Avocet non-breeding plumage

(300 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo was taken late March of this year and many birds were still in just black and white. For courting and breeding the necks and chest acquire a rusty or tan color. They really seem to enjoy their mud-flats.

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

(298 views)
by Terry Costales

Of course England has it's fair share of "flying rats". For some reason this one in Hyde Park seemed more like an actual bird to me than just feathered vermin. I'm sure if I was there long enough they would become just as annoying as pigeons are here at home.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

(298 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a photograph of a pair of Mallards nesting on a concrete outcropping that is part of this canal lock. The roar of the water as it leaves the lock and close proximity to boats going by doesn't seem to faze them. The female Mallard is sitting on the nest a few feet behind the male and is very well camouflaged.

Black-crowned Night Heron (nycticorax nicticorax)

(296 views)
by Terry Costales

At the sanctuary, there is a group of palm trees next to the large pond that provides prime nesting spots. It is fenced off to ensure the breeding birds are not disturbed. In late March, this was one of many night herons nesting amongst the snowy and great egrets. Its usually yellow legs are pink because it's breeding season.

Snoozing Rhinocerous

(296 views)
by Terry Costales

What a face. A puppy and a kitten sleeping together in a basket couldn't be cuter than this! Visit the San Francisco Zoo whenever you can.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

This picture was taken late May of this year. This is a very active bird so I was surprised and delighted to see it perch long enough for me to photograph it. The Barn Swallow is the only American swallow that has that deeply forked "swallow-tail".

Black-crowned Night Heron

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

The bird on the left is a young adult who won't achieve the look of the mature bird on its right for another year.

Flamingos

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo reminds me of peach colored roses in a garden, ready to unfurl.

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo caught a sleepy juvenile unaware of the camera. Like yesterday's photo, I love the narrow field of focus.

Bongo

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

It was difficult to get a shot through the fence of the Bongo. This close-up was the only one that turned out well enough to post.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

Taken August 23rd, this is a Grey Heron hunting for food in a Dublin canal. This bird is a year round resident throughout England and Ireland. But I didn't expect one to be found downtown! Fifteen feet above this heron was the morning commute rushing over a bridge! I also saw one other Grey Heron in Hyde Park, London in April of this year.

Otter (Lutra canadensis)

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a North American River Otter having a scratch and a yawn. There were two in the exhibit and their cute faces and playful antics drew quite a crowd.

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

In all my visits to this area over the past year, I finally captured a decent shot of a Harrier. Up until now, they have always been too distant and too fast.

Warthog

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

The profile of a warthog is not handsome. Neither is any other view. They do have their niche in nature, but they just don't look good filling it.

Cliff Swallow in its nest

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a close-up of a typical nest with the adult peering out. Mud gathering has made its bill appear lighter than it actually is.

English Sparrow

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

I don't usually photograph English Sparrows because it is common knowledge what this introduced species looks like. I like this shot not so much for the subject, but for the shot itself. The narrow area of focus lends the bird a softer and more delicate appearance.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

Taken late March, this bird is probably a year or two old and has the yellow legs you see on both juveniles and non breeding adults. They get their full adult plumage in the third year. If you look at this shot and the thumbnail below it, you can see they are roughly the same size and shape. Nice of them to pose for their comparison shots.

Hawk with Prey

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

This hawk unaware that it was Thanksgiving morning, none the less, enjoyed the holiday while helping the city lessen its vermin problem.

Great Egret

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

I was fascinated to watch this egret hunt . He moved very patiently and slowly, then his head would dart into the shallow water and he would come up with a little fish. It must take a lot of little fish to fill such a large bird.

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

I took this photo April 4th of this year while in London. I didn't know what it was at the time but I knew I had never seen this duck before. I was quite taken with the brilliant gold of it's head. When the sun shone on its head there was an amazing metallic sheen which really has to be seen in person to be appreciated. These pochards are not found in the United States.

Harbor Seal

(295 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo of a Harbor Seal was taken very near the Lucy Evans Interpretive Center at the bird sanctuary. I was very surprised to see it but the ranger verified that they have been known to occasionally appear.

Zebra (Equus burchelli boehmi)

(294 views)
by Terry Costales

A beautiful Zebra with gorgeous long lashes. I would love to see Zebras in California fields alongside the horses, sheep and cows. We have Ostriches and Llamas, why not Zebras?

Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)

(294 views)
by Terry Costales

The flamingos were just waking up, looking beautifully exotic in the morning light.

Canada Goose and Goslings

(294 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a real Mother Goose watching over a few of her very large brood. Mother Goose as a person in literature has been around for a very long time. There is even a Mother Goose Society and did you know May 1st is Mother Goose Day? I wonder who you send cards to? More info can be found about real Canada Geese at Wikipedia.

Goeldi's Monkey

(294 views)
by Terry Costales

As I have mentioned before, monkeys are not my favorite animals. That said however, this guy was little, cute and the afternoon sun made for a shot I couldn't resist. Goeldi's Monkeys live in the tropical rain forests of South America.