We often see Brant's Geese hanging around in small groups on the beach. But on this day, something must have scared them and they all took flight, showing us the zigzagging streak of white at the very back of their tails. As is often the case with groups of birds in flight, their wings are in various positions. We are able to see a little of the face of one of the birds, but the others were singularly focused on getting out of Dodge.

Brant geese flashing their tails at us

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#OTD 4/10/10 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Most of the bottom of this frame is occupied by a cattle egret in flight. Its white wings are stretched out and drape downward. Its orange beak is pointing to the right. It is wearing an elegant orange cap and its black feet are stretched out behind it. In the background is a carpet of green.

Cahokia cattle egret in flight

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#OTD 4/9/24 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

A pair of eagles nested at a local elementary school for a few years. We were lucky enough to see them there at their nest and flying off to capture food for their babies and flying back. In this photo, only one of the eagles is shown. We see its strong yellow claws, huge dark wings, bright white head, and scary yellow hooked beak. Behind the bird is a cloudless blue sky.

Milpitas bald eagle in flight

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#OTD 4/8/18 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

We know that this is a sparrow. But what kind? It's got some yellow on its head, but not the full bright yellow crown of a golden-crowned sparrow. So, perhaps it's a juvenile golden-crowned sparrow. I am not an expert. Meantime, the feet of this bird are captured very clearly in this photo. They look very long to me. The nails look very, very long to me. Perhaps they are good for spearing worms and such.

Sparrow, perhaps golden-crowned, perhaps a juvenile, at Mavericks

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#OTD 4/7/18 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Grebes are such tiny birds. When I see them floating along on the ocean, I am always struck by how long any being in that enormous expanse must be. This beautiful grebe has many more white feathers - mottled ones on its breast, bright white ones on its neck - than other grebes. Its beak is orange. It wears a deep black hat of feathers on its head and down the back of its neck. But mostly in this photo, we see the deep light-green ocean, rippling, around the grebe.

Clarke's grebe

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#OTD 4/6/13 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

In this photo we see two horizontal strips of blue-grey ocean water, and between these is a strip of many, many sanderlings all flying toward the right. We can see their white faces with black eyes and beaks, black wings, and stubby, forked, black tails. We see that a yellowish-white border edges the birds. This border goes around the wings and the down to the tips of the tails and then back up around the back of the tail and then (we can assume) the border heads back up the tail and edges the other wing that we cannot see. We don't typically see flocks of sanderlings flying in these numbers at Mavericks. Instead we usually see groups of one or two or three on the sand. Perhaps something running down the beach spooked the sanderlings into the air.

Sanderlings in abundance

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#OTD 4/4/15 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

In the photo, a Wilson's warbler is huddled into the leaves of a verdant bush. Although its face is bright yellow, the bird is hard to spot. Its dark green body and black cap help disappear the bird into the shrubbery.

Wilson's warbler at Pillar Point Bluff

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#OTO 4/3/19 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

We'd spent the day at the Presidio and decided to find Andy Goldsworthy's Earth Wall before we left. Unfortunately the signage is terrible, so after wandering about for a while, we sat down to rest at Inspiration Point. Where we were inspired by the sight of several hawks in the blue cloudless sky. The first hawk to get our attention was this vibrant red-shouldered hawk which flashed us its black-and-white striped tail, black-and-white striped body and wing-tips, and bright red shoulders. On the way to the car, we caught inspiring glimpses of Goldsworthy's Spire.

Red-shouldered hawk flying over Inspiration Point

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#OTD 4/2/26 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

We don't realize how scant and red the light has become when we've been at the beach for awhile and the sun is going down. So the focus is a little soft and the bird is a bit dark and the ISO is high so the grain is annoying. But look how the downward curve of that right wing echoes the swoop of the rocks out in the ocean. And the red light bouncing off the bird's white belly makes it look rusty. The yellow legs are sticking straight out and its muddy toes are pointed. The yellow beak is pulling toward the rock.

Heron flying at sunset

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#OTD 4/1/18 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

This killdeer laid its eggs on the gravel on the side of a busy parking lot. It tried to get us to leave it alone and after I'd taken too many photos, we did move to a different spot. Killdeers have distinctive dark brown stripes that run from the top of their heads to the base of their necks. Their wings are a lighter brown.

