Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
Four months to the day since a Wilson's Warbler passed through my yard on his way to breeding grounds farther north, this male arrived on his way south for the winter. There's some variation is the size & shape of this species' black cap and from this angle the cap on this bird looks identical to the cap on the bird in May. I have no way of being certain but it wouldn't surprise me at all if this is the same individual.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC & tripod. Photographed from inside my backyard blind. 1/640 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1280. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
13 September 2025
American Beaver (Castor canadensis)
Only two living species of beavers (genus Castor) are found worldwide, the Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber), and the American Beaver also known as North American Beaver. This rodent is widespread over much of North America as far north as southern Alaska, native to parts of Mexico and has been introduced in South America and parts of Scandinavia.
Beavers are known for building dams and lodges, using their teeth and powerful jaws to gather trees and brush for building materials. The American Beaver can be found in many places along Sacramento County's American River but being nocturnal are observed infrequently.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 1.4x TC. 1/320 sec @ f/4, ISO 2500. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more American Beaver photographs
11 August 2025
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, where I had intended to visit, was closed for emergency levee repairs so I fell back on Plan B, cruising the country roads outside Davis California looking for this species. As it turned out the spot I picked to pull over and ready my camera was right under this bird's favorite singing tree. I then noticed the nearby sunflower fields and decided this spot would do.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster & 1.4x TC, big tripod. 1/1000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Blue Grosbeak photographs
Blue Grosbeak #06, Yolo County California
01 July 2025
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, tripod & pocket blind. 1/250 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Western Tanager photographs
Western Tanager #25, Lake County Oregon
28 May 2025
Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, tripod & pocket blind. 1/320 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Green-tailed Towhee photographs
Green-tailed Towhee #11, Lake County Oregon
28 May 2025
Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, tripod & pocket blind. 1/400 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Townsend’s Solitaire photographs
Townsend's Solitaire #03, Lake County Oregon
28 May 2025
female White-headed Woodpecker (Leucontopictus albolarvatus)
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, tripod & pocket blind. 1/250 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more White-headed Woodpecker photographs
28 May 2025
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
A Wilson's Warbler was part of a wave of neotropical migrants passing through my yard on their way to breeding grounds farther north. Other spring migrants the same morning included Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii), Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus), Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) and a couple of Northern Yellow Warblers (Setophaga aestiva), none of which are typically observed in my yard. It was an exciting few hours.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC & tripod. Photographed from inside my backyard blind. 1/500 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
Wilson's Warbler #17, Sacramento County California
13 May 2025
male Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
A pair of Western Tanagers was part of a wave of neotropical migrants passing through my yard on their way to breeding grounds farther north. Other spring migrants the same morning included Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii), Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus), Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) and a couple of Northern Yellow Warblers (Setophaga aestiva), none of which are typically observed in my yard. It was an exciting few hours.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC & tripod. Photographed from inside my backyard blind. 1/320 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Western Tanager photographs
Western Tanager #12, Sacramento County California
13 May 2025
female Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeaks rarely visit my yard but the best odds are during spring migration. Three of these birds took turns at the bird bath and took advantage of the suet feeder.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & tripod. Photographed from inside my backyard blind. 1/640 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Black-headed Grosbeak photographs
Black-headed Grosbeak #09, Sacramento County California
25 April 2025
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
This species, despite being common in the right habitat, eluded me for many years. A visit to the salt water marshes of Martinez Regional Shoreline Park proved to be all I needed.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC, hand-held with shoulder stock. 1/1250 sec @ f/8, ISO 1000. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Common Yellowthroat photographs
Common Yellowthroat #06, Contra Costa County California
17 April 2025
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
A pair of Red-tailed Hawks has built a nest near the top of an enormous redwood tree in my front yard. I'm not sure if this is the male or female, they look nearly identical. In most raptor species the female is larger so if I see them side-by-side I can make a guess. This one has more ragged plumage than the other, note the missing secondary wing feather and the battered ends of the tail feathers.
Red-tailed Hawks are the most common raptor in most of California. The usual advice when identifying a raptor in the state is to assume it's a Red-tailed Hawk unless proven otherwise. This species has a wide range of plumage variation including no red on the tail. Key identifying field marks: a soaring hawk with broad wings & relatively short tail, dark leading edge of the wings' underside and a band of streaks across the belly. Some individuals are much lighter (more typical of birds in eastern North America) and some are nearly black. On a perched bird viewed from the back the scapular feathers are lighter colored than the back & upper wing coverts, forming a "V".
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/6400 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 1250. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Red-tailed Hawk photographs
06 April 2025
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/250 sec @ f/8, ISO 1000. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Northern House Wren photographs
28 March 2025
Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)
Over the years the almond tree outside my kitchen window has earned the title of "Sapsucker Magnet". Each winter I look forward to the season's sapsucker visitor which could be a Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red-naped x Red-breasted Sapsucker hybrid or, once, a Red-naped Sapsucker.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster & a very large tripod. 1/250 sec @ f/10, ISO 1000. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Red-breasted Sapsucker photographs
Red-breasted Sapsucker #25, Sacramento County California
07 February 2025
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/800 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Red-tailed Hawk photographs
03 February 2025
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
The Common Goldeneye is a regular winter visitor on Sacramento County's American River but as it prefers large open water getting close enough for photographs can be challenging. Bringing a camera in a kayak on flat water is risky enough, a river with patches of white water adds another dimension to the risk so I chose to stick to terra firma.
An inlet at a county park was large and deep enough that the birds felt comfortable, occasionally wandering within camera range. Finding a spot with suitable light and backgrounds I planted myself in a ground-level chair, covered myself with camo-print netting and waited.. and waited... and waited.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC, ultralight tripod. 1/2000 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Common Goldeneye photographs
27 January 2025
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
Found year-round in wetlands and marshes in California's central valley and the coastal Lower 48 as well as much of Central and South America, this vociferous bird can also found in breeding season in the west's Great Basin.
The Cosumnes River Preserve in southern Sacramento County where I found this bird is a seasonal wetland with a wide variety of wildlife habitats.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/8000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Black-necked Stilt photographs
15 January 2025
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
One might guess from this bird's name that this is not the only sandpiper with yellow legs; if you did, you'd be correct. The Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) is larger with a proportionally longer bill that lives in very similar habitat. These two species are easiest to identify when they're feeding side-by-side.
The Cosumnes River Preserve in southern Sacramento County where I found this bird is a seasonal wetland with a wide variety of wildlife habitats.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/8000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Lesser Yellowlegs photographs
15 January 2025
text & photographs Copyright © Douglas Herr
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last updated 18 February 2026