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Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright - Judith Sparhawk

Right before the end of last year I visited San Diego Safari Park, as my membership ended on 12/31. One of the areas that I visited was Tiger Trail, a great environment for the tigers. This was my favorite of the shots I took that day. I will take a break from posting and commenting for a week or so. I have out- of-state company, and will be busy. I will have to catch up later. 2/6/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Winter Visitor - Judith Sparhawk

This little rather nondescript duck is a wintering female Long-tailed Duck. This species is mostly in the far north, nesting in northern Canada and the arctic, in tundra ponds. It is rare south of Washington on the west coast, so I was excited to see her in San Diego recently. She is far less dramatic than her long-tailed hubby, but to see any of this rare species is a treat this far south. 2/5/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Domestic Squabble - Judith Sparhawk

When I was birding at La Jolla Cove recently I had fun watching the antics of the local Sea Lions. These two in particular spent a long time barking loudly and fighting with each other. I couldn't tell if it was play fighting or the real thing, but despite nipping at each other, they never seemed to draw blood. 2/4/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Common Goldeneye - Judith Sparhawk

This pretty little duck is a female Common Goldeneye, photographed in San Diego recently. They are fairly rare in this area, but can be seen occasionally in the winter. She looks very different from the male, but is pretty in her own way. 2/3/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Acorn Woodpecker Hard at Work - Judith Sparhawk

This shows a male Acorn Woodpecker tending his acorn tree, his food storage system. It was a very large tree that has clearly been used for some time, likely by several woodpeckers. This tree was at the Oak Glen Old Schoolhouse park in Oak Glen, CA. 2/2/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Little Blue Heron - Judith Spahawk

I spent a few days down in San Diego, visiting with my son and, briefly, with my daughter and family, down from Canada. So of course I did some birding along the way, and among other birds, got this Little Blue Heron, stalking his lunch in the San Diego River channel. 2/1/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Sunlight Over the Sea

Coming home from a birding trip down at Salton Sea, I stopped for a look at North Shore. The late afternoon sun over the mountains in the distance was interesting as it came through the clouds. Salton Sea is California's largest lake, an inland highly saline body of water formed in 1905 with flooding from an irrigation canal. It was 35 miles long and 15 miles wide, and has been an important bird migration and nesting site. Although over time and drought, the water levels have decreased significantly, and the water is less and less habitable, I usually visit there a few times a year. 1/31/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Sora and Friend - Judith Sparhawk

I was thrilled to have this little Sora walk out on a log in the water and give me a clear view. This little rail is known for being very secretive and elusive, seldom giving more than a quick glance before disappearing into the marsh. Not only did this one give me a good view, but a reflection as well--two for the price of one! This Sora was photographed at San Jacinto Wildlife Area. BTW, I will be away from my computer for a few days, so will not be posting or commenting for the time being. I will catch up as soon as I can. 1/21/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Spotted Towhee - Judith Sparhawk

While traipsing through snow at Oak Glen Schoolhouse Museum Park, I saw 6 or 7 of these Spotted Towhees, all scratching around in the fallen leaves, as is their custom. My first one for the year, so very happy to find him! 1/20/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Wood Duck - Judith Sparhawk

I went birding up at Yucaipa Regional Park in Yucaipa, CA. I saw 43 species of birds ( only 3 were new for my year list), with this one male Wood Duck as one of them. These are such beautiful ducks, they are always a treat to see. 1/19/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Cackling Geese --Judith Sparhawk

When I last birded at Prado Regional Park, I saw 17 of these little cuties, Cackling Geese. Although they look a lot like the more common (at least here) Canada Geese, they are much smaller, with shorter necks and stubbier bills. These with the white "necklace" are of the Aleutian subspecies. These are barely larger than a good sized duck, like a shoveler or mallard. They breed in Canada, but sometimes winter farther south. Before this time, I'd never seen more than 2 at a time--17 was amazing!

On the Stairs - Judith Sparhawk

I've liked the original of this staircase view, shot in Edmonton, Alberta. I was not happy with a few elements, so decided to eliminated the window, add the cat, and keep all but the cat painterly. I like it much better now--I don't seem to be able to stop creating cat pics! ;-) 1/17/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

The Take Off - Judith Sparhawk

This was one of the American White Pelicans at the lake at Prado Regional Park in Chino, CA. In this shot he was taking off from shore, heading into the center of the lake. He is getting ready for breeding, as shown by the growth on the top of his bill, which will likely grow considerably larger in time to attract a lady pelican! ;-) 1/16/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

American Kestrel - Judith Sparhawk

This female kestrel was one of the three falcons I saw the other day at San Jacinto Wildlife Area. (Sorry, no pics of the third one!) She later flew off and performed her hovering in the sky, looking down for any likely prey. I didn't manage to get a picture of that! 1/15/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Peregrine Falcon - Judith Sparhawk

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

Surf Scoter - Judith Sparhawk

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

Green Velvet - Judith Sparhawk

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

Peaceful Lotus - Judith Sparhawk

Rainy day play on the computer with various photos in the archives. I've shown nothing but birds for awhile, so time for a brief change. I've tried a few different versions, and not sure what the "final" one will be. I liked the peaceful feel of this. 1/11/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

The Three Amigos - Judith Sparhawk

This trio of Royal Terns was perched on the rocks above the sea at La Jolla Cove in the San Diego area. They are in winter plumage, with their previously black heads now looking like receding hairlines! The tide was coming in, a very high tide, so a few minutes later, a big wave came up over the rocks and the terns flew away. 1/10/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Common Yellowthroat --Judith Sparhawk

Not the greatest shot because of the grasses that were in the way, but the Common Yellowthroat is usually a very secretive bird that skulks around in the marshes, so getting a clear shot like this was a treat. This little 5 inch long bird is in the wood-warbler family, often heard more than seen. 1/9/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Taking Off - Judith Sparhawk

This shows two of the American White Pelicans at Prado Regional Park as they took off across the lake. They were quite spectacular with their 108 inch wingspans as they flapped away! 1/8/23 www.sparhawkphotography.com