Lots of good info on this thread! I too have been taking hummer photos of late. Since this Spring we've had three nests, one on our front porch and two on back patio all the nests were made on a string of Christmas lights very close to windows. I was able to watch one young bird take its first flight! In San Diego I've been filling our feeder every other day, getting closer to every day. I do boil the 4:1 ratio of sugar, it's suppose to kill bad stuff in the water.

Nothing wrong with that, we all need to be pampered in one way or another.

It sounds like you don't have much time in Escondido, though the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly named SD Wild Animal Park) is a great attraction, to get your money's worth, you need to spend at least a few hours there. Condor Ridge (in the safari park) is great to capture some bird photos, but at the cost of $54 to enter, plus $15 to park -- You might want to revisit when you have more time.

The Marshland next to Campland on The Bay is good for birding. Google Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve for more info. It is only 10 minutes from I-5.

Enjoy your visit!

I recently received the Tokina 100mm Macro for my birthday and I absolutely love it!! I think he paid between $350 and $400 from Amazon. Here are just a few pictures using my Rebel T5

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All wonderful photos! Is that just a glass ball/orb in the first picture? Also love the night scene of Newport Ave.

I'm so glad I found this forum! I am a hobbyist photographer who enjoys street photography in our gem of a park -- Balboa Park or our Zoo, and many spectacular sunsets. Sports photography and Macro are also high on my list of fun adventures.