Heermann's Gull

(249 views)
by Terry Costales

This juvenile Heermann's gull exhibits its main identifying marks clearly: black feet, red bill and dusky body. As an adult, its head will become pure white.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

(245 views)
by Bryan Costales

I had no camera that day in Union Square. So I became the director of the photo shoot. That means I said, "Honey, get a shot of that starling for me!" I'm not sure if I said please, but Bryan is always forgiving.

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

Anhingas look a lot like cormorants. They differ in that they have straight not hooked bills, longer tails and necks, and have silver-white markings on their wings. This was a female. A male would have had a black neck.

American White Pelican

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

There was this one lone white pelican at the nature center that day. It was probably an injured bird being nursed back to health, or it just knew a good hand-out when it saw one.

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

This prehistoric looking male Green Iguana appeared beautiful yet frightening.

White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is a close up of yesterdays' subject.

Crow

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

This is not my typical bird photo. I usually prefer a close-up that reveals identifying marks of the species. But sometimes, you just get a cool shot.

Roseate Spoonbill

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

I was focusing my attention on the spoonbill but good lord! Look at the length of the neck on that egret!

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

A large fledgling appears mesmerized by the camera.

Rufescent Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

I knew at the time this was a Tiger Heron, but a kind I hadn't seen before. Later I identified it as Rufescent Tiger Heron, where rufescent simply means red.

Black Crowned Crane

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo was taken Sept 29, 2007. The Black Crowned Crane is an African bird and endangered by loss of habitat.

Grizzly (Ursus arctos)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a swimming bear in the new Grizzly Gulch exhibit at the zoo. The zoo acquired two female Montana bears that were about to be euthanized. They had become too used to humans and couldn't be released back into the wild. Their new home is a well designed habitat and hopefully all the exhibits there can be brought up to this standard.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

While canoeing to a nearby lagoon, we happened upon a flock of little blue herons taking flight. I originally thought the white one was another species but later discovered it did belong in the flock because it was a juvenile little blue heron.

Goldeneye

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a female Goldeneye showing how differently the genders appear. No flashy white duds for this lady.

Mourning Dove

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

The shy Mourning Dove reveals some lovely colors.

Semiplumbeous Hawk (Leucopternis semiplumbeus)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

On my way breakfast I happened upon a hawk hunting near our room at the lodge. He had taken some small prey, yet he looked at me with little concern. A few seconds later he flew off. The word plumbeous means leaden, dull. The hawk is half grey thereby clearly earning its name.

Anna's Hummingbird

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

Yesterday in Palo Alto was chilly and grey for the most part. Fortunately the sun came out once in a while and highlighted this wonderful little bird while it fed.

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

The Fieldfare is about the size of an American Robin and its movements are similar. It took me quite a while to identify it as I had never heard of a Fieldfare before. According to Wikipedia the name comes from "feld-fere meaning "traveller through the fields", probably from their constantly moving, foraging habits."

White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

I was quite taken with this two foot tall, chicken-turkey-like bird. It's a ground dwelling native of eastern Africa.

Great Tit (Parus major)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

The Great Tit is the most numerous bird in the parks of Karlsruhe and is related to the bird of yesterdays' posting. The Great is a little larger and bolder.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

These storks were nesting in a very tall tree inside of the Karlsruhe Zoo. I took this photo from partway up the hill in the center of the park.

Green Heron

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

Green herons are abundant in Costa Rica. We saw them on both coasts and in a preserve near the center of Costa Rica. It took me a while to remember their name however, because they are hardly green at all.

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja, sometimes Ajaia ajaja)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

On our boat trip to Turtle Beach Lodge we saw many Roseate Spoonbills feeding near the banks. When they feed, they move their heads rapidly back and forth in the shallow water, making them look very industrious and a bit silly.

Bryan and Terry showing off their Segway skills.

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

Amazing!! What a thrill!! Segways rock!

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

(243 views)
by Terry Costales

These little birds were everywhere. They were always on the move, hopping, flitting, hanging upside down and really fun to watch.