Andrea

California Least Terns!

I feel a little like this grebe in life right now. Just trying to stay upright in the waves. So much is going on.
#HoldingOn #WesternGrebe

#NoKings

We went for hike today that started off cloudy, but it turned sunny when we reached the top of the climb, which made for a lovely butterfly filled walk back down! There were so many little Blues floating around, including this pretty Bernardino Blue that even opened wings for me!
#BernardinoBlue

I love it when birds look right at me. It makes me see them in an entirely different way, often kinda funny! 😄

Allen's hummingbird having a holiday and sipping while sitting. 😆

#AllensHummingbird

Thanks!

Trying to get through the week with the fierceness of this Whimbrel. I’m so tired and it’s only Tuesday?!

#Whimbrel

100% agree. It’s better every year! It’s wild!

Inquiring birds want to know! What cool birds did you see on #MigratoryBirdDay?! Saturday was #GlobalBigDay and I got out to see some fun birds at my favorite local patch! I haven’t even looked through my photos yet though… too many more birds to see today! 😂

#LetsGoBirding
#WesternMeadowlark

I feel like Brown Pelicans suspect every smaller thing of being a snack. 😆
#BrownPelican #ForstersTern

A Red-Throated Loon showing a little bit of that red throat! So pretty!

#RedThroatedLoon

Royal Terns doing a little dance together!
#RoyalTern

Sandy Spaghetti!
#BlackBelliedPlover

The various fluffs of a Junco!

I love watching terns dive in the ocean for fish. Occasionally, they come up with one just a bit too big and lose it. This fish got a second chance!

Snowy Plover is going for breakfast!
#SnowyPlover

A little Snowy Plover squabble with a bit of bounce escape. These birds are tiny, but have big personalities with each other. Remember to #ShareTheShore!
#SnowyPlover

Test the water with a toe... nope, too cold still.
#RoyalTern

Thanks! Still working on better but better than it was! 🙃

A striking gull, the Heermann's Gull comes in a variety of colors. Here we have the monotone model and the more earth-toned version, but with a vibrant orange bill to steal fish from other birds! 😂
#HeermannsGull

I hope so!!

Great Blue Heron is having a great hair day!
I've been fighting a mean ear infection with vertigo and just overall tiredness for the last week or so, so apologies for the gap in posts. But here's a fun bird to keep things going!

#GreatBlueHeron

"Get. Out. It is my snack!"
Merlin with a little butter butt snack. 🫣
#Merlin

Mountain Bluebirds are just crazy blue! So pretty! And a perfect contrast with the green behind it!
#MountainBluebird

I was overjoyed when I finally found one of the hardest-to-find (for me) birds, the American Dipper. It was a real treat when it finally let me see its cute little bobbing self. It was a tough bird to photograph and to find, but eventually, I got it!
#AmericanDipper

Steller's Jay - always a sharp-dressed forest bird!
(Can we change the name of this bird to Stellar Jay, please?)
#StellersJay

The Marine Blue is a common butterfly in Southern California. It’s a small butterfly in the bigger group of Gossamer winged butterflies. They tend to flutter around in coastal sage scrub habitats.

#MarineBlue

The western pygmy blue is one of the smallest butterflies in the world and the smallest in North America! These two were fluttering around, and I was surprised with how tiny they were!

#WesternPygmyBlue

That smoky eye usually means an immature male or eclipse! They are tricky similar to females in those plumages!