While birding down at San Jacinto Wildlife Area the other day, I saw this Peregrine Falcon a little way off the road. He stayed perched there for some time, allowing photos. It was a 3 falcon day--Peregrine, Prairie, and American Kestrel. This was the better of the photos I got of the three. 1/14/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com
This clown of the duck world is a Surf Scoter, which got its name for its preference for diving into the surf to feed. They dive over and over again, even into rough waves. His large, brightly colored bill, his white eye, and white patches on its black head are distinctive field marks, making for an easy ID. This one was photographed at Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve, Huntington Beach, CA. 1/13/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com
We had a break in the rain, so I went hiking and birding in San Timoteo Canyon. I hadn't been there for a while, and was so happy to see the green hillsides. We have been in drought conditions for so long, some winters we never got green grass in wild places. (For those of you who live in places that get lots of green grass, this may not look like much, but it was a happy day to see all this green velvet!) 1/12/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com