Killdeer without much parenting skill at Trax.

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#OTD 3/31/24 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

We see the coolest birds in dog parks, but I promise we don't choose the park just for the birds. Our dog loved this one too. We saw this red-headed woodpecker atop a dead-seeming tree. Couldn't miss that bright red head. I don't think I have seen a red-headed woodpecker since.

Red-headed woodpecker at Rum Village Dog Park.

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#OTD 3/29/24 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Greens reign in this photo. There are the yellowish-green neck and breast of the bird, its black-ish green wing folded at its right side, the light-green undersides of the fuchsia leaves and the bright green tops of the leaves, and a solid deep green background (perhaps the light was being blocked by the leafy trees). Despite its monochromatic nature, the photo is actually a colorful one, and it's set off by a glimpse of bright pink fuchsia blossom in the bottom right of the frame.

Female lesser goldfinch on the fuchsia plant.

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#OTD 3/28/19 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

In the photo we see a junco standing head down, legs apart, on the front rim of a large, empty, brick-red planting pot. We know it's in my backyard see the redwood decking behind the bird.

Junco in my backyard

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#OTD 3/27/18 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

The marbled godwit on the left of this photo is showing us how its beak differs from the beaks of the two Hudsonian whimbrels walking towards it from the right. All three are hanging out on the sand at Mavericks.

Two Hudsonian whimbrels and a marbled godwit, I think.

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#OTD 3/26/2021 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

#oneOfTheseThingsIsNotLikeTheOthers

It may be called a common loon, but it's not common at all. It's all greys and blacks and whites and yet it stands out in the fog and dull green water.

Common loon at Mavericks

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#OTD 3/26/16 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

The coastal trail saved me when I needed to use my knee stroller. That spring, the super bloom was happening, but I couldn't go see it. We visited NYC but I couldn't use the subways, because even though the signs had the disabled-accessible stickers, the elevators were broken so I couldn't get down to the tracks. Anyway, the coastal trail is beautiful. And paved so it's smooth enough for a knee stroller. Lots of lovely birds. Like this one, a red-winged blackbird that chose to hang out with us and sing its truly ugly song. As its name says, it is deeply black with a flashing red wing. It's sitting on a lovely green carpet of cactus brush. Behind the bird and the greenery is our customary coastal fog.

Red-winged blackbird singing its head off

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#OTD 3/25/17 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

We are honored to have a pair of peregrine falcons that have chosen to nest near our house. It is a delight to see them fly together, work together to feed their young, and return year after year. They are famously fast in flight, so hard to capture. I this shot, at least the yellow eye and beak of the bird are in focus. Its wings are spread and its feet are tucked below its tail.

Peregrine falcon at Devil's Slide

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#OTD 3/24/21 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Took a bird walk at Horseshoe Farm Preserve. An amazing time. Saw all kinds of birds you don't see every day. But here's one we see all across the country. Which doesn't make it less special. Especially because well, it's hard to capture a swallow in flight. This one is pretty nearly in focus, too. Alone in a clear blue sky.

Tree swallow in flight over Horseshoe Farm Preserve

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#OTD 3/23/19 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

In the photo are three grebes, nearly equidistantly arrayed across the frame. The grebe in the middle is looking at us sideways with its bright red left eye. The two on its right and left sides look to be dozing with their black and white striped heads tucked in different positions.

Three western grebes.

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#OTD 3/22/16 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Well, it's not totally in focus. But it does capture the moment. A beautiful bird in flight. A beautiful, fragrant plant that is giving the bird sustenance by way of delicate (but very bright) pink blossoms. Two fuzzy leaves of the sage frame the bottom right of the photo.

Anna's hummingbird on hummingbird sage

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#OTD 3/21/18 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

A beautiful Anna's hummingbird turning its back on a scenic spray of white invasive plants. The sky behind them is a solid cheerful blue.

