jak86094

While June is usually the deadest month for interesting bird photos here in SoCal, there are still some opportunities...sometimes quite interesting. Hope you enjoy these.

PS: can the Night-heron (the Yellow-crowned species is uncommon in these parts) swallow a crab whole (see below)? Yes. In fact, mere minutes later it caught and swallowed a second crab of the same size...then it perched on a sand dune and just sat there...probably "processing" 2 crabs...quite a meal.

jak
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Orange-crowned Warbler

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Allen's Hummingbird (note the yellow pollen on its bill)

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Black Skimmer skims the surface of Newport Back Bay

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1st year Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Newport Back Bay, Newport Beach, CA

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Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (probably 2nd year) catches Striped Bay Crab

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Striped Bay Crab...can the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron swallow it whole?

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Third Yellow-crowned Night-Heron seen at Newport Back Bay on this morning.

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Brown-headed Cowbirds

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Cooper's Hawk

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photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Well done series!

jak86094

Thanks, Karin. I appreciate the kind words and am glad that you enjoyed the photos. jak

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

Very well done

gmontjr2350 Loc: Southern NJ

Very well done!!!

George

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Nice set...really enjoyed the skimmer shot!

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Another excellent set, jak!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Nice captures.

jak86094

Thank you, Larry. Much appreciated. jak

jak86094

Nice to hear from you, George. Glad you enjoyed them. Much appreciated. jak

jak86094

Thanks, Cindy. I enjoyed your last post too. Have a nice week. jak

jak86094

Thanks, Mike. Hope you are weathering the weather well. Have a good week. jak

jak86094

NMGal, thanks for the kind words. There’s always luck involved in capturing even common shots like the warbler. Seeing the feeding behavior was really special. Same with the skimmer’s feeding. A little more wind creates a chop and the skimmer can’t do its thing. Have a nice week. jak

tcthome Loc: NJ

Nice set. Once watched a Blue Heron swallow 4-5 Blue Crabs in about 5 minutes while it worked the marsh edge of a salt pond. Amasing what a heron or egret can swallow.

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

Very fine series. Especially like the heron enjoying a meal.