For the last several years, my photographic interests have shifted toward wildlife. While I love large animal photography; birds with their broad range of sizes, colors and behaviors, offer a never ending set of photographic choices. That said, they are fast and they fly making bird photography a real challenge!
I live close to a national recreational area, and birds from there, among others, visit my backyard feeders.
This photo essay reflects the birds that come by. As new species visit, I update this essay.
Warblers, Bushtits & Wrens
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Bewick's Wren
American Bushtit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wrentit
Bewick's Wren
American Bushtit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Larger Visitors
Dark Morph Red-tailed Hawk
California Scrub Jay
Hooded Oriole
Female Nuttell's Woodpecker
Cooper's hawk
Northern Mockingbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark Morph Red-tailed Hawk
Spotted Towhee
Male Nuttell's Woodpecker
California Towhee
American White Pelican
Mourning Dove
Mallard Duckling
Hummingbirds
My backyard has presented me with an identification dilemma. I know that I have Anna's hummingbirds but I am not sure if my others are Allen's Hummingbirds or Rufous Hummingbirds. It turns out that Allen's and Rufous may be the most difficult species differentiation among birds in the US. So, like many birders, I will give them both names. That said, I am leaning toward Allen's.
Female Allen's / Rufous Hummingbirds
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Female Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Female Anna's Hummingbird
Female Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Male Allen's / Rufous Hummingbird
Finches
Male House Finch
Female House Finch
American Male Goldfinch
Male House Finch
Female American Goldfinch
Male Yellow House Finch
Female House Finch
Sparrows
Female White-crowned Sparrow
Female Common Sparrow
Male White-crowned Sparrow
Male Common Sparrow feeding Fledgling Common Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Male White-crowned Sparrow
Male Common Sparrow
Male White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
I'm looking forward to more species passing through my backyard as the seasons change. As for now, I will keep practicing with the ones I have.
L. Carl Volpe - carl.volpe@gmail.com
Images from other trips may be found at the link below