Show your Bird Portraits

[ISv]

And another......

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This one is in full (or nearly so) breeding plumage. Now I'm almost sure you are on the West coast?

 

[JPAZ]

This one is in full (or nearly so) breeding plumage. Now I'm almost sure you are on the West coast?

These are all Southern California beaches. We’ll be heading back over in a few more weeks to see what I can find.

 

[ISv]

I appreciate the input of all in naming these birds. I think this is a Curlew but it could be a Wimbrel. Bokeh near the beak looked a bit strange to me. I think it is just an unfortunate effect of some debris in the "wrong spot" so I masked out behind the dune and added some more blur, (R5 with 100-500 @ 500, f/7.1; iso 125, 1/1000)
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Wimbrel. But wimbrel and curlews are in the same genus: no difference at the non-specific level

 

[ISv]

These are all Southern California beaches. We’ll be heading back over in a few more weeks to see what I can find.

Thanks for the answer! I took some risk judging the bird (by few photos) on subspecies level and was really curious if I nailed it. If Click can supply me with an jumping emoji I will apply it here for sure!

 

[Click]

Jumping emoji? Let's see what I can do...

There you go my friend

 

[JPAZ]

Adolescent Western Gull. R5 with 100-500 @ 500, 1/1000 sec, f 1/7.1, iso 160

 

[Click]

Great Blue Heron perched on a dead tree branch

 

[AlanF]

Two Little Egrets, 1000mm; Great Egret 500mm. A few years back, Little Egrets were rare here, but now common. Great Egrets are still rare.

 

[AlanF]

And a couple of Nuthatches also from today (500mm).

 

[JPAZ]

Anyone have a favorite reference for bird identification? I've tried a few. I think this is a Black Turnstone. Again, was on a Southern California Beach. Little guy was really fast and this was with the 24-105 lens. Hope I get to see him again with a different lens

 

[AlanF]

Anyone have a favorite reference for bird identification? I've tried a few. I think this is a Black Turnstone. Again, was on a Southern California Beach. Little guy was really fast and this was with the 24-105 lens. Hope I get to see him again with a different lens
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There is a free app Seek from iNaturalist.

 

[macrunning]

Great Blue Heron perched on a dead tree branch
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Great Shots Click!

 

[macrunning]

And a couple of Nuthatches also from today (500mm).

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Nice shots Alan!

 

[Click]

Thanks macrunning!

 

[macrunning]

Beautiful photos! Not on lilac but it could be a local, common name.

Are you telling me the following flower is not a lilac? FYI This is Genus Syringa based on throwing a few images into bing's name that plant website -> https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/syringa-vulgaris/ Also when I purchased this plant it was tagged as a variety of Lilac. I can't recall the specific variety.

 

[jprusa]

Anyone have a favorite reference for bird identification? I've tried a few. I think this is a Black Turnstone. Again, was on a Southern California Beach. Little guy was really fast and this was with the 24-105 lens. Hope I get to see him again with a different lens
View attachment 199895

Yes I agree that is a Black Turnstone. My personal favorite field guide is the National Wildlife Federation Field guide to birds of North America . I always double check with https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/. This site offers so much information on any area . I love the ebird alert that you can sign up for. Nice shot and hope you find them again.

 

[jprusa]

Are you telling me the following flower is not a lilac? FYI This is Genus Syringa based on throwing a few images into bing's name that plant website -> https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/syringa-vulgaris/ Also when I purchased this plant it was tagged as a variety of Lilac. I can't recall the specific variety. View attachment 199896View attachment 199897

Looks like common lilac to me.

 

[jprusa]

Turn my back for 5 seconds and he's already trying to take my camera over .Northern Parula

 

[ISv]

And a couple of Nuthatches also from today (500mm).

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Nice!

 

[ISv]

Anyone have a favorite reference for bird identification? I've tried a few. I think this is a Black Turnstone. Again, was on a Southern California Beach. Little guy was really fast and this was with the 24-105 lens. Hope I get to see him again with a different lens
View attachment 199895

It's the Black Turnstone in breeding or nearly so plumage.
For Shorebirds I prefer "Shorebirds of North America, Europe and Asia" by Richard Chandler. This one is in critical condition already - a lot of reading/use.
I have also "The Shorebirds guide" by O'Brien, Crossley and Karlson but it stays like new - I don't like the organization there (photos in one part, text on other).
I go there if I need to double check something in the text or for more photos... And off course - additional articles/web sites when needed for better understanding the differences between very similar/pain in the @ birds like some of the stints...