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UCSC Arboretum
Santa Cruz, California
March 31, 2009
As I’ve said before, the University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum is one of my favorite birding spots – especially for hummers. However, it seems like every time I visit I see a quick glimpse of a few California Quail. On this occasion, the bird actually posed for me shortly before scattering off into the bushes.
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UCSC Arboretum
Santa Cruz, California
March 31, 2009
This Golden-crowned Sparrow is banded and looks a bit scruffy. I don’t know why. Maybe it was molting or a young bird.
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UCSC Aboretum
Santa Cruz, California
March 31, 2009
Occasionally, while visiting California, I get to see a California Towhee. I wish I could have gotten a frontal shot, but at least this shows the characteristic rust colored rump.
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UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
Santa Cruz, California
July 31, 2009
Whenever I go down to my cottage in Santa Cruz I always make it a point to visit this location. There are always plenty of birds, not to mention many interesting plants. UCSC is known for their hummingbird population, and I’ve never been disappointed when I visit either in Spring or Summer.
Notice I am now posting 2009 photos! 
I don’t have too many, so I’m hoping to catch up to 2010.
Photos By Shawn Weigelt
January 18, 2010
Old Town (Sequim), Washington
While photographing some Eurasian Collared Doves in the tops of some firs along Marine Dr., I noticed the bird nerd divert his attention to something closer and at eye level. I had been holding down the fort in the car while he was outside with his camera. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to get out and see who his subject was. You can imagine my surprise to find a young Sharp-shinned Hawk less than fifteen yards away! I quickly began taking frames of my own and these two shots are my best results. I was astonished that it allowed us to approach so closely as I’ve found most raptors to be quite shy and wary. I cannot tell from the photos if the bird has a full crop, but that could explain its reluctance to fly off. This bird looks as though it is just starting to molt into adult feathers, with the reddish barring starting to appear on the breast. Judging mostly by its fairly large size (for a sharpie) I am pretty confident in calling it a female. Eventually it wouldn’t let us get any closer and slowly left the area.
Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 300mm, ISO 200, f/5.6, hand held
1) at 1/800sec
2) at 1/1000sec
Notice what appears to be blood on the yellow cere of the beak…perhaps she just finished her lunch?!?
Photos By Shawn Weigelt
January 18, 2010
Sequim, Washington
This dove of the Old World was first recorded in Florida in 1982. Now it can be found in many areas across the country, including the Olympic Peninsula of Washington! While birding in Sequim with the bird nerd, we came across some relatively shy doves that were noticeably larger and bearing different markings than Mourning Doves. Band-tailed Pigeons can be found here, but these birds were sandy colored and not gray. I noticed the black collar and squared off tail and quickly recognized them as Eurasian Collared Doves. This was my first official sighting in the U.S. The last time I had seen this species was on a trip to Israel in 1998! The photographs are not great but are clear enough to establish the birds identity. The bird nerd shared the sighting with some other area birders who informed us that this species has been making its way into Western Washington (apparently old news). Oh well, we were still pretty pleased with a cool sighting!
Nikon D80 70-300mm VR, ISO 200, f/5.6, hand held
1) at 1/800sec
2) at 1/160sec
Photos By Shawn Weigelt
January 17, 2010
Old Town, Washington
While driving along Marine Dr. in Old Town (which is an outlying area of Sequim), we spotted this young Bald Eagle in a tree. The exciting part was that it was less than 100 feet away from us and at eye level! I took several photos though I was not entirely happy with how they turned out despite how close we were (too grainy). There was a woman walking along the road and saw the eagle and also stopped to admire it. Eventually as she continued her walk the bird became too nervous with us around and flew off. The second photo shows the bird just prior to launch. What a majestic creature!
Nikon D80 70-300mm VR, at 300mm, 1/400sec, ISO 200, f/5.6, hand held.
Photo By Shawn Weigelt
January 17, 2010
Old Town, Washington
While visiting the Sequim area recently with my family, we decided to make a trip to Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and do a little exploring. As it turned out, some of the best birds we saw while driving some local roads. We found a small flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows in some rose bushes along Marine Drive. I stopped briefly, poked my camera out the window and took a few frames. This one was my best shot.
Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 300mm, 1/500sec, ISO 200, f/5.6, hand held
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Carmel, Maine
December 26, 2008
All good things must come to an end – this is my last 2008 photo. On to 2009, which was a lean photo year for me. Life got in the way. I’m hoping 2010 will be a better birding year, and I’m working hard to get my photo processing up-to-date.
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Carmel, Maine
December 31, 2008
Winter in Maine means Modos under the bird feeders.