Wildlife Pictures

I did not get many good pictures on my visit to Channel Islands National Park. I did get quite a few new brids, some were pelagic brids from the boat ride to and from the park. However, the rocking boat was not a good platform for picture taking. On the island, birds were not very numerous either in this season, and most regrettably I did not see the uniquely indigenous Island Scrub Jay (which is only found on Santa Cruz Island). There is all the more reason to visit the park again!

(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)

The only decent picture was of a Black Phoebe:


Black Phoebe

From the boat, I did get some decent pictures of a California Sea Lion. Of course, on my last trip I took numerous pictures of Sea Lions, but this one I found myself from the boat! It was mine!


Sea Lion

Most other bird pictures I took in and around the San Francisco Bay. The following is a Whimbrel in the Belmont Slough.


Whimbrel

In the same place on shore I also saw a pair of the "Oregon" race of Dark-eyed Junco.


Dark-eyed Junco


Dark-eyed Junco


Dark-eyed Junco

Snowy Egrets were ubiquitous.


Snowy Egret


Snowy Egret

There were also many, many dowitchers. I think this is a Long-billed Dowitcher, but they are very difficult to distinguish from Short-billed Dowitchers. But I am pretty sure at least some of them were Long-billed.


Dowitcher

The most handsome shorebirds are the Black-necked Stilts without question.


Black-necked Stilts


Black-necked Stilts


Black-necked Stilts

At Bedwell Bayfront Park, I also photographed Bushtits at close range.


Bushtit


Bushtit

But the highlight of the trip, as far as bird photography is concerned, happened just before I left the park for the airport -- this Anna's Hummingbird willingly posed for me, perched on a tree branch.


Anna's Hummingbird


Anna's Hummingbird

There were also many tree snails throughout the park. I do not know what exactly they are, or if they are a native species, but surely they are pretty.


Tree Snail

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