Anna’s Hummingbird
Photographed at Keith Hansen’s Gallery in Bolinas.
Anna’s Hummingbird With Intent
Photographed at Keith Hansen’s Gallery in Bolinas.
Birds on a Wire
When I think of birds perched on a wire, California Quail isn’t the first thing that comes to mind but this guy seemed quite comfortable.
This Brewer’s Blackbird is waiting for the coast to be clear before heading toward some nearby fledglings.
Speaking of baby blackbirds, this bird ain’t on a wire but it sure is cute. Check out the little downy mohawk.
Birds Over Troubled Water
A-crow-batics over the beach break in Bolinas.
Bad Pictures of a Brilliant Moment
This evening birds rose in a cloud from the surface of Bolinas Lagoon and a Peregrine powered across the water with great purpose. I soon spotted the reason for its determined flight in the shape of a fleeing Marbled Godwit.
The falcon would turn in tighter circles that the Godwit and angle in to cut it off. It often seemed to be flying ahead of its prey.
No escape. Climbing offered no refuge from the relentless pursuit as the falcon easily rose with its target as they banked and swirled for nearly two minutes.
The Peregrine seemed to be closing in I thought the Godwit was doomed but on the next pass over deep water the Godwit landed quickly and floated on the water’s surface. The Peregrine immediately lost interest and flew on toward the distant shore.
Two Gophers – Two Minutes
Step 1: Catch a gopher.
Step 2: Shake well.
Step 3: Ingest head first.
Step 4: Notice a second gopher in the same burrow.
Step 5: Repeat.
Spotted Towhee
Looking fine as can be.
Deer in Flight
Seen in the skies above Bolinas, California.
Cooper’s Hawk on the Hunt
A scene from a songbird’s nightmare – a hatch-year male Cooper’s Hawk set on finding its next meal.
Basking Vulture
Warming up as the fog clears over Bolinas Lagoon.
Foraging Butterbutt
A Yellow-rumped Warbler foraging along the roadside in Bolinas.
Bolinas Bald Eagle
I was driving to work through the fog when I saw a dark shape float low over my car and drift toward Bolinas Lagoon. My first reaction was “Turkey Vulture” followed by a glimpse of a white-ish tail… “Osprey perhaps?” They were both usual suspects but when it banked I knew it was the first Bald Eagle I’d ever seen in Bolinas (granted I’ve only lived here for four months). It felt like a 3rd year bird, my hunch based on the amount of white in the tail and the scatterings in the body and remiges. I’d heard they can winter here and was so excited to see it scaring up Northern Pintails as it flew off into the fog. With no place to park and a meeting to get to, I kept on going and hoped that when I got home it might still be around.
When I got back to the lagoon there was a dark shape in the top of a snag, where I thought the eagle might be, but it turned its red featherless head and began to preen. While watching that Turkey Vulture another lump in the next snag turned its head and I immediately stopped at the next pullout.
The Bald Eagle was still around! Now of course I’m hoping it winters here. I think it really is a third year bird, although it’s getting late in that third year.
The head is a getting nice and light but is still dirty and transitional. I love these intermediate birds.
There is a lot of white in that tail but it is such a cool tattered mix of black and white.
It came to rest in the Eucalyptus trees and preened and watched the grebes foraging in the waters below. Then the Ravens which drove it out of the original tree returned to cautiously mob the newcomer.
Here’s a better look at that fantastic tail.
It finally settled in one of the larger trees and sat and preened and surveyed the lagoon for the next hour… so I moved on, hoping that the next few weeks will bring more eagle encounters.
Morning Hummingbird
An Anna’s Hummingbird at the feeder and just getting warmed up in the morning light. I posted the image below on an earlier version of BLW but thought I’d share it again. It is a young hummingbird preening a few hours before it fledged.
A Hard Won Yard Bird
Still no internet but this deserves a cell phone post. I woke up to find this beautiful strange bird immobile on the deck and panting hard. It was a window strike. I didn’t know what kind of bird it was, just that it was much bigger than the siskins and goldfinches that frequent my feeders.
