We have one batch of photos left besides today’s, so this feature will become sporadic as of tomorrow. You know what to do!
But John Avise has come through again with some bird photos from California. John’s captions and IDs are indented, and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.
The July Doldrums
Here in Southern California, mid-summer is not the most ideal time for avian photography. The excitement of the spring migration in April and May is but a distant memory, and the start of autumn migration in late August is still more than a month away. Most of the ducks have long since departed for far more northerly climes for nesting, and the few remaining resident ducks are in their dull eclipse plumage. About the only avian excitement here in the hot weather is the welcome appearance of chicks representing the next generation for resident species. This week’s post shows chicks (and their parents) of several bird species that do nest locally. All of these pictures were taken near my home in July.
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), adult:
Black-necked Stilt chick:
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), adult:
American Avocet chick:
Another American Avocet chick:
Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), adult on nest:
Least Tern chick:
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), proud parents:
Pied-billed Grebe chicks:
Pied-billed Grebe parent with chick;
Pied-billed Grebe chick clambering on board:
Pied-billed Grebe with chick on back (yes, young grebe chicks often ride on the backs of their parents):
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) hen with two chicks:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hen;
Mallard hen head portrait:
Mallard chick:
How can every recurring theme in this series deliver every time!?
What The World Needs Now
.. oh and it occurred it might be a good time to ask :
how’s Botany Pond developing?
Cool pics.
Love the duckies. Detail on mallard head is great.
Thank you.
Always great to see your Sunday photos!
Thanks! These are wonderful-
Nice!
Awwwwww! There’s hardly anything cuter than baby shorebirds; little fluffballs on toothpick legs. Thanks!
As always wonderful pictures, thank you very much.
What a cute picture with the chick on the back! Thank you, John.
enjoyed them all, thank you very much for your time and photos!
Spectacular! What a fun contribution!
Thank you all for all the “thank-yous”; they help to keep me going on this feature!
John- I look forward to this every Sunday. I am amazed at the new themes you come up with. Avis.
Hi Avis– love your given name! John
Thanks for the photos. Beautiful portrait. Great detail.
Couldn’t get to these yesterday. Even close to home they’re still the best. Silly Grebe chick! That’s so cute. And if “lesser” weren’t bad enough, there’s a “Least” Tern. I do get a kick out of these names. Love the Black-necked Stilt. Thanks, as always.