A Red-shouldered Hawk is wonderfully camouflaged among fall leaves. It makes me realize how often I must miss seeing birds that are right at hand, but wearing Mother Nature’s natural cloak of near invisibility. #birds_matter #birds

It was fun to sit at the river’s edge and watch this little Spotted Sandpiper go about its business with its constant tilting as it foraged and, every now and then, a successful dip. #birds_matter #birds

A Killdeer takes to wing, brightening the sky on a dull day. #birds_matter #birds

A Northern Harrier checks out a large pond that is new territory for her. There are a lot of American Coots here. I expect she’ll decide to hang around. #birds_matter #birds

A sweet Oak Titmouse pauses for a portrait. Just a picture of an ordinary little bird, rated Common. Common, that is, if you live in California. Seen almost anywhere else, this bird would be a rare vagrant, an exciting sighting! Everything is relative. #birds_matter #birds

A young White-crowned Sparrow isn’t yet showing its crown - that will appear during its winter molt - but it is already skilled at snatching a bug. #birds_matter #birds

The very aptly named Greater Yellowlegs migrates between Canada and South America, but can be seen along the west coast of the US all year. Despite its broad range it is rated Near Threatened due to loss of habitat. One day we humans will get a clue. #birds_matter #birds

The Great Blue Heron is a handsome and dignified bird. But when there’s an itch, well it’s only normal to break character for a moment. Every itch deserves a scratch. #birds_matter #birds

The Black-necked Stilt is among the most visually charming and photogenic of birds. But all charm is lost when one hears its annoying screech. This is a bird best appreciated via a nice quiet photo. #birds_matter #birds

A Common Merganser flies in. The female is well-known for her wild red “hairdo” but in the nonbreeding season the male fades into an eclipse plumage that looks much the same. So it’s hard to say if this is Mr or Mrs. #birds_matter #birds

Portrait of a Sandhill Crane, looking thoughtfully reflective, but actually just scanning the ground in search of a snack. #birds_matter #birds

Eventually the sun rose above the mists and created the iconic golden glow that lasts all too briefly. A silhouetted Sandhill Crane adds context to the scene. #birds_matter #birds

Sandhill Cranes in predawn mist. And yes, this is a full color image. #birds_matter #birds

Birdscape: Sandhill Cranes at dawn. #birds_matter #birds

It was a chilly, misty, gray morning. But as the sun rose the mist turned golden. Was this something to celebrate? The Sandhill Cranes felt it merited a dance. #birds_matter #birds

A Sandhill Crane flies across the rising sun. #birds_matter #birds

The Golden-crowned Sparrow, which has a fairly narrow range up and down the US west coast, is now back in my region for the winter. There are about 25 sparrow species in California and on this morning’s walk I saw six! #birds_matter #birds

The aptly named Hermit Thrush, a shy, Uncommon bird, emerges from its bushy hiding place just long enough for me to make a portrait. #birds_matter #birds

A Great Egret and Turkey Vultures are not typical dining companions. Soon they were joined at the salmon buffet by various other species. One often wonders what it takes to bring different cultures together in harmony. If only a dead fish could always make it happen! #birds_matter #birds

A Spotted Sandpiper forages along the river’s edge. Its distinctive teeter totter locomotion makes it easy to identify, even from a distance. #birds_matter #birds

A Savannah Sparrow confuses - no yellow eyebrow. Fortunately a clear view of the forked tail makes the ID clear. #birds_matter #birds

It’s picturesque and energy efficient. A Snowy Egret sails along on a cushion of air that is created when it stays just a wing’s length above the water. #birds_matter #birds

The Loggerhead Shrike is a Near-Threatened species known for impaling its prey on thorns or barbed wire. Given its status it’s always a relief to see one despite that bit of unpleasantness. #birds_matter #birds

A Sandhill Crane flies in, showing off its impressive wingspan which may exceed seven feet. #birds_matter #birds

There is no such bird as a “seagull”, but among the gull species who winter in the Sacramento Valley is this American Herring Gull, easily identified by its pale iris and pink legs. #birds_matter #birds

This photo has some technical issues - the light did not cooperate - but I love the story it tells. Sandhill Crane families are very tight knit indeed! #birds_matter #birds

Portrait of a handsome Swainson’s Hawk. These birds will soon be migrating to South America, some traveling up to 7,000 miles. They make the journey en masse, forming long columns of thousands of birds that can be miles long. I was privileged to see such a column once - amazing. #birds_matter #birds

