Ducks - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Ducks (2), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

A small group of ducks takes flight. The ducks were quite wary of cars, and quite understandably, as it is waterfowl hunting season.

San Luis NWR - Great Blue Heron - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Great Blue Heron, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

A Great Blue Heron pokes his head above the grass.

San Luis NWR - Common Snipe - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Common Snipe (1), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The highlight of my day was finding this Common Snipe up close enough to get a good photograph of. This is my fist pic of one of these birds. Made my day :) Although their name is COMMON Snipe, they are not all that common to find. They blend in with their surroundings quite well.

San Luis NWR - Greater Yellowlegs - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Greater Yellowlegs (4), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Greater Yellowlegs is a large, sandpiper like bird, commonly found at the refuge in the fall, winter and spring.

San Luis NWR - Western Meadowlark - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Western Meadowlark (15), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Western Meadowlark has a rich, flute-like song, and has a bright yellow chest. Pretty bird!

San Luis NWR - Northern Harrier - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Northern Harrier, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This is the male Northern Harrier, as he is grey in color, while the female is brown.

San Luis NWR - Tule Elk - 1/20/13

cr_SLNWR - Tule Elk (5), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Not the greatest shot, as he was quite far away, and I was in my car, and the elk was behind a chain-link fence, but it was still cool to see :)

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Lake Ming and Hart Park - 1/19/13

It was a chilly morning at Lake Ming on Saturday. A group of American Coots were walking around the parking lot, when all of a sudden, they took off running. A Cooper's Hawk was flying overhead. Without a moment's hesitation, he swooped down, and just like that, caught himself a Coot breakfast. Unfortunate for the Coot, but, hey, a hawk's gotta eat! He quickly dragged his catch over to some brush, where he could eat in peace. But not for long. For a few minutes later, a Red Tailed Hawk flew overhead and landed on the fence, not 10 feet from where the Cooper's Hawk (a smaller hawk than the Red Tail) was nervously eating. Lucky for him, a couple of American Crows soon came by and chased the Red Tailed Hawk into a eucalyptus tree, where they kept harassing him until he flew off for good.

And that was all in the first 15 minutes of me arriving at Lake Ming. Pretty cool.

During the day, I came across quite a few birds: Spotted Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, House Sparrow, White Crowned Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Western Scrub Jay, American Crow, American Kestrel, Red Tailed Hawk, Red Shouldered Hawk, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Nuttal's Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Great Horned Owl, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, American White Pelican, Black Crowned Night Heron, Mallard, American Coot, Wood Duck, Osprey, Dark Eyed Junco, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Yellow Rumped Warbler...and I am sure I am forgetting a few

Later on in the day, I got to see an Osprey go fishing and come up with quite the catch, only to be chased by a persistent Gull. Luckily, he held onto his catch and the Gull gave up.

It was a good day at the park.

I posted pics below, and the whole album can be viewed at My Flickr Album.I will post pics from today's adventure tomorrow, as I am a wee bit behind - lol. I am off ....somewhere tomorrow. Probably going to the Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges. I went to the Merced and San Luis National Wildlife Refuges today.

Until then, Happy Trails!

Hart Park - Mallard - 1/19/13

cr_HP - Mallard (11), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

A pair of Mallards bask in the late afternoon sunlight

Hart Park - Belted Kingfisher - 1/19/13

cr_HP - Belted Kingfisher (15), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

You can always tell when a Belted Kingfisher is around, by its distinctive call.

Hart Park - Black Phoebe - 1/19/13

cr_HP - Black Phoebe (2), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Black Phoebes are quite common at Hart Park

Hart Park - House Wren - 1/19/13

cr_HP - House Wren (12), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

House Wrens are quite the chatterboxes when they want to be.

Hart Park - Snowy Egret - 1/19/13

cr_HP - Snowy Egret (42), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This Snowy Egret was strutting his stuff, as he looked for food.

Hart Park - American White Pelican - 1/19/13

cr_HP - American White Pelican (9), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This American White Pelican has been hanging out at Hart Park Lake recently.

Hart Park - Osprey - 1/19/13

cr_HP - Osprey (9), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

An Osprey grabs some take out dinner

Hart Park - Osprey - 1/19/13

cr_HP - Osprey (7), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This was the first time I saw an Osprey at Hart Park. It was quite a treat.

Hart Park - Brown Creeper - 1/19/13

cr_HP - Brown Creeper (14), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

These birds are very difficult to photograph, as, first, you have to spot one (which is, in and of itself, difficult to do) and, second, they are always on the move, most often, way up high in the tree.