Jerry, my husband, knows how much I enjoy taking photos of birds, so he was quick to tell me the parakeets had returned to the mall in Manhattan Beach. Yesterday at the Mall flocks of them were in the trees as were the crows. In fact the crows were harassing the parakeets, who didn't seem too bothered them.
As soon as I started photographing the parakeets, shoppers began to notice them. They didn't realize they were there even though they squawked loudly. It's as though the life in the trees and sky is invisible to others around!
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Mitred Parakeet
Aratinga mitrata
(Thanks Maureen for the ID)
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Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
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I have wanted to get a shot of this Red-shouldered Hawk in flight for at least two years. I've managed to get some good shots of him perched, but never in flight. So yesterday when I returned home from birding and I heard his call, I grabbed my 500 mm lens and scurried to the park down the street.
Fortunately for me my husband joined me for our park is on a steep sand dune and I had to climb the steps - the hawk was in one of the trees. My husband offered to carry my lens.
When I spotted him, he flew away before I could take a shot. But a moment later he started to circle overhead. At last my capture of a Red-shouldered Hawk in flight!!!
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Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
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I posted a shot of my neighborhood Red-shouldered Hawk overhead a few days ago. In this shot he's ascending with his wings up and the one below shows him with his wings down.
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Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
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The Allen's Hummingbird looks so similar to the Rufous Hummingbird that I really can't tell them apart. The only way I know that this is an Allen's is that it's in my backyard, and they are the resident Hummers.
I've taken many shots, but it's difficult for me to get a good shot in good light without the feeder. Yesterday we finally had a bright sunny day at the beach, and I managed to get this shot of one with pollen on its beak. The green color in the background is the banana tree.
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Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
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