A Long-billed Curlew was well-camouflaged as it foraged in a field. That bill is very well-suited for digging for shrimps or small crabs in mudflats or earthworms in fields. The perfect tool for the job! #birds_matter #birds

Our White-crowned Sparrows have returned! So ubiquitous all winter, it’s easy to forget they’ve been gone all summer. Of course, if they didn’t leave we wouldn’t have the fun of welcoming them back. #birds_matter #birds

An immature Swainson’s Hawk confused me, especially as it was keeping company with hawks with different plumages. Consultation with expert birders confirmed they were young Swainson’s. Many will soon be on their way to South America for an annual migration of up to 8,000 miles. #birds_matter #birds

On a dreary morning this week a few hundred Yellow-headed Blackbirds gathered to perch atop reed clumps in a flooded field, making it look alive as if with wild sunflowers. It was a brief appearance, the likes of which I’ve not seen before. Another of Mother Nature’s special moments. #birds_matter

We have had some lovely weather for ducks. But if you’re a Cooper’s Hawk, it’s a lot less enjoyable. #birds #birds_matter

Not too many cars at the park on a rainy day, making the lushly planted parking lot median strip an ideal buffet spot for a few dozen birds, including this Lark Sparrow. #birds_matter #birds

A pair of White-tailed Kite were engaged in a very dynamic tail-flipping session when a blackbird flew a little too close and …. The chase was on! #birds_matter #birds

A flock of Long-billed Dowitchers take to the air in a beautifully choreographed maneuver in order to relocate as a group …. About six feet from where they started. The nearby Greater White-fronted Geese and Mallards pay no mind. They’ve seen it all before. #birds_matter

A lady American Kestrel deigns to notice me. Just for an instant. #birds_matter #birds

Sandhill Cranes are back. Here’s a simple photo to say “Welcome.” Now on to another season of trying to make an image that truly captures the beauty and spirit of these birds. #birds_matter #birds

Our populous European Starlings have given starlings in general a bad name. In fact, there are some 128 starling species, many quite beautiful. Here are four. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

The Blue-naped Mousebird is named, not for its eating habits, but for its ability to scurry along branches like a mouse. It is said to be fourteen inches long but, haha, nearly ten of those inches are its long tail. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

The Vulturine Guineafowl is named for its featherless vulture-like head, but there the resemblance ends. Confronted with danger this pretty bird would rather run than fly. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

The Gray Crowned-Crane is a spectacular “must-see” bird in East Africa. No wonder it’s the national bird of Uganda. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

Greater Flamingos are taller and a bit less pink than their plastic-lawn-decoration-inspiring Lesser Flamingo cousins. So beautiful and exotic, it’s almost hard to believe they are real creatures of the wild. But it’s true. I saw them with my own eyes. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

The Saddle-billed Stork, the tallest of all storks, is found in subsaharan regions, but that doesn’t mean it’s easily seen. While it’s rated a bird of Least Concern, population estimates range from as low as 1,000 up to 25,000. This is the only one I saw on my Kenyan sojourn. #birds_matter #birds

An African Fish-Eagle prepares to fly. This big bird, with a six to eight foot wingspan, seeks prey ranging from big fish to small monkeys. Or else it takes the easy way and steals its meals from others. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

The Goliath Heron, found throughout sub Saharan Africa, is the largest of all herons. It competes with the African Fish Eagle for food, as the eagle would rather steal a heron’s fine fish rather than go to the trouble of catching its own. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

The Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill is found throughout East Africa, but so far I have only been lucky enough to see him and his lady once. #birds_matter #birds

Is any bird more iconic of Africa than the Secretarybird? It glides smoothly across terrain in its hunt for insects, rabbits or snakes, which it kills with a swift kick. Named for quill-like feathers of its crown, it makes no actual notes but does take note of everything. #birds_matter #kenya #birds

The Superb Starling, found throughout East Africa, definitely lives up to its name. #birds_matter #birds

The White-browed Sparrow Weaver is one of several weaver species that build amazing hanging nests. This sparrow may look rather plain but it decorates the East African countryside most marvelously! #birds_matter #birds

A Yellow-necked Spurfowl is named for its neck color and the spurs on the male’s legs. Found throughout Eastern Africa, it is a charming sight despite its habit of eating elephant dung. We all have our peculiarities. #birds_matter #birds