Clare's First BY

[campsafari2015]

Monterey continues to yield some great experiences for me. Today, I decided to have lunch out at the local park where all the rareties popped up a bit ago. As I was surveying the area, my little Sora friend showed up, but he brought a noisy friend along! 

 

205) Virginia Rail - 5 October (Monterey, CA)

 

[campsafari2015]

Breaking with all the new life birds to get a bird that has been evading me in the county. We get a ton of Cooper's (its nearly identical, bigger lookalike), and I finally got a confirmed Sharpie! 

 

206) Sharp-shinned Hawk - 5 October (Monterey, CA)

 

 

 

[campsafari2015]

Had this beautiful, diminutive goose for my latest sighting. Smallest specimen I’ve come across for the species, and quite adorable.

 

207) Cackling Goose - 7 October (Monterey, CA)

 

 

[campsafari2015]

208) Tropical Kingbird - 10 October (Monterey, CA) 

 

[campsafari2015]

Repeat species, but I was quite taken with this Western Bluebird growing into its adult plumage in front of the turning Fall maple trees. 

 

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful colours! Nice job.

[campsafari2015]

209) Whimbrel - 2 Jan (Monterey, CA) Finally a decent-ish picture. 

 

[campsafari2015]

210) Western Meadowlark - 11 October (Monterey, CA)

 

[campsafari2015]

211) American Pipit - 11 October (Monterey, CA)

 

[shazdwn]

Cackling goose is such a great name for a bird 

[campsafari2015]

212) Herring Gull - 20 Jan (Monterey, CA) 

 

[campsafari2015]

213) Eurasian Wigeon - 19 October (Monterey, CA)

 

This one caused a lot of weirdness in the community. Apparently, the American and Eurasians are particularly difficult to tell apart in their hatch years. So, photos of this individual went out all over to the experts in ducks and it was ruled a Eurasian. 

 

[campsafari2015]

Here's a few repeats, but the girls were putting on a show and they deserve some love too!

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, a common hybrid around here: Greater White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose. Still waiting on my pure GWFG, but enjoy seeing this one around. 

 

[campsafari2015]

214) Chipping Sparrow - 22 October (Monterey, CA)

 

[TonyQ]

The Western Bluebird is a beautiful bird, shown off well in a beautiful photo!

[campsafari2015]

215) Canvasback - 29 October (Monterey, CA)

 

[campsafari2015]

Some repeats, but I'm trying to take more time and appreciate the regulars. 

 

 

 

 

 

[campsafari2015]

216) European Starling - 3 January (Monterey, CA) 

 

I'd been waiting to take a decent picture of these birds. They tend to be overlooked, but even thought they're invasive, I think they're pretty and I like their songs.

 

[campsafari2015]

217) Swamp Sparrow - 31 October (Monterey, CA) 

 

 

 

[campsafari2015]

More repeats! Enjoying getting out and about recently. 

 

 

 

A well-known hybrid around here (Western x Glaucous-winged). Caught himself a crayfish !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[campsafari2015]

218) Pacific Loon - 27 March (Monterey, CA) 

 

Fall migration over the Monterey Bay is getting into full swing!

 

[campsafari2015]

219) Costa's Hummingbird - 4 November (Monterey, CA)

 

 

Edited November 6, 2020 by campsafari2015

[elefromoz]

Gorgeous Hummingbird, wish I'd known they were around when I was in Monterey some years ago

[campsafari2015]

On 11/9/2020 at 2:22 AM, elefromoz said:

Gorgeous Hummingbird, wish I'd known they were around when I was in Monterey some years ago

 

They're rare here, but this one has decided to claim for himself one small area of flowers that bloom year round, so the local community has been able to see him for about 2 months now! 

 

Edited November 12, 2020 by campsafari2015

[campsafari2015]

220) Northern Waterthrush - 10 November (Monterey, CA)