Juvenile Golden Eagle
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Golden Eagles Juveniles
Golden Eagles at San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Perris, CA today. The top and pair in flight are juvenile Golden and juvenile Bald Eagles in the other images. They were in flight near the rocky peak on the north as you enter the preserve.
Snowy Owl
Short-Eared Owl 
Bald Eagle 
Bald Eagles Fighting 
Mature Bald Eagle Fighting with Juvenile 
Bald Eagle in Flight 
Bald Eagle Landing 
Female Snowy Owl 
Snowy Owl on Takeoff 
Snowy Owl Takeoff 
Snowy Owl on Driftwood 
Snowy Owl in Flight 
Snowy Owl in Flight
We just got back from a trip to the Seattle area and north to near the Canadian border to photograph Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls. The Eagles were feeding on the last of the Chum Salmon run on the Nooksack River and we saw over 50 eagles on the first day with the numbers decreasing the next day to less than 25. A week or two earlier there were over 100 or more in the area. They move from river to river where the most Salmon are located. Earlier they were more plentiful on the Skagit River. The peak of the season is mid Dec to early Jan with as many as 200-300 in a short stretch of river.
The Snowy Owls only come down from Canada and Alaska in the Winter to the coastal areas of Washington state, Oregon, and all along the Northern US border. Last year the numbers were much greater ( an Irruption year) and there were not as many this year. The big numbers happen only every 5 years or so when the food supply in the North is low or a large number of Juveniles have to find new territories with more voles or mice to eat. It is necessary to keep your distance as they flush easily and your movements need to be very slow and gradual. These were shot on a Canon 7D with a 400 mm 5.6 lens. Toward sunset or early morning are the best times with softer light for the Snowy Owls.
Wood Duck
Santee Lakes
Wood Duck
Female Wood Duck 
Ring-necked Duck
Mallard Landing at Santee Lakes 
Bewick’s Wren Fallbrook, CA
Last week I went to Santee Lakes in San Diego County off the 52 freeway, Mast exit north where hundreds of Ducks winter including possibly 30 or more Wood Ducks. This is one of the few places they can be found in our area and they also nest here in the Spring. Other species include American Wigeon, Ring_necked Duck, and lots of Coots. Also found are Ospreys, Belted Kingfishers, warblers, and several Hawk species- including Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and occasionally Zone-tailed.
American Wigeon
We just got back from a trip to S Texas and covered several wildlife preserves, and state parks near the Rio Grande from McAllen, Tx to S Padre Island. First we stayed in Alamo, Tx at Casa Santa Ana, a Bed and Breakfast right next to the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge. They feed the local birds and attract lots of Kiskadees, Green Jays, Altimira Orioles, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, N Cardinals and others.
Altimira Oriole
Green Jay
Great Kiskadee
We continued to Estero Llano Grande State Park to search for the Green Kingfisher and Ringed Kingfisher with no luck. This is a very good park with lots of variety. We did see the Common Pauraque, a strange bird in the Nighthawk family which looks like a piece of wood or fallen leaves and is nearly impossible to see if it doesn’t move.
Common Pauraque
Next we traveled to the S Padre Island area and went to Laguna Atacosa National Wildlife Refuge which has lots of raptors including Cara Caras, White-tailed Hawks, Aplomado Falcons, Ospreys, Harris Hawks, and other S Texas specialties. The preserve is huge and has tropical thorn scrub, grassy plains, and coastal tidal flats. This part of Texas is as far south as S Florida and is the northern range of many Mexican and Central American species which are found no where else in the U.S.
CaraCara eating a rodent
CaraCaras mating
Cara Cara at Laguna Atacosa
The other area that we visited was on S Padre Island at the S Padre Island Birding Center next to the Convention Center, where there are a series of boardwalks over the salt water marsh. This is an excellent place to see Roseate Spoonbills, Tri-colored Herons, White Ibis, American Bitterns, Reddish Egrets, many Ducks and shorebirds.
American Bittern
Reddish Egret
White morph Reddish Egret (unusual color form)
White-tailed Hawk
Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill
Gull with starfish
Gull with starfish
Gull with starfish
Bird Rock at sunset, Crescent Bay (Laguna Beach, Ca)
Bird Rock at sunset, Crescent Bay (Laguna Beach, Ca)
After a couple more days photographing at Laguna Beach, CA (Shaw’s Cove), Crescent Bay (Laguna) and Bolsa Chica I shot these photos. The sunsets are more bird landscapes with the Cormorants and Pelicans on the rocks taking a backseat to the spectacular sunset. The gulls were eating starfish due to their dying from warmer than usual water temps. Some actually swallow the starfish whole, while others tear them apart on the rocks. The Green Heron is a juvenile at Bolsa Chica about 15 miles north of Laguna.
Reddish Egret
Reddish Egret catching fish
Reddish Egret
Reddish Egret
I photographed a Reddish Egret at Bolsa Chica Preserve in Huntington Beach, CA after many previous attempts at getting this close. The best time appears after low tide when the current is coming in but still lots of shallow water. This Egret has an almost comical hunting tactic as it dances and spreads it wings in order to confuse and herd its prey of small fish, crustaceans, and insects in the shallow water. They tend to run back and forth, wildly flapping their wings and then capturing the prey with their sharp beaks. Their range barely reaches into S Cal and there are very few birds in our area. Have not seen any reports on breeding yet here.
Sora
Sora
Soras are in the Rallidae family of Rails, Moorhens, and Coots and are marsh birds usually found in shallow water in reeds and cattails. They are generally very secretive and are more often heard than seen. This one was photographed at San Elijo Lagoon, Solana Beach, CA.
Juveniles Kites chase sibling for mouse in talons
Juvenile Kite landing
Kite acrobatics
Kite Landing with mouse in talons (tucked close to body)
Larry Moskovitz photographing Kites
Larry with Canon 7D and 400 mm f5.6 lens
Larry photographing Kites
The Kites have fledged and are hunting on their own. When one gets a rodent the others chase behind and try and take it away. It makes a spectacular air show but of course not always within camera range- usually not. The trick is multiple shooting sessions and a lot of luck. Photos of Larry by Ray Spencer
white-tailed Kite juvenile
white-tailed Kites juvenileWhite-tailed Kite
Kites
White-tailed Kites
Young White-tailed Kites learning to fly and hunt for rodents. I am still trying for an acrobatic food transfer in mid-air. The next shot is an attempt at that but not close enough.
White-tailed Kites transfer mouse in mid-air
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrines at Play
Peregrines at Play
Peregrines at Play
Peregrines at Play
Peregrines transfer prey in mid-air
Peregrine Falcons
Peregrine takeoff
Peregrines
Juvenile Peregrine Falcons learning flying and prey capture skills at Torrey Pines St Park, La Jolla, CA. They even practice passing off prey in mid-air with sticks and moss. The Peregrines fly along the cliff right next to the Guy Fleming Trail. If you want to see the show get there within the next week or two before they leave to find their own territory.