2 November 09
31 October 09
American Crow
A murder outside my window. Happy Halloween.
28 October 09
26 October 09
21 October 09
Bluebirds in Profusion
Bluebirds seem to have cycles, and perhaps we’re entering a new one. They investigated this very box for weeks earlier this year, only to opt for something different, from which the pair fledged at least two but probably more young. I sketched this bird this morning in good light and added color later. It was a bit strong, the color, but it was definitely this type of effect.
I sketched this other bird later in the day when the colors were more washed out and the bird itself, a juvenile, was in any case more muted.
Who knows whether they’ll continue to do this for the next few weeks or will range widely for food (lots is available now, and the rain has perked the place up a lot).
20 October 09
Three White-Tailed Kites
They nested here this year but I haven’t seen or heard them for weeks until today, all balancing precariously on the pine trees out back, all of them tail-bobbing…
14 October 09
Belted Kingfisher
A rattle, a flashing:
the kingfisher sees my puddle
and thinks it’s a lake
12 October 09
California Condor
A trip with the Ventana Wildlife Society to see the condors along the Big Sur coast. We saw several in the air and this perched juvenile, hatched in the wild.
Condors take a long time to reach sexual maturity and this youngster, hatched in 2007, has recently been pushed away from its parent’s home range as they attempt to nest again. It will be a few years before it’s ready to fine a mate of its own.
8 October 09
Female Nuttall's Woodpecker
Chilly at nights now. Woodpeckers go to bed early; they spend a lot of energy excavating holes and want to be sure they aren’t evicted by squatters. This female has been hanging out in the nest box, peeking out at around 8:30 in the morning, deciding it still wasn’t quite warm enough to get up…
1 October 09
Cooper's Hawk Under Trees
Big commotion outsde, and the young Coop perched on a post. 