Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara

I paid a visit to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara.  I was hoping for some photos of the Red-necked Phalaropes I had seen there, but that didn't work out so well.  There were however plenty of herons and egrets to make up for this.

This Snowy Egret was busy looking for lunch and did not seem to mind a bit that I was taking many photos of it.

While I was intently snapping away at the Snowy Egret, this Green Heron came and landed on the log between me and the Egret.  I was so focused on the Egret it took me awhile to notice this.  Luckily the Heron stayed around awhile, allowing for some nice portraits.

Even though it was daylight, the Black-crowned Night Herons were out as well.

The Santa Barbara Zoo backs up to the bird refuge.  I looked up from the herons and egrets to see that the giraffes were out walking around.  I could not resist taking a few of the giraffes!

On the way home I stopped by the beach to check out the flock of Black Skimmers, one of my favorite birds.  On this day they were resting comfortably in the sand.

White Ibis Santa Barbara County

This afternoon the report came out that a White Ibis had been seen in Carpinteria, a first for Santa Barbara County.  I went down and joined some avid birders enjoying the view.  Unfortunately in my haste to leave, I did not bring my high magnification eyepiece, and the bird was quite far away, so the images are not as crisp as I would like.



Reddish Egret at Goleta Beach

Recently there has been a Reddish Egret hanging around at Goleta Beach County Park.  This is a fairly unusual visitor to the area.  Their home territory tends to be further south, and also the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern US.  They are fun to watch.  Most egrets and herons hunt by remaining fairly or quietly stalking their prey.  Not the Reddish Egret - they run and hop around, chasing the fish down.  I also noticed another little trick, the egret would remain still but quickly stamp a foot on the bottom, perhaps hoping to stir up or attract a little snack.

Not Just Birds!

Sometimes one can manage to get other animals in front of the scope as well!  Here are some that were spotted in Utah this summer.

 Whiptail Lizard

Pronghorn Antelope

Pronghorn Antelope

  

Collared Lizard 

Desert Cottontail

Desert Cottontail

Collared Lizard

Summer In Utah

Spent a few week in Utah this summer.  Here are some of the things we saw.

Ash-throated Flycatcher. 

 Western Kingbird.  They had a nest in the gutter, and were quite vocal about our presence.  Once the little ones were out the nest, they were gone.

Western Kingbird. 

 Black-billed Magpie.

 Say's Phoebe - juvenile.

 Western Kingbird.

Black-billed Magpies - juvenile. 

 Rufous Hummingbird.  Late summer arrivals, on their way south.

Rufous Hummingbird

Hooded Oriole

The last few days there has been a young and very vocal male Hooded Oriole hanging around the house.  Lucky for me he was not terribly camera shy.



Hoot Hoot Again

I had just mentionoed to my wife that it had been awhile since I had heard our local owls hooting.  She came back inside and said "well, thay're out there now."  So I grabbed the scope and managed a few shots in the fading light.