When we first got to the Pinnacles, we waited a bit for folks, so I wandered about. I heard some quail and spotted them across the roadway, so i went over there and got a couple of shots before they ducked into the thick scrub brush.
I had an opportunity to see a Yellow-Billed Magpie. I had no idea they had even existed. They're cool looking.
Anyone else think it looks like a Jayhawk?
Rock Chalk Jayhawk '01 :)
Speaking of jays... here's a Steller's Jay that was also hanging about the visitor's center. Nice looking bird.
Once the group finally arrived, folks broke out their high-powered scopes and spotted some condors. Those three blobs in the middle are the condors.
We went hiking from the Peaks View parking lot to the Ranger Station up at Bear Gulch. There, we saw more Steller's Jays and a bunch of Acorn Woodpeckers. Here's one that was near where we picnicked.
About 100 feet or so away, there was a granary the Acorn Woodpeckers use. It's a bit overexposed since it was so bright and I wasn't careful with the settings. Still, it's a cool sight to see the woodpecker with a clear acorn in its mouth.
I'm not sure what was going on here, but I read that they have family groups and young-ish ones stick around and help raise younger woodpeckers. I guess that this one was showing the lower one how to find the right hole. It was either that or it was working and the other was supervising, lol... that was probably it!
Below is an abandoned granary. I wonder if anything nests in the holes left from the woodpeckers.
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4 comments:
I love, love, love your bird pictures Red!! That's the really cool thing about birding in the west--you guys have so many neat birds we never get to see here in Minnesota.
P.S. did I mention how much I love those pictures? :-)
Neat photos, Red. I really like that one of the woodpecker with the acorn in its mouth. At least the "focused" part wasn't overexposed. ;o)
Love the quail photograph. Took a double take at it. Great capture.
Thanks Ruthie! I feel the same towards the MN birds :) LOL thank you thank you thank you!
Yes, that was cool. Too bad when I was snapping away I couldn't see the screen to see how I was doing. The meter in the camera said it was fine, but it sure wasn't when I got home.
Thanks Leedra! It was fun chasing it. It's a pretty bird. Perhaps next time I'll get the whole quail.
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