2021 Begins with Birds
I didn’t realize the above photo of the gnatcatcher at Morro Bay would be so popular on the Birding California Facebook page. Last count it had 1200 reactions and 83 comments. It’s reminiscent of the Angry Bluebird that was popular several years ago. This little fluffball was uncharacteristically cooperative, as they are generally in constant motion catching, well, gnats.
The gnatcatcher on the right is one that was banded at Morro Bay in January 2019 by the California State Parks crew. Yay! I love finding banded birds, and even more when I get enough readable numbers to trace when and where it was banded.
I wanted to find the zone-tailed hawk that had been seen at Morro Bay (and has been sighted elsewhere, hanging out with turkey vultures) but no luck. However, it was a perfectly productive morning to photograph other avian denizens.
Oddly, the bay was still and calm, while just the other side of the Rock were raging waves (my previous post.)
Eared grebe 
Ruby-crowned kinglet 
Savannah sparrow 
Savannah sparrow 
California thrasher 
Eared grebe
Spotted towhee 
Fox sparrow
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
Online gallery: Smugmug and Fine Art America
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Even the surfers wouldn’t ride the waves
A huge storm far offshore generated HUGE waves that we don’t often see here in Central Coast California. I went out to Morro Rock on Sunday and then to Estero Bluffs just to the north and marveled at the beauty and power of the ocean. Enjoy these images!
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
Feel free to reblog or share
Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
Online gallery: Smugmug and Fine Art America
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Morro Coast Bird Festival – part 6
While the birds were the stars of the Morro Coast Bird Festival, the landscapes were a bonus. We had both sunny days, and overcast ones.
Read the rest of this entry »Morro Coast Bird Festival – part 2
The Morro Coast Bird Festival held in January 2019 at Morro Bay, California had a huge selection of field trips, workshops, and classes to choose from. I chose two trips in a boat, a walking trip along Morro Bay, and some car caravan trips.
The brown pelicans are coming into their breeding colors, but I had never seen one fly with his huge head dangling down like this one.
Read the rest of this entry »The Most Stunning View Ever!
Hollister Peak at sunset is viewed from a remarkable pullout on California’s State Route 46 between Paso Robles and U. S. Highway 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway).
From the same vantage point is Morro Rock. Both are part of the Seven Sisters (some say it’s Nine Sisters) – remnants of ancient volcanoes in San Luis Obispo County. Read the rest of this entry »
