Taken during a short stop-over in Monterey, CA… this Black Oystercatcher certainly looked like it had plenty of choices and didn’t have to do much “catching”…
Category: California
My visit to Mojave was on a somewhat chilly and overcast day in March of 2022, so I feel like I missed out on some of more typical features of Mojave, but this stacked horizon of shades of blue was a nice treat. Reminded me…
Ok – as today’s post title indicates, I’m going to make this “Video Week” and get some of the videos I’ve been working on (or rather not working on for a long time) finished and shared. I might even sneak in an extra post or…
One of many “new-to-me” bird species I managed to photograph when I visited Arcata Marshes during my stay in Arcata. I originally went to the area to visit Redwood National Park, but the marshes were a nice bonus. There will be plenty more posts of…
While in California I had a couple opportunities to photograph sea otters. They’re just so fun to watch…
I found a couple of these Western Zebra-Tailed Lizards (Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus) during various hikes in Joshua Tree National Park.
After setting up camp one evening I went wandering about to see what I might be able to find. Just as I was returning to camp, I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. As I approached, I couldn’t see anything –…
I figured I might as well finish out this week’s set of posts with another unexpected critter from Joshua Tree, and in keeping with the previous posts, this one is a hummingbird moth – a White-lined Sphinx Moth to be precise.
Who would have expected that I’d find multiple hummingbirds in the desert? And if the last post’s species is indeed an Anna’s Hummingbird, this makes for two different species as there is zero doubt that today’s species is definitely a Costa’s Hummingbird. I found this…
When I headed to Joshua Tree National Park, I tried to time it to be there during a time when the various desert flowers would be in bloom. I am still not sure if I timed it right – some things were in bloom, some…
Found both at Arcata Marshes (obviously in Arcata, CA) and Bothin Marsh Preserve (in Mill Valley, CA), these Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) are very sharp looking birds (yes – pun very much intended!). You also get a bonus juvenile Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) if you…
One day while driving around random dirt/sand roads in Mojave National Preserve, I stumbled upon these old mining ruins. I stopped for a bit and snapped a few shots (most of which didn’t turn out as good as I had hoped) and then returned to…
During some walks while I stayed at Mill Valley, California (just north of San Francisco), I visited Bothin Marsh Preserve and got to photograph a number of shore birds, including these Willets and they foraged in the mud flats. I think the first three are…
I got to see plenty of Harbor Seals while I was in Washington… I even got to dive with a few… but it wasn’t until I was in Cambria, California that I managed to get some decent photos. This group kept a watchful eye on…
Bird photography can be really difficult sometimes. Getting close enough to get good detail, getting the right focus when the birds don’t stop moving for long, getting the right lighting (which usually means lots of light to allow for a fast enough shutter speed). But…
