Northern Cardinal and Carolina Wren

Mike is still playing with his new camera.

It was nice of the wren to come by.

Ring-necked pheasants

We went to Spruce Run Reservoir in hopes of seeing horned larks, snow buntings and horned grebes that have been reported there. Instead, we mainly saw a lot of people with guns and these two pheasants. Backyard birding is safer on youth hunting day.

Hooded Merganser: Photo by Rob

This photo was taken at Sylvan Lake, Avon-By-The–Sea. There were at least 20 hooded mergansers on 11/14. This lake is narrow and presents a good opportunity for photography with a modest telephoto lens (e.g. 300mm).

Mike got a new camera!!!

 

 

 

 

Santa Claus came a little early to our house. Here are some photos from Mike's new camera (Sony A580). Red-bellied woodpecker, nuthatch and titmouse. It's better in low light such as cloudy mornings than the old one.

Birding in Wine Country

View from Bella Vineyards


Western Meadowlark in Sonoma


Pacific Loon in Palo Alto Baylands Preserve


American Pipit in Petaluma


Oak Titmouse in Geyersville


Says Phoebe in Petaluma


Mike had business in Palo Alto, CA, last Friday, so Chris came along to make a long weekend of it in Sonoma County wine country. Chris got to see the endangered California clapper rail (not pictured here) at the Baylands at sunrise Saturday. Although most of the time was spent in wineries and restaurants, there was still time to spot a few birds on Sunday AM and on the way back Monday. We got to add the oak titmouse to our life list, but he doesn't have the fancy colors or eye makeup as does the tufted titmouse we see at home in New Jersey.

Acorn Woodpecker

During a trip to Healdsburg, CA, we got some bird watching in during the mornings. We were happy to find an acorn woodpecker storing acorns.