Our 10 Favorite Bird Photos From 2020

Photographing birds has never been our top priority when out birding, but we do appreciate how photographs can help enhance a memory. We’re always amazed how looking at a photo can elicit a vivid recollection of details about the observation or even the whole birding excursion itself.
 
Here are 10 of our favorite photographs from 2020, presented in chronological order. All photos were taken using a Canon EOS Rebel T2i with a 55-250mm lens.
 

1. Forster’s Terns – Vallejo, California

Highway 37 traverses the wonderful bird habitat of San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Depending on the time of year, thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds populate the wetlands surrounding the road. In early January 2020, we stopped at a pullout to watch a small group of Forster’s Terns repeatedly create graceful shapes in the sky before plunging bill-first into the pond for fish.
 

2. Emperor Goose – Bodega Bay, California

This stately Emperor Goose (originally spotted by local birder Scott Carey) somehow ended up in Bodega Bay, far from its normal home of Alaska and Eastern Russia, just as COVID-19 started turning our world upside down. Unbeknownst to us, this day would be our last excursion to Bodega Bay for six months! As the sun set, we wondered if the goose’s northward gaze was infused with a longing for its native land. Perhaps it took to flight that night, as this turned out to be the last time it was spotted at Bodega Head.
 

3. Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird – Guerneville, California

We love watching the year-round antics of Anna’s Hummingbirds. Then, when spring rolls around, the appearance of a bright-orange Rufous or Allen’s Hummingbird male is especially dazzling! During the first couple days of shelter-in place, this gorgeous male perched in nice lighting above our deck. One of our photos captured its nictitating membrane (the translucent inner eyelid that closes horizontally across the eye) – so neat to see! We’re looking forward to the two seasonal Selasphorus species returning next month.
 

4. Osprey – Guerneville, California

We feel so fortunate that several Osprey nests line the Russian River near our home. One early spring day, while gazing out from at a spot overlooking the river, the snapping sound of a breaking branch startled us from behind. We turned just in time to discover this beautiful Osprey cruising right over our heads with a lichen-covered branch in tow. A second bird appeared, and the pair headed upriver to continue their seasonal nest renovations.
 

5. Bald Eagle – Russian River, Monte Rio, California

During a Russian River paddle back in June, we settled our kayaks in the shade to listen to the birdsong soundscape. Imagine our surprise when after 10 minutes, we suddenly realized this gorgeous adult Bald Eagle had been perched just 20 yards from us the whole time! As the eagle quietly preened and rested, we basked in its majesty during our picnic lunch.
 

6. Green Heron – Russian River, Monte Rio, California

When birding the river by kayak, most Green Herons skulk about in densely packed branches evading our peering eyes. So, we reveled in the opportunity to glide by this beauty as it perched out in the open, gloriously lit up by the sun. What an interesting combination of contrasting bright and muted colors this heron species has.
 

7. Wrentit – Bodega Bay, California

The Wrentit is another bird with an affinity for skulking. We love this capture of one through the branches – an adorable rotund body to match its bright round eye. On this same fall day, we also observed a pair of Wrentits allopreening while buried deep in coyote brush – the first time we’ve personally seen this species grooming one another.
 

8. Cedar Waxwing – Sebastopol, California

There’s nothing like a bevy of birds banqueting on berries! One autumn day in Sebastopol, we delighted in watching a flock of Cedar Waxwings dining on pyracantha berries. One second a berry’s in the beak, the next second it’s gone – so we had to be quick to snap the photo above.
 

9. Least Bittern – Petaluma, California

Back in November at Ellis Creek, we ran into a friend who mentioned another local birder had earlier spotted a rare Least Bittern. We scanned the edges of the reeds – hopeful but not really optimistic, due to the bird’s talent for blending in. Suddenly, a flash of buffy-orange darted across an open patch of water and disappeared. Over the next 30 minutes, we only managed to get another one-second glimpse. But, when we walked over to that area, we discovered the diminutive bird buried in the tules, standing straight up as bitterns tend to do.
 

10. Hermit Warbler – Guerneville, California

This Hermit Warbler turned out to be a much-appreciated gift this past holiday season. Hermit Warblers breed in our neighborhood in spring, when the species is more commonly observed in Sonoma County. But, their relatively small numbers and the fact that their nests occupy the highest reaches of the conifers make getting a clear view of them rather difficult. When this individual unexpectedly appeared in late-November, it routinely foraged at eye-level, affording us some close-up views. This photo captured the little darling soaking up the winter sun in the tanoak tree in our yard.
 
2020 was an exceptionally difficult year for everyone, and its no surprise that birds provided a constant source of solace for many folks. Though “normal” everyday life has changed globally, birds lift us up and remind us that the natural world carries on. We hope the new year shapes up to be full of birds, nature, health, and abundance for all of you!

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Check out last year’s collection of “Our 10 Favorite Bird Photos From 2019.”