Happy Thanksgiving

 

Lesser Scaup

 

 

Photos of Lesser Scaups from Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach, CA.

Great Egret

 

 

Photos of Great Egrets from Bolsa Chica

Northern Shovelers

 

 

 

 

Northern Shovelers at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Redheaded Ducks

 

It took us a while to identify this duck with a red head. It turns out that it is called a Redheaded Duck. Here is a handsome male with two females from Bolsa Chica Wetlands.

Spotted towhee

 

This Spotted towhee could use a pedicure.

Western Kingbird

 

Photo of a Western Kingbird from San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Red-Breasted Mergansers

 

 

We saw a few red-breasted mergansers at Bolsa Chica. There were many more females (top) than males. The red-breasted mergansers are about the same size as the common mergansers and much larger than the hooded mergansers.

Gadwall

 

Gadwall from San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Ruddy Ducks

Ruddy Ducks at Bolsa Chica

American Coot

 

Maybe it's the 70 degree weather and sunshine, but this coot photo from Huntington Beach came out better than the one on Lake Nelson.

Black Pheobe

 

Black Pheobe from San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine

American Widgeon

 

 

 

American Widgeons from Bolsa Chica.

Surf Scooter at Bolsa Chica Wetlands

 

 

 

Chris spotted the male (top) and female Surf Scooters when they were on the other side of the bay. They joined up with some scaups and came close enough for Mike to get a few photos.

Female Bufflehead at Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Here is a photo of a female bufflehead. Isn't she a cutie?

Cormorants at Bolsa Chica Wetlands

 

 

Many cormormants were out yesterday morning fishing in the bay.

Cinnamon Teals at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

 

 

Here are some photos of Cinnamon Teals.

Anna's Hummingbird from Bolsa Chica Wetlands

We like this hummingbird photo better than the one we took yesterday.

Snowy Egret having breakfast at Bolsa Chica Wetlands

 

 

 

 

We were lucky to get these photos of a snowy egret eating a fish.

Kingfisher at Bolsa Chica Wetlands

 

California Brown Pelicans Fishing in Bolsa Chico Bay

 

 

At sunrise, the pelicans are very active at Bolsa Chica Wetlands. There is a footbridge that crosses the bay and the pelicans dive for fish splashing the photographers on the bridge.

Kestrel having lunch at San Joaquin Wildlife Reserve

 

Chris spotted a Kestrel having lunch the one time that Mike let us sit still.

Western Grebe at Bolsa Chica Wetlands

The Bolsa Chica Wetlands are a restored habitat in Huntington Beach, California. Here is a photo of a Western Grebe. It is at least twice the size of the pied-billed grebe we occasionally see in New Jersey.

Anna's Hummingbird at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

These hummingbird photos of the same Anna's Hummingbird show how its coloring changes at different angles.

American White Pelican at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

The American White Pelican does not dive for food like the brown pelican. It feeds while swimming. We were surprised to see a group of pelicans fishing together.

Snowy Egret at Bolsa Chica Wetlands