Wednesday 25 March 2015

Central California, 1-4 Mar 15

 Over to California for the Genome 10K conference in Santa Cruz. I didn't have too much time for birding, other than a few walks around the conference centre (Chaminade Resort), but I did manage a dawn raid for the wintering Rustic Bunting at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The bunting showed almost immediately after first light, feeding with Sooty Fox Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows and Oregon Juncos and spent quite a bit of time feeding in the open allowing me to take some nice digi-photos and video.

Cliff House look out, at the mouth of the Golden Gates had a few nice birds from it, including Black Oystercatcher, Surfbirds, Black Turnstone, Surf Scoter, Brandt's Cormorant and Common Murre.



Rustic Bunting, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Rustic Bunting, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Rustic Bunting, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Rustic Bunting, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Sooty Fox Sparrow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

 The area around the conference centre was really good for photographing Varied Thrushes. Although not tame, they were much more approachable than I'd witnessed elsewhere and with a bit of patients I managed to get some really nice photos.
Varied Thrush, Santa Cruz

Varied Thrush, Santa Cruz

Varied Thrush, Santa Cruz

Varied Thrush, Santa Cruz


Varied Thrush, Santa Cruz


Varied Thrush, Santa Cruz

Varied Thrush, Santa Cruz
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Santa Cruz
Spotted Towhee, Santa Cruz


Californian Towhee, Santa Cruz

Acorn Woodpecker, Santa Cruz

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