Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2022/03/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]February this year started with the Fox Sparrow (Passerella?iliaca), a bird which, up to this point, had almost completely eluded my lens. ?On 03 February I found a location where a few of these birds responded well to bribery and made up for lost time: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/passerellidae/passerella/iliaca/pasili.html ? among these it's not easy to pick a favorite but for today I'll go with this one: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/passerellidae/passerella/iliaca/pasili06.html ? The same day I found the Fox Sparrow site the colors of a male Mallard (Anas?platyrhynchos) caught my attention: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/platyrhynchos/anapla26.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/platyrhynchos/anapla27.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/platyrhynchos/anapla28.html ? Also a nearby American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) with sand on the tip of its bill sat for a portrait: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/corvus/brachyrhynchos/corbra06.html ? a stray Northern Pintail (Anas?acuta) has joined a flock of Mallards at the river's boat launch. ?I first spotted this bird at the end of last November when he was in the nondescript eclipse plumage ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/acuta/anaacu27.html ? and have followed the bird's progress from ragged to gorgeous as he molted: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/acuta/anaacu28.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/acuta/anaacu29.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/acuta/anaacu30.html ? The Fox Sparrow site also has Spotted Towhees (Pipilo?maculatus), a species which, like the Fox Sparrow, prefers to hide in dense brush and forest understory: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/passerellidae/pipilo/maculatus/pipmac35.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/passerellidae/pipilo/maculatus/pipmac36.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/passerellidae/pipilo/maculatus/pipmac37.html ? The bird bath in my yard attracted?the usual Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte?anna) and a couple of surprise visitors, Hermit Thrush (Catharus?guttatus) and a Western Bluebird (Sialia?mexicana); ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anna/calann58.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anna/calann59.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anna/calann60.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anna/calann61.html ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/catharus/guttatus/catgut05.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/catharus/guttatus/catgut06.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/catharus/guttatus/catgut07.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/catharus/guttatus/catgut08.html ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/sialia/mexicana/siamex38.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/sialia/mexicana/siamex39.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/sialia/mexicana/siamex40.html ? At the nearby Yolo?Bypass Wildlife Area, a Western Meadowlark (Sturnella?neglecta) was a welcome treat: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/sturnella/neglecta/stuneg09.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/sturnella/neglecta/stuneg10.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/sturnella/neglecta/stuneg11.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/icteridae/sturnella/neglecta/stuneg12.html ? Hooded Mergansers?(Lophodytes?cuculatus), a duck that dives for fish and crustacean?meals, has until this year been quite elusive. ?I found that sitting quietly for an hour or so increses their comfort level enough to swim nearby: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/lophodytes/cucullatus/lopcuc15.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/lophodytes/cucullatus/lopcuc16.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/lophodytes/cucullatus/lopcuc17.html ? ripening berries brings Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla?cedrorum) and American Robins (Turdus?migratorius) to the feast: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/bombycillidae/bombycilla/cedrorum/bomced07.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/turdus/migratorius/turmig22.html ? and to finish off the month, White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta?carolinensis), California Quail (Callipepla?californica) and California Scrub-Jay: ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/sittidae/sitta/carolinensis/sitcar16.html ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/odontophoridae/callipepla/californica/calcaf34.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/odontophoridae/callipepla/californica/calcaf35.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/odontophoridae/callipepla/californica/calcaf36.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/odontophoridae/callipepla/californica/calcaf37.html ? http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/aphelocoma/californica/aphcal30.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/aphelocoma/californica/aphcal31.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/aphelocoma/californica/aphcal32.html http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/aphelocoma/californica/aphcal33.html ? all photos: mostly Sony a1 with Sony 600mm GM, with a few a7rIII &?100-400 GM. ?All comments are welcome. ? Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com