I went birding today at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, a type of desert oasis in Morongo Valley, CA. I saw and heard many MANY of these birds. This is the male Phainopepla, glossy black with a red eye and a crest. The female is similar, but charcoal gray. Both sexes have the red eye and white wing patches that show in flight. Their favorite food is mistletoe berries. They mostly live in desert type environments in parts of California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. 2/16/21 www.sparhawkphotography.com
This is just a few of a large flock of Cedar Waxwings that was perched in a tall tree in my complex. I saw them when I went to get my mail, and grabbed my camera and went back out. Not a great shot, as they were almost silhouetted against the sky, so had to pull out the colors to show how pretty they are. Looking carefully, you can see the bit of red wax on some of the wings, from which they got their name. Cedar Waxwings tend to travel in flocks, not staying in one place for long. I was glad to see so many of them in one tree--there were probably about 50 of them. 2/2/21 www.sparhawkphotography.com
While birding at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, I saw this California Thrasher with his great curved bill. There were actually two of them, but the only shot I got of both was of two backsides only! Not the best view, for sure! He was digging around in the dirt and leaf litter with his bill. He is a fairly skittish bird, but I was able to get a few shots while hiding behind a post. Something flushed the birds in the area, and this fella never came back. This thrasher lives year round in California and into Baja California--in coastal, valley and desert areas. 2/19/21 www.sparhawkphotography.com
