Birds

Curious Bushtit

This juvenile Bushtit looks curiously into the lens as the shutter clicks.

Tail Flick

This Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher shows off its tail on a bush full of gnats for it to eat.

Yellow, Purple, Green

A bright Yellow Warbler sits in the middle of a Purple Sage bush, eating some bugs hiding in the sage flowers, paused for a moment to pose against the green trees forming a backdrop.

Heron in the Wind

A Great Blue Heron confidently strides into the wind to hunt.

Proud Swallow

A Tree Swallow proudly perches after chasing off an interloper.

Egret Landing

This Snowy Egret caused quite a splash on landing in the lake, ripples from all the water droplets spread out around it. The calm water along the top provides contrast to the busy water below.

Twilight Heron

Continuing the Curve

Camouflaged Curiosity

Crow Directions

Lone Crow

Stilt Landing

The Egret Perch

Watchful Eye

Circling Left

Crow Silhouette

Heron in the Rain

Egrets Hunting

A rare sight of a Snowy Egret (front) and a Great Egret (rear) hunting for fish in the same location.

Night Heron Takes Flight

A juvenile Night Heron spreads its wings for flight, catching the last of the day's light in its outstretched wings and glinting off its eye.

Portrait of a Mallard

This female Mallard Duck walked across my path as if it owned the place... which, in a wildlife sanctuary, isn't far from the truth!

Father's Day Geese

This adorable Goose and Gosling were spotted coming down the path towards me on Father's Day. It's hard to tell the genders apart on Geese, but I like to think this was a Father's Day walk for the pair.

Portrait of an Egret

The sunset catches the head of this egret as the rest of the scene fell into shadow.

Cruising over Water

A migratory Red Phalarope cruises by over a still lake.

Angry Ibis

This White-Faced Ibis was stalking around the pond with its wings on full display, shouting. All the other birds simply ignored him.

Phoebe's Landing

A Black Phoebe returns to its perch after swooping away briefly to catch insects.

Perching Warbler

This Yellow Warbler perches on a small piece of a bush sticking up, far enough away from the trees in the background to provide exceptional subject separation.

Waxwing Squabble

Two Cedar Waxwings have a brief fight over who gets to perch in this area.

Swallows in a Tree

A pair of Tree Swallows keep a watchful eye on the strange person with a camera pointed at them. Strong blues grab your attention, accented by the soft background greens.

New to Flight

A newly-fledged juvenile Tree Swallow airs its wings out on a rush stalk just a few feet away from its nest.

A Duck Reflects

A female Cinnamon Teal stands in the shallows and reflects the morning sunlight.

Flight of Swallows

A large flight of swallows catches the light in their wings as they relocate en masse.

Gnat Cought

A California Gnatcatcher caught in the act of nabbing a gnat.

Feeding Frenzy

A group of Double-Breasted Cormorants engage in a communal feast.

Takeoff

A pair of Double-Crested Cormorants partake in a feeding frenzy, causing a larger than normal splash on takeoff to herd a school of fish towards their waiting friends.

Cormorant in Flight

A Double-Breasted Cormorant flies over a still pond.

Formation Skimming

This pair of Black Skimmers swoop by, leaving twin trails in the water as they skim for fish.

Sunset Murder

A small group of crows flies overhead as the sun is setting.

Preparing for Flight

A Yellow-rumped Warbler in preparation for flying to a new perch nearby.

Cassin's Vireo

A dull colored Cassin's Vireo set against a similarly dull colored background pushes the focus towards the detail in the eye, beak, feathers and talons.

Bugs: It's What's For Dinner

A Bell's Vireo with a mouthful of bugs it spent the past few minutes gathering. It consistently collected a mouthful of bugs, rather than eating them one at a time.

Ruffled Osprey

This Osprey was preening, occasionally fluffing up its feathers like this before carefully combing them back down.

Vermillion

The bright Vermillion Flycatcher perches on a branch and sings.

Fat and Happy

This fat little Tree Swallow perched on its nest box was enjoying the wind and sunshine. A small feather is stuck in its beak from preening earlier.

Blending In

A Pied-billed Grebe tries to blend in with some reeds.

Finch in Display

A male House Finch puffs up and shows off to the female, who just isn't having it.

Hiding Among the Flowers

A female House Finch gets a moment of rest in the spring mating season... Two males have been pestering her for a while and she escaped into the flowers.

Sing Your Heart Out

This Song Sparrow was gleefully and loudly singing away, drawing my attention instantly.

Portrait of a Heron

A Great Blue Heron standing in the sun, watching all around for fish against an overcast sky.