Playing Catch Up

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BLW is back. Here are the more interesting moments collected during the last few dormant weeks.

Posted: July 20, 2008

A lady Quail strolls by at Strybing Arboretum.

While rescuing the young Red-shouldered Hawk (see photo) I photographed some of the residents at Wild Care.

This is a female Swainson's Hawk.

Acorn Woodpecker - another Wild Care resident.

Captive Turkey Vulture.

Another view of this remarkably charismatic bird.

Chain of Lakes played host to FOUR fledged Redtails this year.

At El Polin Springs an Allen's Hummingbird bathes - completely oblivious to the perturbed Anna's about to interrupt.

The doves only seem to arrive in congregations.

Serious business.

He keeps a close watch while getting clean.

Leap frog... er, dove.

The nearby bushes provide safe haven for soaking wet hummers to preen.

Approaching the spring.

A territorial dispute gets underway.

Playfully exuberant in the water.

I had to crawl on my belly toward the spring to get close enough for this detail. The bird stayed calm.

Landing on the falls.

Yet another gratuitous hummingbird bath shot.

What I assume was a Hairy Woodpecker foraging low on a trunk at El Polin. The bill to head length and the size of the bird ruled out Downy in my opinion - but I'd love feedback.

Know for certain? E-MAIL me.

Some in-flight shots of these aerial masters. Here is an Anna's...

... and an Allen's.

Stuck in mid-air.

A female Allen's dines in Strybing Arboretum.

Alongside this female Anna's.

In a Napa garden a Chestnut-backed Chickadee arrives in late afternoon light.

The Stow Lake Redtails often hunt in Strybing Arboretum. This one leaves with a gopher and its surroundings.

After eating it's share, the hawk brings the rest to hungry fledglings.

Nearby, the rescued Redshoulder screams from the nest/basket. He fledged over the fourth of July weekend.

His young mother stopped her molt during breeding and is now finishing the process of replacing her juvenal plumage.

Baby Robins with their ever attentive mother.

They grew very quickly and fledged the same weekend the Redshoulder did.

Some visual parsley - a non-bird moment in Strybing.

A beautiful little wingspan.

In face deep on blurred wings.

A Brown Creeper visits El Polin.

A Wilson's Warbler flashes brilliant color as it bathes quickly.

A Goldfinch mid-bath...

A young Redtail at Sutro Baths.

I haven't been there in a while but assume they have moved on.

More soon.

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External Links

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Guide
John W. Wall's Blog
Bill Walker's Flickr Page
Lineatus on Great Horned Owls