Birds of the Oaks
Acorn woodpecker female
Since I live in the Central Coast area of California, there are lots of oak trees, mostly blue oak, and there are some very nice stands of large valley oaks as well. The acorn woodpecker is extremely populous here, since there’s a plethora of acorns. You can see how striking they are with their black-and-white plumage topped with a red cap, and white eyes.
Acorn woodpecker granary tree
I’ve always admired their granary trees, where they drill holes in the bark and fit the acorns into them as a way of storing them through the winter. They jealously guard these granary trees, and only allow members of their family group to partake.
Western bluebirds are also abundant, and undoubtedly many woodpecker cavities serve as their own homes.
Fledgling Western Bluebird
They hang out in the oaks and other trees bordering grassy areas, where they catch bugs.
Fledgling western bluebird and parent
There are several bluebird families at the Mission San Antonio de Padua.
Ash-throated flycatcher
The ash-throated flycatchers like those millstones, too.
Red-breasted sapsucker
The red-breasted sapsucker isn’t nearly as common as are the acorn woodpeckers.
Phainopepla male
Frankly, I don’t know if this is the phainopepla’s usual range, but I have seen them several times here. They are more common in the desert areas and feast on mistletoe berries. In that we have tons of oak mistletoe I’m surprised I don’t see more of these birds.
Ruby-crowned kinglet
The ruby-crowned kinglet seems to be all over the country!
Turkey vulture
The turkey vulture is also a ubiquitous bird.
Turkey vulture
This turkey vulture looks positively vulturish.
California scrub jay
The California scrub jay is also quite common in oak country.
Mockingbird
Here’s a real surprise for me. The song of the mockingbird is, for me, the Song of the South. I grew up in Louisiana and Texas hearing its melodious song, so seeing how common they are here messes with my mind. I’m so glad!
California quail male
You’ll notice there are a LOT of birds with “California” in their name. Not sure why, but it shows how special we are to lay claim to so many feathered dinosaurs.
California quail female
These birds, however, aren’t too loyal to their namesake state, because they spend the day calling out “Chi-ca-go” to each other.
Song Sparrow
Several sparrows are found here, but they aren’t among the most common birds.
Golden-crowned sparrow
The golden crown isn’t as gold in winter.
Savannah Sparrow
Yellow-billed magpie
Black-billed magpies are common in the West, but the yellow-billed is endemic to central California.
California towhee
The California towhee is in the sparrow family.
Spotted towhee
Its spotted cousin, however, is more handsome. This one is gathering pine needles for its nest.
Spotted towhee
Notice the red eyes.
Anna’s hummingbird male
Anna’s hummingbirds are found here year-round.
Bushtit
You never see just one bushtit. They travel in small noisy flocks and rarely keep still long enough to take a photograph.
Hooded oriole juvenile male
The orioles leave for the tropics in winter.
Western kingbird
So do the western kingbirds.
Western kingbird
This one shows a little of the orange-red cap that normally stays hidden.
Jolon, California
I’ll end this with a winter landscape typical of the Central Coast.
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Camp Parks – Wildlife Oasis, part 4
Great egret with mouse
This great egret finds the grasslands of the Parks Reserve Forces Training Center, aka Camp Parks, to be an excellent hunting ground. Its bill was already quite bloodied before it caught the mouse. Read the rest of this entry »
Camp Parks – Wildlife Oasis, part 3
Turkey families were abundant at the Parks Reserve Center Training Area, also known as Camp Parks, in the Bay Area of California.
Two hens and about 20 chicks were in this group. Read the rest of this entry »
Tule Elk Herd
A herd of tule elk grazed peacefully in a field along Mission Road, Fort Hunter Liggett, California on Saturday, back-dropped by blue and valley oak. Tule elk are the smallest of the three elk sub-species found in California. Read the rest of this entry »
A Pretty Cool Day
Rainbow and blue oak, Fort Hunter Liggett, California
I missed the bus yesterday morning. Actually there was a new driver and he wasn’t at my stop at the right time. So I drove 50 miles to work.
I’m glad I did because as soon as I got to Fort Hunter Liggett, California, the rainbows happened. Read the rest of this entry »
Homosassa Wildlife Park
Crested caracara
My birding friend Marilyn and I knew that the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park was a great place for bird photography from a visit a few years earlier. We were determined to return when I was able to extend a business trip to take advantage of a 3-day holiday. Read the rest of this entry »
Snail Kites and ChizzyWinks
Florida snail kite, female
Actually, I thought they were called chisleywinks, but couldn’t find that word, so chizzy wink it is. But more about them in a minute
Florida snail kite, male
This post is about the endangered Everglade snail kite, which lives in the U.S. only in Florida and eats pretty much only apple snails. Read the rest of this entry »
Elk, Deer, and a Cougar
The area around Fort Hunter Liggett, California is known for its wildlife and scenic beauty. Herds of tule elk live on and near the post, and are often seen along the main public roads.
I’ve yet to see a bull elk, but these cows posed so nicely for me in the early morning light that they were irresistible. Read the rest of this entry »
Morro Bay Birds
Morro Rock
Morro Bay and the coastline to the north and south of it is my favorite part of the California Coast. It is also the most picturesque and interesting from my point of view. Read the rest of this entry »
Sacramento NWR in the Fog – Day 2
Tundra Swans
Even though the thick fog kept me inside until noon and persisted all day, it lent a beautiful background with muted palette to the photographs. There were perhaps thousands of tundra swans in the wet fields enroute to the Llano Seco unit northwest of the main refuge, and the above image is by far my favorite of the day. Read the rest of this entry »
