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We came back after 5 days of birding in Arizona not expecting to pick up the camera or binoculars today. However, the yard was particularly birdy with many migrants.

Northern flicker


Cassin's Kingbird


Dark-eyed junco


Cedar Waxwing





Cedar Waxwing and American Robin

Birding in Arizona

We went birding with friends in Arizona over the break. We saw a few new birds and got some better photos of the painted redstart that is more common in Arizona than California.



Pyrrhuloxia



Bridled Titmouse





Painted Redstart


Vermilion Flycatcher


Gila Woodpecker


Mexican Spotted Owl

Birds feasting on Toyon.

Toyon, also known as Christmas berry, is a native shrub in California. It is drought tolerant and easy to grow. Its berries are a favorite of both robins and cedar waxwings. For the past two years, we've had many of each come by during the holiday season.

Back to Riverwalk and La Sierra

Juvenile Night Heron


Green Heron


Cedar Waxwings

We've been going for more walks recently, and we hadn't been to Riverwalk in a while. So we decided to park near the Hampton Inn and walk up to La Sierra University. Along the way, we spotted a green heron and a juvenile night heron. At the University, the best find was a flock of waxwings coming to a water feature.

Bolsa Chica

We went to Bolsa Chica on Saturday. The best find was the red-breasted merganser, but we watched an eared grebe swim under water and fish for quite some time.




Red-breasted merganser

Eared Grebe

Shoreline Park in Mountain View

Egret




Common Goldeneye, male (top), female (bottom)

Shoreline park is just behind some Google office buildings in Mountain View. During a recent trip, Mike had a chance to drop by.

Barn Owl

Mike was up in Silicon Valley, but had some time to get some birding between meetings. The best find, thanks to ebird, was a barn owl hanging out in a palm tree on the corner of Winslow St and Brewster Ave in Redwood City.