LuckyPink
climber
the last bivy
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Dec 28, 2012 - 12:21pm PT
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Nita, thanks for your post re the snowgoose festival. checking out the art gallery online! I've enjoyed some of our best birding at Delevan et al.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 28, 2012 - 06:15pm PT
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I am reticent to post this from Birdforum.net but I trust this won't result
in a mad dash to Wawona Meadow, except by me! ;-)
"My husband just met The Great Gray Owl of Wawona Meadow, Yosemite, just south of the edge of the golf course, about 9:45AM, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012. The owl was sitting on a stump near the meadow loop trail and Stan was riding his bike. He was sitting so quietly and only about 15 feet from the trail, just looking at Stan. Stan talked to him and he flew up to a nearby tree where he had to peek around a branch to see as Stan talked to him. The owl talked back, making low squeaking sounds as if talking, too. Stan rode his bike underneath him, and when he looked at the owl, the owl made a face at him as if that was unacceptable behavior, and so Stan took that as his que to leave, so he did. It was an exciting encounter with a Great Gray Owl."
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Slater
Trad climber
Central Coast
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Dec 28, 2012 - 07:00pm PT
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Reilly, so lucky!!!
Like your pic of the dove too... fancy feet!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 29, 2012 - 11:08am PT
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Slater, get yer butt up to the Modoc NWR - there's a Common Crane there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There can't be but one or two Cali records for them, if that!
Oh, and for the record, I swallowed my pride and sought professional help with my AZ
mystery bird I posted a page or two ago. It was a Mexican Jay! It just looked so totally
And blandly grey compared to the lovely bluish ness that Sibley portrays.
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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Dec 29, 2012 - 06:59pm PT
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Up on Whidbey Island over the holidays. Lots of birds.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Dec 29, 2012 - 07:44pm PT
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Mike, that Varied Thrush is gorgeous!
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Tony
Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
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Dec 29, 2012 - 11:03pm PT
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Yes, Mike. Very nice shot of the Varied Thrush (and the others). They are very skulking and tough to catch.
While visiting SoCal for the holidays, I have managed to get out birding a few times. On one outing I visited Bolsa Chica Wetlands, which has been improved dramatically since my youth in the area. A Yellow-crowned Night Heron was reported last month. I managed to find it on my visit. The plumage has changed since it was first seen, so it was easier to pick out.
Here it is with a juvenile Black-crowned for comparison.
This spot has also become reliable for watching the wild foraging antics of the Reddish Egret year-round.
Blue-winged Teal, which are scarce in the SF Bay area, are also present.
We also saw this Large-billed (Savannah) Sparrow. They were formerly a separate species and may get split in the future.
I missed seeing a Zone-tailed Hawk that has been reported to be hanging out at a big Turkey Vulture roost. It turns out that it had flown in earlier than usual and was probably perched in the trees where I was watching. Damn! I will probably be able to give it another try before heading home. Maybe we will take the coastal route home and see if we can find a Gray Hawk in Carpinteria.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 29, 2012 - 11:28pm PT
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There was a White-faced Ibis at Bolsa Chica last week.
The Gray Hawk has been pretty reliable at Christmas Tree Ln.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Dec 30, 2012 - 06:52am PT
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So many awesome photos!
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Lokesh
Mountain climber
Big Bear California
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Dec 31, 2012 - 07:59am PT
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[photoid=281369]
I'm Definitely not the kind of birder who goes for Big Years...Probably more birds got away then got counted this year, but it was a kick none the less and full of Great Memories and adventures from Denali to the Dry Tortugas. I hit 300 birds yesterday with an Elegant Trogan in AZ and a pair of spotted's in a flood ravaged wash in the Huachuca's. Ok for a beginner, and a lot of fun. I'll post a few more pics in the days ahead. Happy New Year!
And good birding to all in 2013!
Scott
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Dec 31, 2012 - 08:05am PT
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Congrats Scott - love the Trogon. Can't see enough of those!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 31, 2012 - 08:08am PT
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Don't talk to me about Spotteds in the Huachucas! You're part of the disinformation
plot, right? Spent a good 4 hours scouring both branches of Scheelite last
May looking for them! But I'm happy for you, really. So, how did you find 'em?
ps
I'm grumpy this morning cause I got rained out of Bolsa Chica yestereday
looking for the Reddish Egret and the White-faced Ibis. :-(
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Dec 31, 2012 - 08:20am PT
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Yeah, cool Spotted Owl shot - he/she looks quite content all fluffed up and such! We also wondered around a few drainages last year in So AZ looking for these guys with no luck, maybe next time :-)
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Slater
Trad climber
Central Coast
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Dec 31, 2012 - 09:28am PT
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I saw around 2,000+ White Faced Ibis yesterday at Pixley NWR in the central valley of CA. I couldn't count the number of Sandhill Cranes.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Dec 31, 2012 - 09:33am PT
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This thread just keeps on giving. You photographers are AWESOME!!!!
Thanks for sharing!
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Dec 31, 2012 - 02:21pm PT
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Great shots everyone...really nice stuff.
A Cooper's Hawk paid a visit to the feeders today and didn't go away empty handed. I couldn't get a good angle on the bird but here are a few shots anyway.
A few random shots from the past few days.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Dec 31, 2012 - 02:35pm PT
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Saw a pretty ordinary bird today - a Mallard. What was unusual is where we saw him: Inside the Chase Bank Lobby on Table Mesa!
It was snowing and cold and there he was behind us waiting to make a deposit or something. I got a box and picked him up. He was perfectly fine with that (and made a deposit at that moment).
We drove him to a nearby lake by our home where we know there to be other Mallards and let him go.
Fun distraction from the day.
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WBraun
climber
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Dec 31, 2012 - 02:37pm PT
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And loving it ^^^^^ ......
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Dec 31, 2012 - 02:52pm PT
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Hooray for Crimpie and BN!!!!!
You two are WUNNERFUL!!!!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 31, 2012 - 03:15pm PT
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I'm not surprised at the Mallard's choice of bank. You ever watch those
drakes chase their wimmen?
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