This Black Phoebe was sitting on a bare branch over the ocean at La Jolla Cove, San Diego, CA. He is such a common bird here, and as many years as I've been a birder and photographer, you would think I would have had numerous shots of him. I think this is the first time I've been lucky enough to get the light just so, and get the detail in his plumage. Thanks little guy! ;-) 12/4/21 www.sparhawkphotography.com
While shooting the Black Oystercatchers on the rocks at La Jolla Cove, I noticed this much smaller sandpiper bobbing around behind the rocks. It finally came out so I could really see it, and recognized it as a Spotted Sandpiper. In the lens finder I couldn't tell that it still has the vestiges of its spots showing faintly--they are much darker and larger during breeding. Usually in winter they are gone, or maybe they are still there but not obvious until you get a good close look. In any season, they bob along as they walk, a characteristic behavioral trait. 12/1/21 www.sparhawkphotography.com
You may recognize this a a different version of a composite I posted weeks ago. I entered this square version in a 6"x6" show, where all of the entries were just 6 inches square, in any medium. There was a wonderful variety of entries, in oil paints, acrylics, pastels and many other media. There were only 3 photographs, 2 of mine, and one other. Much to my surprise, I won first place! In my experience photos seldom win in mixed media art show competitions, so I was both surprised and happy to hear the results of the judging. (Big smile) 11/21/21 www.sparhawkphotography.com
