Southern California's Autumn heat wave has reduced the time spent out in the field, but those willing to spend some time in the early morning and as the day heats up have succeeded in capturing some very nice photo opportunities. The attached photos were gathered in the coastal wetlands in Huntington Beach and in the nearby San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. The autumn migration is just starting so there should be new opportunities for bird photos coming soon. All of the attached were taken using my Nikon D500 and a Nikkor 200-500 telezoom, handheld, mostly at around f/10 at 1/1600 sec. ISO is set to Auto.

The initial sequence of a Great Blue Heron in flight are all of the same bird. The morning light was very flattering.

The next photo shows a Virginia Rail and Sora, both of which are shy birds and often difficult to capture in decent light, and then the Sora (far left) appears with a group of Long-billed Dowitchers in Winter plumage.

The pair of Red-tailed Hawks are residents of the UC Natural Reserve in Irvine, CA, but we were lucky to catch them in nice, early morning sunlight on this perch in the middle of the reserve. Originally, the top bird was facing left before turning 180 degrees and stretching its wings. Several minutes later, it took flight and landed far to the East on its most common perch, followed several minutes later by its partner/mate.

The next to last photo shows a Cinnamon Teal, in non-breeding plumage, surrounded by Red-necked Phalaropes, also in their winter garb.

The final photo of a butterfly was taken at the Brookhurst Marsh in Huntington Beach during our monthly bird survey this past Monday. Can someone help me ID this small insect? It was only about 1/2" across with wings closed. Hundreds of these small butterflies were flitting through the salt marsh ground cover. Getting a sharp photo of this subject was a matter of luck.

jak

Southern California's Autumn heat wave has reduced the time spent out in the field, but those willing to spend some time in the early morning and as the day heats up have succeeded in capturing some very nice photo opportunities. The attached photos were gathered in the coastal wetlands in Huntington Beach and in the nearby San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. The autumn migration is just starting so there should be new opportunities for bird photos coming soon. All of the attached were taken using my Nikon D500 and a Nikkor 200-500 telezoom, handheld, mostly at around f/10 at 1/1600 sec. ISO is set to Auto.

The initial sequence of a Great Blue Heron in flight are all of the same bird. The morning light was very flattering.

The next photo shows a Virginia Rail and Sora, both of which are shy birds and often difficult to capture in decent light, and then the Sora (far left) appears with a group of Long-billed Dowitchers in Winter plumage.

The pair of Red-tailed Hawks are residents of the UC Natural Reserve in Irvine, CA, but we were lucky to catch them in nice, early morning sunlight on this perch in the middle of the reserve. Originally, the top bird was facing left before turning 180 degrees and stretching its wings. Several minutes later, it took flight and landed far to the East on its most common perch, followed several minutes later by its partner/mate.

The next to last photo shows a Cinnamon Teal, in non-breeding plumage, surrounded by Red-necked Phalaropes, also in their winter garb.

The final photo of a butterfly was taken at the Brookhurst Marsh in Huntington Beach during our monthly bird survey this past Monday. Can someone help me ID this small insect? It was only about 1/2" across with wings closed. Hundreds of these small butterflies were flitting through the salt marsh ground cover. Getting a sharp photo of this subject was a matter of luck.

jak

Southern California's Autumn heat wave has reduced the time spent out in the field, but those willing to spend some time in the early morning and as the day heats up have succeeded in capturing some very nice photo opportunities. The attached photos were gathered in the coastal wetlands in Huntington Beach and in the nearby San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. The autumn migration is just starting so there should be new opportunities for bird photos coming soon. All of the attached were taken using my Nikon D500 and a Nikkor 200-500 telezoom, handheld, mostly at around f/10 at 1/1600 sec. ISO is set to Auto.

The initial sequence of a Great Blue Heron in flight are all of the same bird. The morning light was very flattering.

The next photo shows a Virginia Rail and Sora, both of which are shy birds and often difficult to capture in decent light, and then the Sora (far left) appears with a group of Long-billed Dowitchers in Winter plumage.

The pair of Red-tailed Hawks are residents of the UC Natural Reserve in Irvine, CA, but we were lucky to catch them in nice, early morning sunlight on this perch in the middle of the reserve. Originally, the top bird was facing left before turning 180 degrees and stretching its wings. Several minutes later, it took flight and landed far to the East on its most common perch, followed several minutes later by its partner/mate.

The next to last photo shows a Cinnamon Teal, in non-breeding plumage, surrounded by Red-necked Phalaropes, also in their winter garb.

The final photo of a butterfly was taken at the Brookhurst Marsh in Huntington Beach during our monthly bird survey this past Monday. Can someone help me ID this small insect? It was only about 1/2" across with wings closed. Hundreds of these small butterflies were flitting through the salt marsh ground cover. Getting a sharp photo of this subject was a matter of luck.

jak