Reader Karen Bartelt sent some photos from Pinnacles National Park in California. The IDs and captions are hers, and indented.
A few photos from Pinnacles NP and the surrounding area taken in March 2017.Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), male:
California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum):
California towhee (Pipilo crissalis):
California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). Most condors have wing tags. We saw #14, #85; about 7 individuals total:
The prettiest animals, imho, were these bramble green hairstreaks (Callophrys dumetorum):
Lovely photos. Makes me think of what California smells like on a nice day.
Beautiful pictures! Thank you. I would really like to see everything you show here. I have seen a condor, for just one breathtaking moment.
I sometimes mark my life with those breathtaking moments. The fleeting glimpses that take your breath and leave you hoping for more.
Nice condor shots! Thanks.
There was a cost to getting these photos. Coming back down, I slipped off the trail and landed on my left shoulder with my head downslope. There were also thorns. My husband managed to get me upright again, but I was really nauseous for about a day. The shoulder never got better, so I had an x-ray later. The PA said, “Well, you know that your shoulder is basically shot anyway?” So now I have to decide when a shoulder replacement will fit in.
The name Callophrys is Greek for “beautiful eye-brows”. It seems apt.
Indeed!
Lovely pics. The Western Bluebird is a real beauty. I don’t think I’ve seen one before.
That 2nd Condor picture is very nice.
The face on the Bramble Green Hairstreak (what a name, the binomial too) is very striking. It looks like an alien from a movie or perhaps cover-art that I’ve seen, but I can’t quite place it.
Saw California condors at the Grand Canyon. Amazing birds!
Nice, bramble green hairstreaks (Callophrys dumetorum)are a treat. Thanks.