I couldn’t bring myself to euthanize it and the Scrub Jays were hanging out like little blue vultures so I gathered it up and put it in a small bird cage. I provided some water and set the bird on my kitchen table where it would be warm and peaceful. I didn’t hold out much hope. My friends helped me ID it as a juvenile male Western Tanager, a first for my yard. I was thinking about it all day.
When I got home later that day I was shocked and delighted to see the Tanager comfortably sitting up on a perch like a pet bird. It had recovered and taken some water and food, and deposited some berry-laden droppings in the cage. As the sun threatened to set I walked the bird outside and released it from my deck. It exploded from my hand with strength I never imagined would return to the panting, shocked bird I had held earlier in the day. I am so happy he survived.
Surprise Guest
I was watching Band-tailed Pigeons alight on my deck when I turned to see this stunning Hooded Oriole surveying the scene. Maybe it’s time to think about an oriole feeder.
Lagoon Cruise
This isn’t a particularly birdy post but it does set the scene. I’m lucky to call Bolinas home. Here are a few shots from a recent late afternoon outing on the lagoon. Above, my friend Stijn gliding near Pine Gulch Creek.
Sunlight persists through a crack in the sky, on an otherwise grey day, and it sets the distant shoreline off from the darkening hills.
Bolinas Snowy Egrets hunt in packs. As this smaller congregation forages, the tide slowly slips out from beneath them.
Lady of the Lagoon
I’m getting to know this Peregrine now, but she isn’t quite sure of me. I’ve drifted by her in the canoe before but this time she seemed suspicious and left suddenly rather than comfortably preening. I’ll recalibrate my distance next time and try not to disturb her. I know it’s the same bird because she is missing the tip of her upper mandible (bill).
She keeps a lookout while dinner passes silently behind her. The shorebirds keep a close eye on her too.
Odd Couple
A Song Sparrow works tirelessly to feed its gargantuan chick, a Brown-headed Cowbird.
The chick begs relentlessly and follows the sparrow’s every move.
You can barely see the Sparrow eclipsed by the well fed Cowbird chick.
Commuting Landscapes
It depends on the route I take… but this is one road to my new home.
From the ridge you can see Bolinas… somewhere, under all that fog.
In the other direction… San Francisco lies under a similar blanket, its hills altering the fogscape.
Redshoulder on the Hunt
Here is a lovely molty Shoulder with prey in Bolinas, not far from my house. I happened upon this hunt on my drive home and it affirms my notion that any hawk on a pole can be worth stopping for.
It left the roadside perch and headed to a distant row of pines.
Spotted a Gopher and dove straight down onto it.
Fled along the fence line to find a quiet place to feast.
Double checked for nearby threats before digging in. A raven landed on a nearby branch and the hawk took its meal to go (see the very first pic).
Paddling Bolinas Lagoon
I took to the lagoon for a maiden voyage in my solo canoe last Saturday. It was wonderful. Glass calm water and a four foot tide meant I could explore far and wide. And as I suspected… I was being followed. A few seals broke off from the pack and quietly shadowed me for most of the next hour.
An Osprey hurtles into the shallows while beach-goers wander in the distance.
Rising to try its luck again.
I heard a familiar and adrenaline inducing scream and looked up into the sky to find it bird free. When I glanced onshore I saw a vocal young Peregrine Falcon next to a large adult female.
It took off and powered away after a flock of shorebirds near Highway one. I was camped in my canoe fixated on the adult as the current slowly drifted me along.
She seemed comfortable, preening often and calmly looking in the direction of her departed fledgling.
She gave a stretch and took off, flying a wide arc over the marsh before climbing and setting off toward the same flock of shorebirds. It was a wonderful and unexpected encounter on a grey, still, and lovely day. I can’t wait to get out there again.
Departures and Arrivals
Violet-green Swallows have taken up residence outside my living room window so I thought a bit of digiscoping might be in order. It is great fun to watch them forage for food and make their rounds.
A rare moment of stillness. Keeping watch from the entrance.
Tipping out at an unusually steep angle.
How’s that for timing? Lining up the approach to home with a last minute insect to grab.
Swooping past the entrance with grace and style.
Brushing wingtips in an act of precision flying.
Out for more. They make sweeping arcs through the sky outside the window and are such a lovely addition to the yard.
