Bird Spotlight! - Sandhill Cranes, Pelicans, Cormorants, Cinnamon Teal, & Juvenile American Coots

On this episode (?) of Bird Spotlight!

Let's take a look at four more species of birds that are found on the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in the Summer months.  

We start with some big birds!  These beauties are Sandhill Cranes. 

A Pod of Pelicans with some Cormorants thrown in for good measure!

Beautiful Cinnamon Teal Ducks!  Love these vibrant red birds with their blue stripes on the wing.

I believe this next little family are juvenile American Coots.  And they sure are cute!

Next post will focus on the mammals I encountered on this trip.  It was happy and beautiful, yet sad at the same time.  

xoxo

Nikon D600

Bird Spotlight - Red-Tailed Hawk, Black-Crowned Night Heron & Barn Swallow

In my last "Bird Spotlight" I posted some gorgeous Red-tailed Hawks and White-faced Ibis. And then I promptly found two more photos of a beautiful Red-tail, so I'm going to start this post of with them! 

And I'll follow up with another bird on a post.  This time an adorable and colorful Barn Swallow.  I love these vibrant little caped crusaders with their purple-blue capes and helmets and orange bodies.  Notice that these plentiful little birds have a forked tail which adds to their air of mystique. 

Our last spotlight for the day with be this Black-crowned Night Heron.  Everyone is familiar with the Great Blue Heron which is gigantic compared to these birds.  Chances are you've driven or hiked right past these little guys.  I spotted about 15 on this particular trip and one of my best memories was finding a Night Heron rookery where there were about 30 flitting from tree to tree. 

This guy was patiently waiting for some dinner to swim by. He had that vibrant red eye looking out!

Closeup 

xoxo

Nikon D600

Bird Spotlight - Red-Tailed Hawk & White-Faced Ibis - 6/30/19 Lower Klamath NWR

Photos taken June 30, 2019

Three Red-tailed Hawks sitting in a tree.  K.I.S.S.I.N.G.  Actually, they looked pretty ferocious, so the opposite of kissing.  Feathered murder machines. 

White-faced Ibis

xoxo

Nikon D600

Summertime at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

In the shadows of stunning Mt. Shasta lies a beautiful National Wildlife Refuge known as the Lower Klamath NWR.  It's an amazing, amazing place to see wildlife and beautiful scenery along with its sister NWR, Tule Lake.  

Before we get started, you can check out my previous posts from Lower Klamath during the Pacific Migration in the Winter and Spring Here and Here!

But in this post, we'll focus on the vistas of the sweeping landscapes that make up this Northern California area and some of the birds that live here.

Such as Great Egret

Every time I'm out here I'm struck by how artful nature is.  Is that a word?  You turn a corner and there's a watercolor painting right in front of you.

Another amazing and eventful day in Northern California.  Be sure to read my next few posts for some "animal closeups" including a beautiful coyote that just loved posing for me!

xoxo

Nikon D600

Birds, Butterflies, Bugs, and Flowers! Beautiful Tule National Wildlife Refuge!

My last post was all about the beautiful ducks, ducklings, and other majestic creatures at Tule Lake.  

This one is taking things close up.  Like REALLY close up in some cases with some gorgeous macro photography along the shores of Tule Lake.  Some of the flowering bushes were so tall you couldn't see through them, but when that happens, you have to look at what's right in front of you and see the beauty that is sometimes overlooked. 

Like magical, colorful dragonflies!

Is this how they mate?  I feel like they're doing it wrong...

Make a wish! 

This one is one of my absolute favorites!  I love everything about this photo and how it makes me feel. 

Next up, join me and Wiley Coyote at the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge!

xoxo

Nikon D600