[Leica] a few birds

[Doug Herr]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything - lots of family-related stuff going on - but I’ve been able to find a few birds around northern California.

July, Sierra Valley (north of the Tahoe area)

The marshes of the Sierra Valley are spring-fed from groundwater originating from the surrounding mountains’ annual snowmelt and as such the  marshes dry up mid-summer except for a few isolated deep pools.

American White Pelican:  

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/pelecanidae/pelecanus/erythrorhynchos/pelery07.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/pelecanidae/pelecanus/erythrorhynchos/pelery07.html>
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/pelecanidae/pelecanus/erythrorhynchos/pelery08.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/pelecanidae/pelecanus/erythrorhynchos/pelery08.html>
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/pelecanidae/pelecanus/erythrorhynchos/pelery09.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/pelecanidae/pelecanus/erythrorhynchos/pelery09.html>

Ordinarily Virginia Rails and Sora (another rail) are quite secretive, spending far more time hiding in the marshes that exposed, but the midsummer water levels force them into the open to feed.  By sitting quietly for a few minutes I was able to test the close-focus limits of the lens.

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/rallus/limicola/rallim05.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/rallus/limicola/rallim05.html>
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/rallus/limicola/rallim06.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/rallus/limicola/rallim06.html>

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/porzana/carolina/porcar06.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/porzana/carolina/porcar06.html>

October

An immature White-tailed Kite looks like she’s giving me the stink-eye but she’s really just catching her balance (Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge):

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/elanus/leucurus/elaleu08.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/elanus/leucurus/elaleu08.html>

a Turkey Vulture warms up the flight controls (Sacramento County):

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/cathartidae/cathartes/aura/caeaur06.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/cathartidae/cathartes/aura/caeaur06.html>

and an unusually cooperative Belted Kingfisher deigns to sit for a portrait:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/alcedinidae/megaceryle/alcyon/megalc07.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/alcedinidae/megaceryle/alcyon/megalc07.html>

getting caught up to November, some fall colors at the nearby American River:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/platyrhynchos/anapla14.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anas/platyrhynchos/anapla14.html>

and a return trip to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, another Sora, an immature Common Gallinule, a winter-plumage Eared Grebe and the uncommon dark form of Snow Goose with the dominant white form in the background:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/porzana/carolina/porcar07.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/porzana/carolina/porcar07.html>
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/gallinula/galeata/galgat08.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/gallinula/galeata/galgat08.html>
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/podicipedidae/podiceps/nigricollis/podnig06.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/podicipedidae/podiceps/nigricollis/podnig06.html>
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anser/caerulescens/anscae13.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/anser/caerulescens/anscae13.html>

all photographs: “Leica” a7rIII, “Leica” 600mm f/4 GMaster.

all comments are welcome.