Lately I've seen and photographed...
Jan 21, 2021 16:58:26 #
Here are some recent sightings that I was lucky enough to get some decent photographs of. All were taken with a Nikon D500 using a Nikkor 200-500mm telezoom.
Ive seen many Gadwalls over the years, but this is the first one I've noticed with the puffy crown. The feather detail of this, as with many ducks, is beautiful. Blow it up if you must to see the plumage in all its beauty.
Two Common Loons rested in the Ballona Creek where it empties out into the Pacific Ocean. This one floated very near and gave me a great opportunity to photograph it, including its smiling silver bill.
Three Red-breasted Mergansers were swimming up the Ballona Creek as we walked past. You seldom see males with the females except during the mating season. Mergansers, despite having a very narrow bill, are in the duck family. They are excellent swimmers and fishers, often boating along on the surface with just their head under
the water looking for prey.
The Snowy Egret, identified by its yellow nares, black bill, and yellow feet, is a smaller but plentiful egret whose range covers most of the lower half of North America. Northern Shoveler males have a striking plumage of white, dark green/black, and rufous with a long, flat, wide, black bill with a blue wing patch and yellow eye. I love the reflections in this shot.
We've seen many Pied-billed Grebes this year. I don't know why. This one swam very close as if posing for me.
This Red-tailed Hawk perched for a long time in a tree north of Harriett Wieder Regional Park in Huntington Beach, letting me snap off sever nice shots in different poses. After opening this on on the computer, Inoticed that the visible right eye has the nictating protective eyelid closed over the eye. Just an interesting detail.
The Green Heron pictured here was the second we had seen in the Ballona Marsh on this particular morning. Their colorful plumage and large yellow eyes always attract me.
Willets are a fairly large, but common, wading bird seen at various times throughout the western USA. Despite their plain gray plumage, they have beautiful and distinctive black and white markings when they fly. They frequently hang around in groups with Marbled Godwits and Dowitchers on mudflats, sandy shores, and marsh margins.
Marbled Godwits are another common large wading bird in the Western United States. Their distinctive tan, black and white plumage and pink and black bill curving up are clear field marks. Though common, they are still an attractive sight and interesting photo subject.
Hope you enjoy these.
jak
.
Ive seen many Gadwalls over the years, but this is the first one I've noticed with the puffy crown. The feather detail of this, as with many ducks, is beautiful. Blow it up if you must to see the plumage in all its beauty.
Two Common Loons rested in the Ballona Creek where it empties out into the Pacific Ocean. This one floated very near and gave me a great opportunity to photograph it, including its smiling silver bill.
Three Red-breasted Mergansers were swimming up the Ballona Creek as we walked past. You seldom see males with the females except during the mating season. Mergansers, despite having a very narrow bill, are in the duck family. They are excellent swimmers and fishers, often boating along on the surface with just their head under
the water looking for prey.
The Snowy Egret, identified by its yellow nares, black bill, and yellow feet, is a smaller but plentiful egret whose range covers most of the lower half of North America. Northern Shoveler males have a striking plumage of white, dark green/black, and rufous with a long, flat, wide, black bill with a blue wing patch and yellow eye. I love the reflections in this shot.
We've seen many Pied-billed Grebes this year. I don't know why. This one swam very close as if posing for me.
This Red-tailed Hawk perched for a long time in a tree north of Harriett Wieder Regional Park in Huntington Beach, letting me snap off sever nice shots in different poses. After opening this on on the computer, Inoticed that the visible right eye has the nictating protective eyelid closed over the eye. Just an interesting detail.
The Green Heron pictured here was the second we had seen in the Ballona Marsh on this particular morning. Their colorful plumage and large yellow eyes always attract me.
Willets are a fairly large, but common, wading bird seen at various times throughout the western USA. Despite their plain gray plumage, they have beautiful and distinctive black and white markings when they fly. They frequently hang around in groups with Marbled Godwits and Dowitchers on mudflats, sandy shores, and marsh margins.
Marbled Godwits are another common large wading bird in the Western United States. Their distinctive tan, black and white plumage and pink and black bill curving up are clear field marks. Though common, they are still an attractive sight and interesting photo subject.
Hope you enjoy these.
jak
.
Male Gadwall at Ballona Marsh
(Download)
Common Loon at Ballona Creek
(Download)
Red-breasted Mergansers at Ballona Creek
(Download)
Snowy Egret with Northern Shovelers at Ballona Marsh
(Download)
Pied-billed Grebe at Ballona Marsh
(Download)
Red-tailed Hawk at Harriett Wieder Regional Park
(Download)
(Download)
Willets with Marbled Godwits at Ballona Creek
(Download)
Marbled Godwits at Ballona Creek
(Download)
Jan 21, 2021 17:04:22 #
Jan 21, 2021 17:05:07 #
Your usual excellent work, jak! Very nice reflections. The gadwall is obviously wearing a toupee (LOL).
Jan 21, 2021 17:05:14 #
Jan 21, 2021 17:14:58 #
Nice photos, Jak.
--Bob
--Bob
jak86094 wrote:
Here are some recent sightings that I was lucky en... (show quote)
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Jan 22, 2021 02:13:38 #
John Hicks wrote:
Excellent photographs
Thank you John, I appreciate that very much. Stay well and have a good week. jak
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