Posts Tagged ‘California’

Just before leaving the hotel to head back home, I toured the hotel grounds with camera in hand to see if there was any other birds I could shoot. No Anna’s Hummingbirds in sight this morning, and no other birds (other than sparrows) came into range. And then I saw this little guy singing his heart out on the patio of the hotel. I managed to get a few shots off, and here are the results:

Rock Wren Singing

Rock Wren on Rail

One of the reasons I went to Balboa Park was because I was told that the gardens were a haven for the local bird life. I started out at what’s known as the Old Cactus Garden, and took a number of shots in the morning, and after visiting a number of the “pocket museums” on the grounds, came back in the afternoon. The sun was never fully out, but it cooperated just enough for me to get some great shots, particularly of some of the hummingbirds that loved some of the bright red flowers on one of the tree-like succulents there.

Female Anna's Hummingbird Sipping Rainwater from Ground

Female Anna's Hummingbird Drinking Nectar from Red Flower

Female Anna's Hummingbird Drinking Nectar from Red Flower - Close-up

Female Anna's Hummingbird Drinking Nectar at Base of Red Flower

California Towhee

Female Hooded Oriole

Male Hooded Oriole

While wondering around the hotel’s grounds, I discovered that the top branch of a small tree that was just level to the tennis-court terrace was a popular spot with some of the local birds. In particular, a small female Anna’s Hummingbird kept zipping hither and yon but always coming back to that little branch, presumably because it was such a good look-out. With my fast telephoto lens in hand, I managed to take plenty of shot of the little bird:

Female Anna's Hummingbird Close-up

Female Anna's Hummingbird on a Small Branch

Female's Anna's Hummingbird About to Fly

Female Anna's Hummingbird Flying Away