15 May 09
Friday Sketching
Lunchtime sketching with Becky. It’s getting hot, so not so many birds, but a bushtit put in an appearance. I tried a couple of swallows flying high and a very high Swainson’s.
21 April 09
Tree Swallow
I have given up predicting what birds will end up nesting in this box, but this tree swallow seems convinced. Or not. The bird was banded, a federal band on the right leg.
21 April 09
Moluccan Cockatoo
Meant to post this on Saturday; this bird was in the avian and exotics show at Picnic Day. Maxwell, his name is.
17 April 09
New Picnic Tables
Don built us some new picnic tables and benches, the old ones having rotted. They are lovely and make it possible to sit outside and sketch, before it gets too hot. Becky and I sketched bluebirds and the white-tailed kite that pounced on something and guarded it with wings akimbo until it finally took off with it.
The magpie I drew was banded — perhaps from our West Nile Virus study several years ago? — and the jackrabbit sat in the shade, panting.
8 April 09
17 March 09
Inky-Pinky
Birds on poles and branches. The house wren is advertising this condo, loudly. Bluebirds still dithering.
23 February 09
Soggy Yellow-billed Magpie
Lots of drenching rain yesterday. The magpies alternated between foraging in raucous flocks and repairing to the walnut tree where they would shake themselves out, also raucously, before returning to the invertebrate feasts on the alfalfa field
23 February 09
Phainopepla
I led a trip for California Duck Days on Saturday. It was a sunny respite between two strong wet systems and we were treated to knockout views of this male phainopepla, guarding his patch of mistletoe. Note the punk do.
23 February 09
23 February 09
Red Crossbill
We don’t suddenly have red crossbills in the area. I sketched this one during Rodd Kelsey’s excellent talk on these birds last Wednesday…