Some Birds from San Luis Obispo County

We recently visited San Luis Obispo and had the opportunity to do some birding. Our hotel was directly beside the bird-rich Laguna Lake, so we didn’t have to go far for birds. Moreover, for an auspicious start to our first morning, this gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk greeted us from the hotel parking lot!

Continue reading “Some Birds from San Luis Obispo County”

Ruby-crowned Kinglet with black feet yellow legs perched on skinny branch with sky and ground in background

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. Continue reading “Our 10 Favorite Bird Photos From 2020”

Bald Eagle adult perched on a thick branch against green foliage

Birdwatching on the Russian River by Kayak

Last week, we headed to Monte Rio for an early morning paddle. At 6:30 AM, a layer of morning mist still covered the glassy water while the sun began to peek above the forest line. Continue reading “Birdwatching on the Russian River by Kayak”

Spotted Towhee with tail cocked up perched on a branch in Sonoma County Bay Area Northern California

1-Mile Radius Discoveries

When the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order was initially issued back in March and the county parks subsequently shut down, it became clear to us that non-essential travel was prohibited. Since we interpreted driving to see birds as sadly non-essential, we knew we had a lot of neighborhood-birding in store! Continue reading “1-Mile Radius Discoveries”

Sora foraging out in the open on mud next to reeds at Swan Lake in Reno Nevada

Birding Trip Report: Swan Lake Nature Study Area

During a recent visit to the Reno-Tahoe area, we stopped briefly to bird Swan Lake Nature Study Area, a wetlands habitat in Reno, Nevada. Lightning flashed in the distance and the thunderstorm clouds combined with the sun’s golden hour to produce this insanely gorgeous landscape. Continue reading “Birding Trip Report: Swan Lake Nature Study Area”