Auto Touring at Kern National Wildlife Refuge in Central California

We'll jump away from sun and fun for a minute for some fun of a different kind.  

Birding!  Nature!  It's amazing and I love it.  Being outdoors and breathing in fresh air, hearing the birds quacking and singing and using my brain to try to recognize and identify animals and birds is one way I try to stay healthy and sharp. Plus, like I said, it's fun.  lol

I mentioned a few posts back that I hadn't been to Kern NWR before.  Hadn't actually planned to visit on this day either, but I saw a sign for it and hung a quick right.  :)  Glad I did.  

Female Ruddy Duck and Western Grebe 

So much fun!  I need to go back to this NWR.  I think it had a lot of potential and a really nice auto route. 

xoxo

Nikon D750

Summer Fun! Swimsuits and Sun in Sacramento - TreyNette & Group Shots

We'll stick with the poolside swimsuit shoot photos for this post and continue with TreyNette, Olivia, and Armani.

For Olivia and Armani's solo shots, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

xoxo

Nikon D600

Bikini Photo Shoot Part 1 - Armani and Olivia

As summer fast approaches and the weather here in Northern California starts turning hot, I was reminded that I have some "hot-weather" shots (read: swimsuit) from last summer that I haven't posted.  So to give you a little break from all the nature stuff, I'll start mixing them in.  :-)

This first set is of the beautiful Armani and gorgeous Olivia from our pool shoot last August.

xoxo

Nikon D600

Soggy Morning at Pixley National Wildlife Refuge

First time at Pixley which is about 48 miles north of Bakersfield in lovely Central California.  It is also just down the street (practically) from Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, the first California town owned, populated, and governed by African-Americans. 

So of course I had to take the opportunity to stop by Pixley first.  It was a soggy, foggy morning.  And there wasn't a ton of wildlife out an about, so I can't really say too much about the birding possibilities here.  

I did see a bunch of Sandhill Cranes, but they were in the farmer's fields prior to getting onto Pixley.  And, as seemed to be the story of the weekend, the Nikon D750 I was shooting with didn't really want to cooperate all that much with focusing.  Operator error, I'm sure. 

But I did get some artsy photos and challenged myself to make some good memories with what was around me and what I had.  Which was a nice, foggy walk.

Riperian Brush Rabbit

Western Meadowlark

Coot Crossing

And then Coots Flying. 

Yellow Greaterlegs or Long-billed Dowitcher? 

Foggy Falcon

Sunrise over the pond.

The bright red on this...whatever...really struck me as I gazed into the fields.

Black-necked Stilts

Flying Foggy Falcon

Shroom

Walking back to my car when I noticed that I left my lights on.  Dammit!!  My car is parked just to the right of the tiny (yet actually pretty big) sign marking the parking area and trailhead. 

I ran all the way back.  haha

Riparian Brush Rabbit hiding from me and my lens.  Mostly with success.

I love this photo. 

Extension tube experimentation.  Couldn't look through my lens (do to being in a ditch and at an angle), so I couldn't nail the focus.  But I think the photos are cool as they are. 

After this, I went to Colonel Allensworth State Park.  And then after that I headed to another Refuge that I had not been too before.

And we'll travel there next.  

xoxo

Nikon D750