Heermann's Gull

(280 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.

American White Pelican

(276 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.

Cormorant

(276 views)
by Terry Costales

This bird is resting on an urn placed next to a reflecting pool inside the Stuttgart Zoo. It isn't caged and flew in on its own. I witnessed many herons, storks and cormorants fly into various enclosures to take advantage of the plentiful food supply.

Long-nosed bat

(276 views)
by Terry Costales

On a tour of the Canal of Palms, this was the first animal spotted by our guide. There were three of these tiny bats on the underside of a dead branch. How the guide even saw them was a mystery because they were perfectly camouflaged. The guide identified them as long-nosed bats.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

(275 views)
by Denver Welte

Bald Eagles are very numerous in Dutch Harbor, where they live year round. They are used to people and you see them perched on dumpsters and piers, looking for an easy meal. Bald comes from the Old English "pie-bald", which means partially white.

Bryan and Terry showing off their Segway skills.

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

Amazing!! What a thrill!! Segways rock!

Northern "Bullock's" Oriole (Icterus bullockii)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

I observed this female oriole as it fed and then flew into its nearby nest. It would remain in its nest a few minutes, then fly out again. The nest would have been invisible if not for the white egret feathers the orioles had used in its construction.

Great Tit (Parus major)

(275 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)

(275 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.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

I have seen many black-crowned night herons but this was the first yellow-crowned I'd ever seen. They reside in Costa Rica year round.

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

This prehistoric looking male Green Iguana appeared beautiful yet frightening.

Chinese Crested

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

It's an odd looking animal, but it's like any other dog, really.

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

There were many male and female Goldeneyes out on the lake that day. This is a very handsome male. Goldeneyes are closely related to Buffleheads and are also found in Scotland and Great Britain.

Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

Our guide Jaime was very excited to see these migratory Jabiru because they were a very rare sight. Jabiru are storks which stand four and a half feet tall. The ones we saw were sedate and seemed to be resting in the shade.

Anna's Hummingbird

(275 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.

Bar-headed Geese

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

There is a small flock of these beautiful geese living on the small lake inside the zoo. Bar-headed geese were featured in the nature documentary "Winged Migration" which I highly reccomend.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

I saw this osprey dive into the river and come up with a fish. Unfortunately the image is not sharp because the boat was moving fast, the bird was far away and flying fast. I'm glad I at least got to see it.

Black Crowned Night Heron

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

It's breeding season again for the Night Herons and Snowy Egrets. Here is a Heron settling a property dispute with his Egret neighbor.

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

A large fledgling appears mesmerized by the camera.

White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is a close up of yesterdays' subject.

Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

This juvenile was perched directly across the canal from the adult bird I posted on this blog yesterday.

Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

Unlike yesterday's bright green plumed basilisk, this brown one has a yellow stripe. Here the male shows off his crest.

Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)

(275 views)
by Terry Costales

This poor Caiman probably wished he was invisible. As the boat came closer, he slowly moved from exposure on the mud bank and into the welcoming murky water.

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)

(274 views)
by Terry Costales

Mandarin ducks are very striking in appearance. At least the male, he looks like he's wearing a costume.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

(274 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.