Black-crowned Night-Heron juvenile, Nycticorax nycticorax
I was able to get close to four Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, one adult and three juveniles recently, while they lounged about, occasionally fishing from a low tree branch. At this time of year the young birds always have a bit of fluff on their beaks, as they develop new feathers.
It was interesting that there seemed to be one prime perch for fishing and the juveniles always seemed to be able to take it away from the adult. I noted this to a friend once and he asked me if I had ever seen hungry teenagers around a dinner table. Good point.
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Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
The Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina, is widespread and common in North America and often quite tame. I’ve had them land within a few feet of me in my back yard, quite unconcerned by my presence.
In Eastern North America, they will breed in light woodland and urban settings while in the west, they prefer conifer trees.
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Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica
The Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica, is a favorite bird of many people, even those who aren’t particularly interested in birds. There is something about the huge colorful beak and the squat little body that makes it irresistable to us.
This bird nests along north Atlantic coasts from Northern Europe through Iceland to Eastern North America. It often nests with other members of the Auk family,although they have worked out a system of sharing the sea cliffs. For example in Orkney, the Black Guillemot nests at the lowest level, with Razorbill and Common Murre on the middle cliff ledges. The Atlantic Puffin are usually near the top where they burrow into the sediment to lay their eggs.
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Western Gull, Larus occidentalis
The Western Gull, Larus occidentalis, is native to the west coast of North America. Its normal range is from British Columbia to Baja California. It is primarily a marine gull, often feeding along the tidal area of the cost.
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Chihuahuan Raven, Corvus cryptoleucus
The Chihuahuan Raven, Corvus cryptoleucus, used to be known as the White-necked Raven as you can see above. It looks very much like the Common Raven but averages a smaller size, nearer to the American Crow. DNA studies show that California Common Ravens are closer to Chihuahuan Raven than they are to Holartic Common Raven.
It is found in the Southwestern U.S., and Northern Mexico.
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Puna Teal, Anas puna
Description:
The Puna Teal, Anas puna, used to be considered a subspecies of the Silver Teal, but now has full species status It has a distinctive dark cap which descends below its eye, white cheeks and blue bill with a black stripe. The sexes are similar.
Range:
It is a resident of the Lakes of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
Status:
It’s status is considered to be of Least Concern.
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Point Atkinson Lighthouse, British Columbia
Found in North Vancouver in Lighthouse Park, Point Atkinson Lighthouse was built in 1910. It replaces a structure that was first put up in 1874. There is a bit of a hike in to the lighthouse but it is well worth it as you traverse some remnant old growth forest.
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Dolphin Gull, Larus scoresbii
The Dolphin Gull, Larus scoresbii, is found on the coasts of Chile and Argentina down through Tierra del Fuego. These images were taken in Tierra del Fuego, in the Argentine sector. Their bright red bill, light eye combined with soft gray plumage makes them a very striking looking species.
The first image below shows a first year bird with its grey hood.
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American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana
One of the most elegant looking birds, the American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana, is found feeding in shallow water, often sweeping its bill from side to side. It has a cinnamon colored head in breeding season which turns to gray in non breeding plumage.
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Many people are surprised to learn that that amazing cougar image on their calender, or the Grizzly Bear in a magazine are not taken in the wild. Many of these great images are taken at game farms like Triple D. or controlled situations. When they find this out, they are often upset, feeling like they have been tricked or fooled.
I saw the above controlled scene with a giraffe and trainer, and a crew that was photographing and filming it. They would guide the trainer to move to certain position with a pail of food to get the shots they wanted. If we were to see the product of this shoot, we would probably think it was of a wild animal in Africa.
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