 |
| Townsend's Warbler, SF Botanical Garden |
I struck out on finding an unusual migrant that was reported yesterday in the Botanical Garden, but the bird activity around the pond in Children's Garden was a nice consolation on a beautiful Saturday morning.
 |
| I started looking for the migrant (a summer tanager) where all the commotion was coming from, hoping it would enjoy hanging out with all the robins feasting on berries. If it was still in the area, I didn't see it (nor did anyone else I spoke with). |
 |
| I was surprised to find a great blue heron hunting in the little pond. It can't be an easy spot to fly into and out of with those big wings. I didn't see it make a strike, but it rested unperturbed by the few human passers-by. |
 |
| Steller's Jay in the Willows |
 |
| The Allen's hummingbird was being chased by a larger Anna's hummer when I first saw it. Once it alighted on this branch, though, it seemed to be in an acceptable location since I didn't see it get chased off from here. |
 |
| Such a beautiful bird in such a tiny package. |
 |
| A female Anna's hummingbird dropped by to collect cattail fluff for her nest. |
 |
| I didn't think to watch where she went once she'd gathered enough of the seedhead fluff to fly it back to the nest. |
 |
| There were many yellow-rumped warblers around, as usual. |
 |
| I don't have my glasses on when I'm shooting, so I sometimes raise my camera just to see what a bird is. A couple of times I thought I was finding a pine siskin, only to realize it was another yellow-rumper. |
 |
| But at one point, a pine siskin did come close enough for a shot. |
 |
| Several birds, mostly robins, were bathing in the pond, but this Townie must also have jumped in, as he spent quite a while preening afterward in a thicket of branches. |
 |
| Preening Townie No. 2 of 4 |
 |
| Preening Townie No. 3 of 4 |
 |
| Preening Townie No. 4 of 4 |
 |
| A local song sparrow ate whole cherry plum blossoms... |
 |
| ...while an Anna's hummingbird just sipped the nectar. |
 |
| The Townsend's warblers were also apparently feeding on the nectar. |
 |
| A northern flicker's calls were going unanswered from deep in a thicket of willows and other plants. |
* * *
Posts
