We have photos from two readers today: a new contributor and an old one. The first is reader Susan Heller, who sent birds and mammals on March 2:
This mourning dove [Zenaida macroura] nested just outside my backdoor: I got to watch from egg to fledgling, with the parents feeding these babies.
Baby and mom Gray whale [Eschrichtius robustus] in Scammon’s Lagoon (Baja Mexico) two weeks ago. There were over 1000 whales present when I was there.
Osprey [Pandion haliaetus] at Scammon’s Lagoon:
Brown pelican [Pelecanus occidentalis], Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja Mexico:
Burrowing owl [Athene cunicularia] near the Salton Sea, California last week. Went on a great bird watching trip — there are thousands of birds on the Salton Sea now, as it’s on a major flyway.
And a regular with some new photos, Stephen Barnard from Idaho:
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) busy with home maintenance and repairs. The light was poor, but I think the behavior is interesting.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) doing a pole dance.
Excellent!
Ooh! Another batch of beautiful photos! I am really taken by the gorgeous shot of the mourning dove and her babies! Mama looks a little wary of the attention.
All are great shots, but the burrowing owl & the housekeeping bald eagle are especially nice!
Excellent, Susan Heller.
so lovely
Susan, I’m envious of your Scammon’s Lagoon adventure – all those whales! Nice dove shot also!
Stephen, a pole-dancing red-tail? That is a behavior that I thought was restricted to our species!
The hawk is a juvenile bird (banded tail, light iris, probably more brown spotting on breast than it will have when mature)so may be testing social boundaries.
Love the pelican!
The Mourning dove is too beautiful for words. How do people take such shots of birds? I always picture a camera that needs stilts to hold up the long lens — like those things in a Dalí painting. 🙂
All very good.
How is the Salton sea now? I was there many years ago when I lived in CA (*sigh*), and it was steadily shrinking. I am sure the drought, which may never really end, can not be doing it any good.
Nice pictures! I love the mourning doves. The babies look kind of comical with the same big eyes and long beak as the adults.
I never knew that mourning dove chicks had such camouflaged plumage so distinct from their parents; I know this isn’t uncommon, but wanted to comment on the contrast. All your photography is great Susan- thanks for submitting them.
The drama of the red-tailed hawk photo is stellar (nice caption too).
Lovely pics. I hope we get some more from you Susan! I’m very envious of you having the dove nest so close and being able to watch it every day.
I particularly like the photo of the burrowing owl.