Saturday, October 27, 2012

Goleta Beach

It was great weather the other day, do I took the scope out to Goleta Beach County Park to see if there was anything interesting to see.  Yes, there was.

First, as I was driving past the airport on the way to the beach, I spied a Red-Shouldered Hawk sitting on the fence, looking for lunch.  It was not bothered when I pulled off the road, stopped and got out with the scope, nor when cyclists, joggers, or walkers went past.  In fact, it flew closer to me and took up another perch on the fence.  Nice looking bird!









After the nice hawk detur, it was on to the beach.  There was a good amount of activity there, here are some of the beach goers that day.

 Willet

Black-necked Stilts napping

 Killdeer

Killdeer 

Great Blue Heron

For me, the most entertaining part of the afternoon was watching a small flock of Least Sandpipers.  These tiny birds were busy probing the shallow water for lunch , and did not pay too much attention to me, which allowed for some nice photo opportunities.


 

 


Around Home

Here are some recent visitors around the house.

The ever-present Acron Woodpecker

Black Phoebe, leaving a deposit on our patio furniture!

Scott's Oriole.  Not sure if this particular individual is female or a young male, and I am checking on it.  Will update this page when the verdict is in.

Scott's Oriole. 

 Bewick's Wren.  There have been several of these around the house lately.  Very difficult to photograph, always skittering around the ground, often at my feet when I am trying to get them in front of the scope!

Bewick's Wren

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Some Recent Photos

I have been trying to get out and about lately with the scope, sometimes there are interesting things to photograph, sometimes not.  Here are some recent shots.

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Common Tern - despite the name not terribly common in our area

Common Tern

Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron with reflection

Greater Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs


Greater Yellowlegs


Greater Yellowlegs


Pied-billed Grebe with lunch

Pied-billed Grebe with lunch


Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara

I paid a visit to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara.  I was hoping for some photos of the Red-necked Phalaropes I had seen there, but that didn't work out so well.  There were however plenty of herons and egrets to make up for this.

This Snowy Egret was busy looking for lunch and did not seem to mind a bit that I was taking many photos of it.






While I was intently snapping away at the Snowy Egret, this Green Heron came and landed on the log between me and the Egret.  I was so focused on the Egret it took me awhile to notice this.  Luckily the Heron stayed around awhile, allowing for some nice portraits.





Even though it was daylight, the Black-crowned Night Herons were out as well.

The Santa Barbara Zoo backs up to the bird refuge.  I looked up from the herons and egrets to see that the giraffes were out walking around.  I could not resist taking a few of the giraffes!

On the way home I stopped by the beach to check out the flock of Black Skimmers, one of my favorite birds.  On this day they were resting comfortably in the sand.