November 19, 2019

Birdwatching with Los Angeles Audubon

Last Saturday morning I had to the wonderful opportunity to go birdwatching with the Los Angeles Audubon society! Here are the highlights of the trip:


My first time seeing peregrine falcons! I'd been reading about them since I was a child so it was like seeing a celebrity for the first time. The other birdwatchers brought scopes and were kind enough to let me take photos through them.


Black-necked stilts, my first time seeing them as well! Very cute.


Someone pointed out that these were Herring Gulls. As an inexperienced birder I'd initially brushed them off thinking they were just Western Gulls. I learned a lot from this trip!


Beautiful osprey, shot through one of the scopes brought on the trip. There were a lot of them around, many of them females building nests.


At some point someone looked up and shouted, "Look! Pelicans!" It was quite a magical moment.


A Hooded Merganser, definitely the highlight of the trip. I never would have even noticed it if it weren't for the other birders pointing it out, and my binoculars weren't strong enough to see the details on it. These were also shot through a scope someone brought along. I'm really glad I didn't miss out on this!


Black-crowned night heron hiding in a tree. I love that vibrant red eye. Also shot through a scope, I'm very impressed at how experienced birders can even find birds hiding in trees like this.


Double-crested cormorants... Not much to say, I just think they're cute. I've only seen Brandt's Cormorants up until now. I guess I do see these guys regularly when I'm driving on the I-5, but it was nice getting to see them up close!


American Wigeons. My first time seeing these guys as well. Love that vibrant green color!

Overall I can't wait to go on another birding trip with the LA Audubon, and next time I'll definitely study my local birds beforehand!

Posted on November 19, 2019 08:04 AM by one_ear_sun one_ear_sun | 19 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 19, 2019

Angeles National Forest Trip

We did a simple hike along the Gabrielino trail that started from the Red Box Trailhead. There's a pretty cute little museum called the Haramokngna American Indian Cultural Center.

Some highlights:


Fuzzy things on these plant. iNat says it's a mountain mahogany? Neat!


Pretty pinecone covered in sap. A type of douglas fir I guess?


Pretty berries. Algorithm says it's a Southern Honeysuckle, and endemic if so. Very cool!


Disembodied deer leg we found near this weather station surrounded by boarded up houses. Spooky!


Definitely my favorite find of the trip. What's most likely a Big Berry Manzanita. Very pretty plant and the peeling bark looks awesome.

Posted on September 19, 2019 10:42 PM by one_ear_sun one_ear_sun | 18 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

La Jolla Trip

Went to La Jolla about a week and a half ago!

Some highlights:


Nursing sea lion


Spotting a harbor seal from far away (didn't get to see them up close on this trip or my previous one)


The cool lo-fi effect in general from shooting through a binocular lens. Brandt's Cormorant featured here.


Another photo I liked. Just a regular ol' sea lion.


A stray Heermann's Gull. I recognized this guy from a previous trip to San Clemente which is where I encountered them for the first time.


A ground squirrel! Not a great photo or particularly interesting but it was my first time getting a photo of one as I usually live deep in the city and don't see them often.

Posted on September 19, 2019 10:29 PM by one_ear_sun one_ear_sun | 14 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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