American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
Though ordinarily elusive and well-camouflaged in the marshes, this bird's home range covers most of North America. In breeding season over much of the continent it can be found in the northern US states and the southern Canadian provinces while wintering birds will travel as far south as southern Mexico. Populations in the pacific states are more likely to be found year-round.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, braced against car window frame. 1/400 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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American Bittern #26, Yolo County California
14 December 2022
male Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
A male Barrow's Goldeneye splashes water with his bill as part of a dominance display. Each winter Barrow's Goldeneyes visit Sacramento County's American River in small numbers. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is more numerous but the two species have slightly different habitat preferences, Barrow's preferring smaller stream channels than Common Goldeneye.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster & 1.4x TC, tripod & pocket blind. 1/2000 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Barrow's Goldeneye #20, Sacramento County California
04 December 2022
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)
Outside breeding season, this species tends to be nomadic, searching for good crops of nuts and acorns, so it can be hard to predict where it will be found. During the winter of 2023 - 2024 a large flock visited Lake Solano County Park where the resident Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) did not appreciate competition for the acorn crop, driving the visitors away from the Acorn Woodpeckers' acorn storage trees. I used my camper as a blind which not only partially concealed me from the birds but also raised the camera closer to the birds' eye level than if I had been standing on the ground.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, braced against camper window frame. 1/640 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Lewis's Woodpecker #23, Solano County California
03 October 2022
female Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I visited California's Calaveras Big Trees State Park specifically to find this bird. I spent two days and many miles hiking the trails with a much-too-big camera looking for the species with little luck. While preparing dinner in the campground on my last evening in the park, I heard the unmistakable pounding of a large bill on a big stump. I shoved dinner in the bear box and followed the bird in the fading light as it foraged near my campsite, nearly oblivious to me.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, very big tripod. 1/160 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Pileated Woodpecker #09, Calaveras County California
24 August 2022
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Photographed at Bodie State Historic Park while looking (unsuccessfully) for Sage Grouse.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, hand-held. 1/400 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Violet-green Swallow #00, Mono County California
18 July 2022
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
For several years Sacramento County's Lake Natoma has been home to a breeding pair of Bald Eagles whose activities have been well documented by nearby residents. This particular bird is at the 'feeding tree' where the adults brought fish to lure the year's fledgelings away from the nest.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, big tripod. 1/2000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Bald Eagle #21, Sacramento County California
06 July 2022
male Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
Unlike other sapsuckers, Williamson's Sapsucker shows dramatic sexual dimorphism, so much that when western scientists first described the species it was thought to be two separate species.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster & 1.4x TC, big tripod. 1/500 sec @ f/8, ISO 500. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Williamson's Sapsucker #22, Nevada County California
20 June 2022
Redhead (Aythya americana)
Plumas County's Sierra Valley has spring-fed wetlands east of the Sierra Nevada crest where numerous species breed in the pastures. Much of this habitat is privately owned; for this photo I stopped at the side of the road leading through the marsh where the vegetation was low enough for a clear view and waited in a comfortable low chair, concealed by camo-print bug netting until the ducks were comfortable enough to swim within camera range.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, big tripod & pocket blind. 1/2000 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Redhead #06, Plumas County California
13 May 2022
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Cavity-nesting birds' breeding density is frequently limited by the number of available cavities; this bird has claimed a cavity in a sycamore tree and is telling other Tree Swallows to "scram, this one's taken".
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, big tripod. 1/250 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Tree Swallow #05, Sacramento County California
04 May 2022
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
One of the most striking of North American raptors, Red-shouldered Hawks are common in the riparian woodlands bordering Sacramento County's American River. This particular bird had just finished eating a small rodent whose blood has stained the limb just below the hawk's tail.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, hand-held. 1/640 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Red-shouldered Hawk #23, Sacramento County California
26 April 2022
male Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Unlike other North American hummingbirds, Anna's Hummingbirds are not migratory and can be found in many habitats along the west coast. This bird has claimed a display perch on the bluffs overlooking Sacramento County's American River where he is using the bright gorget color to let others know this is his turf.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, big tripod. 1/500 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Anna's Hummingbird #66, Sacramento County California
18 April 2022
Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)
Through many years of observation I have determined that 'adorable Oak Titmouse' is redundant. These birds are in the family Paridae which includes chickadees. This bird is common in the riparian lowlands of Sacramento County where the usual west coast Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) is absent. These birds are very active, rarely posing for photographs but can be lured within camera range with treats such as suet or sunflower seeds.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 100-400mm GMaster @ 400mm, tripod & semi-permanent backyard blind. 1/500 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Oak Titmouse #24, Sacramento County California
05 March 2022
male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
This striking diving duck is an occasional winter visitor to the Sacramento region. This particular winter several found good fishing at Sailor Bar County Park near my home. I sat quietly near the water's edge and waited for the birds to approach within camera range.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, big tripod. 1/2500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Hooded Merganser #15, Sacramento County California
16 February 2022
Red-naped x Red-breasted Sapsucker hybrid
(Sphyrapicus nuchalis x ruber)
Sapsucker hybrids can occur in the regions where the ranges of Red-breasted Sapsucker and Red-naped Sapsucker meet in the western mountains. The almond tree outside my kitchen window has long served as a sapsucker magnet; each winter one or more of these birds finds and takes advantage of the tree. This bird has drilled a neat row of sap wells and appears to be proud of its work.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, big tripod & portable blind. 1/260 sec @ f/8, ISO 1000. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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22 January 2022
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Rocky slopes are prime habitat for this bird. Beeks Bight at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area is my go-to spot for Rock Wren, but it can be found elsewhere in similar habitat. This bird was especially accommodating except when it came too close for my lens to focus.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, hand-held. 1/2000 sec @ f/8, ISO 1000. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Rock Wren #19, Placer County California
21 Janurary 2022
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
This was a surprise visitor to my yard's "sapsucker magnet" almond tree. Red-naped Sapsuckers ordinarily winter east of the Sierra Nevada crest but a handful find their way west to the Central Valley each year. I keep an eye on this tree every winter, expecting a Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) or a Red-naped x Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis x ruber) hybrid. My portable blind was too far away when I observed the bird fly to the tree but it was remarkably tolerant as I inched the blind within range for photos.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, big tripod & portable blind. 1/200 sec @ f/9, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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12 January 2022