lmSA84 - Big Year 2018 (Part Deux)

[lmSA84]

@elefromoz - thank you! Finally.....someone who sees my artistic vision!

[lmSA84]

Another business trip to Oakland, with an added stop in Denver, affording my two different quick birding opportunities.

 

My first stop was Lake Merritt, the location from which I posted my first set of US photos. The scene has completely changed - the ducks and grebes are all gone (a bit sad because I wanted to see them in breeding plumage) so my focus was mainly on Passerines. 

 

First a few photos of ones already posted

 

Bushtit - this is the female which can be told by the colouration of her eyes

 

 

This is invariably the same Black Phoebe - but this time with it's mate and nest.

 

 

 

American White Pelican

 

 

Double-crested Cormorant

 

 

Dark-eyed Junco

 

 

Western Gull 

 

 

NA. 43. Cattle Egret

 

This is not new to my overall count but is for the US.

 

 

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

 

 

American Crow

 

 

Edited May 8, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

152. NA 44. Bewick's Wren , Lake Merritt (Oakland, CA), April

 

[lmSA84]

153. NA 45. Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Lake Merritt, April

 

[lmSA84]

154. NA 46. Song Sparrow, Lake Merritt, April

 

[lmSA84]

155. NA. 47. Brown-headed Cowbird, Lake Merritt, April

 

[lmSA84]

156. NA. 48. Brewer's Blackbird, Lake Merritt, April

 

Edited May 8, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

157. NA. 49. Lesser Goldfinch, Lake Merritt, April

 

 

 

[Galana]

Add more likes!

[xelas]

Look them in the eye ... not always possible yet your photos gives us that perspective. Lovely eyes, btw. And all the Likes for all the new birds, @lmSA84.

[Zim Girl]

Love the pictures of the Cattle Egret.

[Tdgraves]

Ha! @lmSA84 just got back from California and saw a similar selection of birds!

[TonyQ]

A great selection of birds - some beauties in your duplicates!

[lmSA84]

1 hour ago, Tdgraves said:

Ha! @lmSA84 just got back from California and saw a similar selection of birds!

 

@Tdgraves - glad to hear it! I hope you had a great time and I look forward to seeing the shots (assuming the camera went too...?)

[Tdgraves]

3 hours ago, lmSA84 said:

 

@Tdgraves - glad to hear it! I hope you had a great time and I look forward to seeing the shots (assuming the camera went too...?)

 

Yes, but I have to finish the South African ones first...

[Geoff]

nice egret portrait.

[michael-ibk]

Another vote for the Egret, very cool picture. Very good and educational ebc-stuff but I'm afraid you're far from having really mastered them. I will give you a few lessons when I finally find the time to "clean house" with my clicks from this year. ;-)

[lmSA84]

Your kind comments are always welcome - thank you all

 

@michael-ibk - ahh Michael a true master doesn't reveal all his tricks at once. There are plenty more exhibitions of ineptitude to come! 

[lmSA84]

I mentioned that my last business trip had two stop overs. The second was East of the Rockies in Denver, CO so a whole new set of birds awaited me.

 

All these photos are taken at the Bluff Lake Nature Center in Denver. 

 

158. NA. 50. Rock Wren, May

 

[lmSA84]

159. NA 51. Belted Kingfisher, Denver, May

 

Both genders have a blue slate belt across their upper chest but the female also has rust coloured chest indicating that this is the male. Unfortunately, it was a very overcast day with intermittent rain when all these shots were taken. 

 

[Peter Connan]

Lovely take-ff shot!

[lmSA84]

@Peter Connan - thanks for the kinds words

[lmSA84]

160. NA 52. Red-winged Blackbird, Denver, May

 

Male and Female

 

[lmSA84]

161. NA 53. Wild Turkey, Denver, May

 

[lmSA84]

162. NA. 54. Common Grackle, Denver, May

 

This is the Bronzed Grackle sub species which occurs West of Appalachians up until the Rockies