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:
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!
Most other bird pictures I took in and around the San Francisco Bay. The following is a Whimbrel in the Belmont Slough.
In the same place on shore I also saw a pair of the "Oregon" race of Dark-eyed Junco.
Snowy Egrets were ubiquitous.
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.
The most handsome shorebirds are the Black-necked Stilts without question.
At Bedwell Bayfront Park, I also photographed Bushtits at close range.
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.
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.
Black Phoebe
Sea Lion
Whimbrel
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
Dowitcher
Black-necked Stilts
Black-necked Stilts
Black-necked Stilts
Bushtit
Bushtit
Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
Tree Snail
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