Birds feasting on Toyon.

Toyon, also known as Christmas berry, is a native shrub in California. It is drought tolerant and easy to grow. Its berries are a favorite of both robins and cedar waxwings. For the past two years, we've had many of each come by during the holiday season.

Back to Riverwalk and La Sierra

Juvenile Night Heron


Green Heron


Cedar Waxwings

We've been going for more walks recently, and we hadn't been to Riverwalk in a while. So we decided to park near the Hampton Inn and walk up to La Sierra University. Along the way, we spotted a green heron and a juvenile night heron. At the University, the best find was a flock of waxwings coming to a water feature.

Bolsa Chica

We went to Bolsa Chica on Saturday. The best find was the red-breasted merganser, but we watched an eared grebe swim under water and fish for quite some time.




Red-breasted merganser

Eared Grebe

Shoreline Park in Mountain View

Egret




Common Goldeneye, male (top), female (bottom)

Shoreline park is just behind some Google office buildings in Mountain View. During a recent trip, Mike had a chance to drop by.

Barn Owl

Mike was up in Silicon Valley, but had some time to get some birding between meetings. The best find, thanks to ebird, was a barn owl hanging out in a palm tree on the corner of Winslow St and Brewster Ave in Redwood City.

American Widgeon with Three Hooded Mergansers

Western Grebe Running on Water

Some birds from the UCR campus

Here's a red-tailed hawk and a killdeer.

The hoodies are back

The hooded mergansers have returned to UCR

The thrushes are back

A pair of Hermit Thrushes have been visiting our yard the past week.

Townsend's Warbler

We went to Mason Park in Irvine to see some migrating warblers. We did spot a few, but there were more birders than birds.

European Goldfinch

We went to Matdona Marsh this morning in hopes of finding the European goldfinch. We did.

Orange Bishop: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary,

We went to Irvine hoping to see the painted bunting but we were a day late. Fortunately, we saw some Orange Bishops there.

Nashville Warbler

We went birding in the morning, but the best find of the day was coming to our birdbath.

More Backyard birds

We've been heading to the coast most weekends, but there is still time for some birding at home.




Least Bell's Vireo




Hooded orioles eating cactus fruit




Red-shouldered hawk at the bubbler

Birdy Saturday at home

We stayed home!  Chris had been seeing a Wilson's warbler visiting the bath during the week, so that was enticing enough to keep Mike housebound Saturday.  We sat outside and waited for the birds to come to us.  Such a nice day - not too hot for most of it.  Sometimes we just get a feeling in the air that an unusual bird will drop by.  Today we had that feeling, and our hunch was correct.  Our infrequent visitors, the nutmeg mannikins, came by.  We also had an orange crowned warbler hanging around.  Does this mean fall is creeping up on us?  Maybe so, but it's still hot enough that the water features seem to be the biggest attractant bringing in the birds.

Anna's Hummingbird

Nutmeg Mannikins

Hooded Oriole

Scrub Jay

Wilson's Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Burrowing owl tilting its head

Here are some photos Chris took of a burrowing owl tilting its head.

Egrets of Bolsa Chica

We went to Huntington Beach to escape the heat and decided to go birding at Bolsa Chica. The Reddish Egret was our prime target, and we were not disappointed. There were at least four, including one in a narrow channel area with good lighting. We watched him for 15 minutes as he fished, spreading his wings to create some shade to help in the process.










We also saw a snowy egret and a light-footed clapper rail.






We were also looking for black skimmers but only saw one from a distance.

Burrowing Owls of Salton Sea

We went out to the desert to watch the meteor shower. We stayed in Borrengo Springs and the next morning we went out to the Salton Sea for birding with the primary goal of finding burrowing owls. After staying up for the meteor shower and getting up before sunrise to head to the Salton Sea, we now need a nap.

Back From Alaska

We went to Alaska to escape the heat and see tufted puffins in Prince Williams Sound. We also saw some other sea birds and quite a few marine mammals there





Tufted Puffins



Pigeon Guillemot


Sea Otters


Harbor Seals


Sea Lions

In Anchorage, we spotted a moose and a few birds.


Moose


Black-billed Magpie


Red-necked Grebes

At Eagle River State Park, we saw a Boreal Chickadee, an Alder Flycatcher and some warblers

Boreal Chickadee


Yellow Warbler


Alder Flycatcher



In Crescent Lake, part of Lake Clark National Park, we watched bears and more.


Brown Bear Fishing for Salmon


Harlequin Ducks


Beaver


Bald Eagle