Photogenic Anna's hummingbird

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#OTD 3/20/24 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

It's a big ocean and oftentimes when I see a little waterbird alone in the expanse, I feel for its loneliness. But buffleheads hang out together most of the time, so mostly I just admire their utterly weird head markings. The males are particularly odd. They have black heads and backs, with a thick slash of pearlescent white that separates their head from their back, and then another slash of white on their bellies. In the photo are two male buffleheads floating along companionably on the slightly rough waters.

Male buffleheads swimming pacifically

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#OTD 3/19/14 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Spotted towhees might be one of my favorite bird species. They are quite showy, and yet, even when you hear their ridiculous raucous screeches, they are very hard to spot. (Spot-ted towhees, get it? They don't have many spots. Just a few bright white ones on their deep, black wings. They also have dark red eyes, silvery sharp beaks, a frosty white breast, and rusty sides. This one is sitting amidst a significant tangle of bare branches at Pulgas Ridge.

Spotted towhee at Pulgas Ridge

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#OTD 3/18/18 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Saw this pair on a bird walk at the Presidio. As you can see, it was a bright shining day and it made the red head of the male glow. The female on the left is looking striated and bulked up, ready for the child-bearing tasks that seem likely to be in her future.

Pair of house finches

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#OTD 3/17/13 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

This beautiful bird is perched on a bare tree in the way back of my backyard. I don't think I've ever seen another varied thrush anywhere near here. The bird wears a chocolate brown mask and brown wings. Its face and neck are pumpkin orange. In the photo it is posed in front of a curtain of long green eucalyptus leaves.

Varied thrush in our backyard

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#OTD 3/16/15 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

In this photo, the Steller's jay at the top of a pine tree is nearly silhouetted in front of a foggy-grayish sky. The bird has a dark black crest and a vividly blue body. The pine needles are dark, dark green. It is a simple tableau.

Steller's jay at the tippy-top of a tall pine tree

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3/15/25 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

House finches are common in our neighborhood. We know this one is a male because its head is bright red. We can also get a glimpse of bright red feathers under the bird's wings. (Female house finches have much more dour coloring - pale brown and white.) This finch is perched at the top of a plant. Behind the bird is a dappled green forest.

House finch on the prairie

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#OTD 3/14/24 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Not going to say that there's never been a day when I visited our prairie and failed to see a bluebird. However, I usually see a bluebird or two or more every time I walk there. On this day I'm 2024, there were many, many bluebirds. Sometimes one on the top of each vertical pine branch, sometimes arriving, sometimes leaving. In this photo, there's one bluebird sitting on top of its branch facing to the left, a few empty vertical branches, and another bluebird just having left its branch and flying off toward the left. The sky behind them is a solid blue.

Bluebirds coming and going on the prairie

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#OTD 3/13/24 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

Butter butt is the nickname for "yellow-rumped warbler". In the photo, we see two birds sitting on pine tree branches. We see the warbler's bright yellow band over its dark tail, its dark back, and the dark back of its head as it points its beak away from us. On the butter-butt's right side is a bluebird, perched on an adjacent pine branch. The bluebird is looking right at us, with its beak pointing toward the warbler. We see the bluebird's white chest, the red stripe above the white stripe, and this bird's bright blue head, back, and wings.

Butter butt and bluebird.

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#OTD 3/12/24 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)

There's a woman who goes on many bird walks that I go on. Within minutes after you meet her, she lets you know that she is a physician. A Stanford physician. She graduated from Stanford. She is tall and assertive. She knows pretty much everything about everything, but if she can't spot the bird we are interested in, she doesn't want YOU to tell her where it is. She wants the guide to tell her. She will tell YOU to "shut up". Like that. No need to say "Please". My friends and I don't know her name. We just call her "The Stanford Doctor." The Stanford Doctor probably lives in an expensive house in - Stanford. A different ecological niche that my neighborhood. The Stanford Doctor tells me that there are no Allen's hummingbirds in this area - MY area - until spring. This is a photo of an Allen's hummingbird. Or else it's a rufous hummingbird. It was taken on March 11, 2025. Here, we start seeing Allen's hummingbirds around early February. But our neighborhood is deeply uncool and the Stanford Doctor will never be here, and so she will not see any hummingbird here.

Allen's hummingbird on the prairie

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#OTD 3/11/25 #birds #birding #birdsOfMastodon #aBirdAday (or more)