Friday, November 16, 2012

Birds of California's Santa Cruz County

After sharing some thoughts and images of birds from a trip to Orange County, California the other day I thought I'd continue with a California theme today and share images of some birds I enjoyed during a business trip to San Jose back in August. I was able to fit in a couple trips from San Jose to the Santa Cruz area between work meetings during the five days I was there. I managed some brief visits to Terrace Point/Long Marina Lab, Natural Bridges State Beach, and West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. I spent a half day at Pajaro (Spanish for 'bird') Dunes with a former work colleague and a local birder the day before my work meetings began. When I checked my lists at the end of my trip I realized I was able to see 12 life birds during my outings.

The first outing to Pajaro Dunes resulted in the following images.

California Towhee (a life bird) at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA

California Poppy, the California State Flower, at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA

Heerman's Gull at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA

Heerman's Gull at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA
Below are images of three separate Red-necked Phalaropes in three different plumages. I believe I captured one each of an adult male breeding (some red remaining in neck), a juvenile (gold tones/stripes on back), and an adult non-breeding (essentially black and white) plumage. I may be missing the mark on those identifications so I welcome additional thoughts/insights on the plumage details.
Juvenile Red-necked Phalarope at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA

Adult Non-breeding Red-necked Phalarope at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA

Male Adult Red-necked Phalarope at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA

White-crowned Sparrow at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA

Chestnut-backed Chickadee (a life bird) at Pajaro Dunes Santa Cruz County, CA
The remainder of the images are from various locations closer to Santa Cruz. I wish I would have had a scope to see the birds out on the ocean. I'm sure I missed some good ones, but it's hard to take a scope on a business trip.

Brewer's Blalckbird on West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, CA

Bewick's Wren at Long Marine Lab Santa Cruz, CA

Bewick's Wren at Long Marine Lab Santa Cruz, CA
The following images of Black Turnstone's (a life bird from the trip) were taken under a foggy sky so I had to play with my exposure settings.
Black Turnstone at Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA

Black Turnstone at Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA

Black Turnstone at Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA
 The sun finally broke through the fog just before I spotted my lifer for California Thrasher.
California Thrasher at Long Marine Lab Santa Cruz, CA

Heerman's Gull Flying Along West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, CA

Heerman's Gull at Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA

Snowy Egret Hunting Under Gloomy Skies at Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA

Western Gull Santa Cruz, CA

1st Year Western Gull? West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, CA

Whimbrel on Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA

Black Oystercatcher at Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA

Black Oystercatcher at Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz, CA


3 comments:

  1. Wow Jeff! Great shot.

    I had a lovely trip through California two years ago but without a camera. It was great to relive it here.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Laurence, for commenting. I did years of business travel to many parts of the world before taking up birding and bird photography. It kills me to think of all I missed during those years in all those beautiful places.

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  2. Thanks for your post of last year, loved seeing the Chickadee like the
    one in my Capitola backyard.

    ReplyDelete