TNT to PNP

 

California Towhee in Salvia Patch

This was one of those days where I started out like TNT (cue the AC/DC song) but ended up PNP seven hours later. Pretty Near Pooped. Although I ran into a group of birders looking for a local rarity at Elk Glen Lake, I didn't get to see it myself and was content to watch and photograph a lot of the more usual suspects.

I forgot to post these awesome dreds a couple days ago.

Pork Truck on Noriega Street

A large flock of cedar waxwings was winging it around the Sunset Parkway this morning. A good bunch flew out of this tree as I approached. Just below it was a small, berry-clad cotoneaster bush. I waited in vain for them to come back. This guy was one of a handful of newcomers that only stopped by for a moment.

Hardly any yellow on this young Lesser Goldfinch, but he's singing his heart out just the same (video below).

Preening Allen's Hummingbird Near Mallard Lake

While I was watching the hummingbird, a red-shouldered hawk flew by with a gopher in its talons, looking for a good perch to consume it on. Dissatisfied with this one and the next one, it finally absconded into the tall branches of a eucalyptus.

Still watching the hummingbird to see if it would start feeding on some nearby purple flowers, one of the two singing Wilson's Warblers around the lake popped onto this branch and let loose (video below).

This is the hummingbird I was watching, and when it finally did return to feeding on the purple flowers, it chose a group of them beyond my field of view.

I don't often see female Allen's hummingbirds.

At Elk Glen Lake I contented myself with the likes of red-winged blackbirds while several birders were more single-mindedly seeking a Yellow-throated Warbler that is way out of its usual range.

Here's another Anna's hummingbird working a patch of white ramping fumitory.

I photographed a few mourning doves at Elk Glen Lake, but I liked this one best because of the lichen-crusted branch.

The resident purple finch was devouring seeds at the Salvia patch.

No "nectar robbery" here....

I saw this red-tail as I was biking past Lindley Meadow (near Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park) and wondered what it was doing until I noticed the wet feathers (video below).

Pygmy Nuthatch in Bison Paddock

The wasp nest was attacked yet again, leaving little for the remaining hornets to work with.

There was a nice patch of yellow-staining agarics beneath some redwoods at North Lake.

Mama and Papa Bookending the Goslings

I stopped carrying my camera microphone because I almost never actually use it. Today I shot three videos (a lesser goldfinch and Wilson's warbler singing, and a bathing red-tail) and wished I'd had it. 

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