Belted kingfisher female perched on a dead branch, facing towards the sun

Belted kingfisher female perched on a dead branch, facing to the side

Belted kingfisher female perched on a dead branch, facing to the side

Belted kingfisher female perched on a dead branch. The rusty plumage on its breast is more visible here.

• Belted Kingfisher •
• Megaceryle alcyon •
• Sepulveda Basin •

Being sick for a month takes its toll, happy to be healthy again! Here’s a beautiful female Belted Kingfisher that I saw this weekend at Sepulveda. Loving this fall weather!

#birds #birding #birdwatching #nature #wildlife #SFVAudubon

Mr. & Mrs. California Quail on a wet morning in SoCal. #birds #californiaquail #sfvaudubon #hansendam

Y'all ever have a bad hair day? Female Belted Kingfisher. Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve. #birds #kingfisher #sepulvedabasin #sfvaudubon

Cassin's Kingbird, Sepulveda Basin Encino CA #birds #SFVAudubon

Lawrence’s Goldfinch perched on a branch

Lawrence’s Goldfinch tilting its head inquisitively

Los Pinetos Trail, crest overlooking the North San Fernando Valley. So many beautiful creatures up here! Red-shouldered hawks, ravens, lesser and Lawrence’s goldfinches, scrub and Steller’s jays, phainopepla, two coast horned lizards, and hooded orioles. Some beautiful bugs as well - I’m not as fluent in handling those IDs, but I try to record what I can nonetheless.

Descent down the “Viper trail” portion of the Los Pinetos Loop - this section was really nasty, very steep, very slaggy, with lots of scrabble and loose dirt. The descent can be really difficult without poles, and should be taken extremely slowly with a low center of gravity! I got down just fine - but my knees and feet are howling from the effort.

• Lawrence’s Goldfinch •
• Spinus lawrencei •
• Placerita Canyon •

Tackled the Los Pinetos Loop today! 6.9 miles, 1,768’ elevation gain, 2h48m total time. Thrilled to get a good snap of Lawrence’s Goldfinch, too!

#birds #birding #birdwatching #hiking #SoCalHiking #SFVaudubon #nature #wildlife

OK, I know this isn't vibrant. But check out the cammo on this Common Poorwill - Hansen Dam, Los Angeles Area. I could not see it was a bird until it blinked and then thought a rock blinked?It was in fine loose gravel among buckwheat plants #birds #SFVAUDUBON

Common Yellowthroat through branches

Common Yellowthroat singing in the branches

Common Yellowthroat through branches

• Common Yellowthroat •
• Geothlypis trichas •
• Sepulveda Basin •

The mask on this Common Yellowthroat reminds me of a raccoon - like little bandits flitting about!

#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdscrolling #birdlovers #birdphotography #naturephotography #nature #wildlife #SFVaudubon

Green Heron stalking the water’s edge

Green Heron, droplets streaming from its beak after darting for a catch

Green Heron looking at camera

Green Heron, profile shot

• Green Heron •
• Butorides virescens •
• Sepulveda Basin •

Watched this Green Heron in gorgeous breeding colors catch breakfast! A favorite species of mine in both MI and CA.

#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdlovers #birdscrolling #birdphotography #naturephotography #nature #wildlife #SFVaudubon

Anna's Hummingbird feasting on Cleveland Sage nectar #birds #SFVAudubon

Song Sparrows are just special, we are blessed to have a family of them. Encino, CA #birds #sfvaudubon #songsparrow

Allen's Hummingbird after a hard day sucking nectar - his beak is encrusted with pollen. Not the aurora borealis behind him, just a hibiscus. Encino, CA #birds #allenbshummingbire #sfvaudubon

Anna's Hummingbird gets a sip of nectar Encino CA #birds #sfvaudubon #annashummingbird

Demonstrative Anna's Hummingbird female - Encino CA #birds #hummingbirds #sfvaudubon

Neighborhood Northern Mocking Bird. Oddly he is missing the end of his lower beak. Nonetheless, he sings loudly at all hours and seems healthy. #birds #sfvaudubon #northernmockingbird

Hooded Oriole female - finally got a shot of her. they are very cautious - it's a good thing. Love seeing them every year! So. Cal. #birds #hoodedoriole #sfvaudubon