[Leica] February Photos

[Douglas Herr]

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