Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge - Double Crested Cormorant

SBNWR - Double Crested Cormorant, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

A Double Crested Cormorant in flight. The Double Crested Cormorant is distinguished from other cormorants by its bright blue eyes and orange face.

Sonny Bono Ntl Wildlife Refuge - Snow Geese

Sonny Bono Ntl Wildlife Refuge - Snow Geese2, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

a trio of Snow Geese (the middle one is in its Blue Phase) flies overhead

Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge - Snow Geese

Sonny Bono Ntl Wildlife Refuge - Snow Geese, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

A pair of Snow Geese flies over Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge.

Salton Sea area- Cattle Egret

Salton Sea area- Cattle Egret, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Salton Sea - Phainopepla (female)

Salton Sea - Phainopepla2, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This is a female Phainopepla. The male is black.

Balboa Park - Yellow Rumped Warbler - 1/15/12

BP - Yellow Rumped Warbler1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This Yellow Rumped Warbler was enjoying some sunshine at the fountain in San Diego's Balboa Park.

Balboa Park - Yellow Rumped Warbler

BP - Yellow Rumped Warbler4, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Yellow Rumper Warbler is a striking bird. As the name implies, it has a yellow patch of feathers on its rump, but as you can see here, it also has yellow patches on its sides and head.

Balboa Park - Yellow Rumped Warbler

BP - Yellow Rumped Warbler5, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

You can tell, from this picture, where the Yellow Rumped Warbler gets its name.

Balboa Park - Anna's Hummingbird

BP - Annas Hummingbird, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This little guy was taking a bird bath in the fountain.

Balboa Park - California Towhee

BP - California Towhee1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The California Towhee can often be found in urban parks and gardens.

Balboa Park - Fox Squirrel

BP - Fox Squirrel, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This little Fox Squirrel was eyeing me from a tree in San Diego's Balboa Park.

San Diego - Willet

SD - Willet1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Willet is a relative of the Lesser Yellowlegs. It looks grayish on the surface, but in flight, the Willet has bold black markings on the undersides of its wings.

San Diego - Brant

SD- Brant1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The Brant is a type of Goose.

San Diego - Bufflehead (male)

SD - Bufflehead1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

San Diego - Common Loon

SD - Common Loon2, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

ready, set, liftoff!

San Diego - Common Loon

SD - Common Loon1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

San Elijo Lagoon - Black Phoebe

SEL - Black Phoebe, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is located near San Diego, between Solana Beach and Encinitas. This Black Phoebe was sitting on the fence at the reserve's parking lot.

Oceanside - Sea Lion

OM - Sea Lion, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This sea lion was swimming around the boats at the marina...perhaps looking for a few tasty fish

Oceanside, CA - Brown Pelican

OM - Brown Pelican, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Brown Pelican coming in for a landing

Wilderness Park - Belted Kingfisher

WP - Belted Kingfisher1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This Belted Kingfisher was found in the Wilderness Park in Downey, CA. The female has a reddish brown secondary belt of color across its breast, which the male lacks. It is usually spotted on tops of trees, telephone poles and wires, fence posts, and other lookout points near bodies of water, looking for fish and other prey below.