This came out better than I expected, given the haze layer present while I was shooting. Sometimes, it seems like it is always hazy in our area, but I guess I can live with that if it means that I can get shots like this. I forgot to re-size this image before I posted it, but that means that you can see the fine detail in the original size, if you would like to and don't mind waiting for it to download and scrolling.

The runway in the middle ground is at Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado Island, which is not really an island, but a peninsula. The skyscrapers behind that are are in the downtown area of San Diego and are actually across the harbor from Coronado.

Tags:   Cabrillo National Monument Pt. Loma San Diego California AbsolutelyStunningScapes NaturesFinest COTH FlickrsPortal NaturesElegantShots TopShots

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I'll admit that most people won't find this image particularly attractive, but to me it's quite special, because it represents my first trip to "The Drip," a place that I've been reading about for years, but never made the effort to visit, until last Sunday.

"The Drip" earned its nickname from an old leaky faucet that attracted many species of birds, including a lot of migratory ones. It was there for decades, until a new Park Superintendent decided to remove it in order to save water during a drought. This, understandably, upset the birders a lot, because of its importance and because they had spent so much time there. The story does have a happy ending, though, as you can see in the image, as well as read about here.

It was fairly hard to find, even though I asked for directions (something that I never do, being a guy) from three different people. It was a thrill when I finally did find it, though, because I found two life birds here, this Thrasher being one of them, and because I could see the potential for many happy hours shooting here in the future.

Tags:   California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum The Drip Cabrillo National Monument Pt. Loma San Diego California FlickrsPortal SuperShot NaturesElegantShots TheBestofCengiz&Squeezeme2Groups TopShots

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I'm thinking that the solar panel was not able to meet the demands of the pump, on that day, and it was only operating intermittently. Last Sunday, while I was there, everything was working fine.

A leaky faucet in this area had been attracting birds for decades, but the park finally shut it off, due to a drought. After that, someone built this whole system as a replacement, including the pump, solar panel, 5-gallon reservoir, and bird bath, for around $80, as I recall. Brilliant solution to the problem!

HBW!

Tags:   California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum The Drip Cabrillo National Monument San Diego California HBW! AvianExcellence

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Had a hard time identifying this one, until I read that the crown is often not visible.

You can't see it, but he has a single toenail in a tiny hole in the tube and that's the only thing keeping him from sliding down the tube.

HGGT!

Tags:   Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata The Drip Cabrillo National Monument San Diego California HGGT! ABigFave

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Tags:   Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus The Drip Cabrillo National Monument Pt. Loma San Diego California HFF! AvianExcellence COTH ABigFave SuperShot SpecAnimal

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