Sunday in the City

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Posted: March 30, 2008


Today started in Lafayette Park looking for the Red-tail duo that has been reported there. The ones who make visits to Alta Plaza Park during their hunting rounds.

With no hawks in sight I settled in near these flowers to see about photographing the tiny birds contributing to the steady chorus of songs in the air.

After waiting long enough the birds started emerging into the sunlight - starting with this Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Then a brief appearance from this Townsend's Warbler.

Then the Red-tails arrived. The female has very light breast feathers and a dark though sparsely streaked belly band.

Here the well fed, rusty coloured male leaves one of the abandoned Raven nests located 5 floors up at Octavia and Sacramento.

At Lloyd lake a Hooded Merganser gave a great show before retiring into the shadows to rest.

A feisty warning to the Mallards for passing too close.

A Great Egret is startled by a late arriving Pigeon.

Moments earlier the Egret had landed and caused the pigeons to explode from the tree-top... alas I missed the picture.

The Egret departs with characteristic grace.

Taking the long way home I spotted this Red-shouldered Fluffball.

That reminded me of the Red-shouldered Hawk nest near Crissy field, so I detoured and found the nest quiet.

Happily though, I found the Willet that's been lingering lately.

Here it is cruising after the receding waves.

A great catch! The Willet tries a few different dining techniques to deal with a meal this size, but finally has to flee the young gulls who arrived quickly.

Outrunning the gulls is easy enough.The Willet leaves to find a more peaceful place to dine.



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External Links

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Guide
John W. Wall's Blog
Bill Walker's Flickr Page



Copyright Notice - Images, graphic design, and text ©2007 Walter Kitundu, San Francisco, California.
It is unlawful to reproduce or distribute these images via any medium, digital or physical, without the express consent of the artist/photographer.