Today I went back to Ernest E. Debs Regional Park and got some really great photos of my favorite bird, the Common Raven, along with a few others. Later on in the afternoon, I headed out to Griffith Park and hiked the Toyon Trail and got a few more photos there. My total list of birds today include: At Debs Park - Mourning Dove, Anna’s Hummingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Black Phoebe, California Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, California Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Bewick’s Wren. At Griffith Park - California Towhee, Anna’s Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, Acorn Woodpecker, California Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, California Thrasher, American Robin, Golden-crowned Sparrow. Here are my favorite photos from the day.
It was late afternoon/early evening when I headed back out in search of more birds. This time I went to Griffith Park. I hiked the Skyline Trail to the Condor Trail and explored some side trails off the main path. In my travels, I saw plenty more birds including two beautiful red-tail hawks that were high up in the trees scanning the area for their evening dinner. After it became dark and I was hiking back down the Skyline Trail, I saw the silhouette of something big. I knew it could only be one thing… an owl. Sure enough it was a Great Horned. I watched in awe as he perched up in a tree calling before he flew off to hunt. I was able to get a few shots and brighten them up in post later. I was happy to have had the experience of seeing this beautiful owl and being able to capture an image. It was a very special evening and a great way to wrap up the weekend. Here is a list of the birds I was able to ID on my hike tonight: Anna's Hummingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Acorn Woodpecker, California Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Northern Mockingbird, House Finch, Yellow-Rumped Warbler
This morning I participated in the Descanso Gardens Member Bird Walk. They offer it once a month. Our guide took us around the gardens and pointed out some of the local species. Interestingly enough, since I started birding just a few weeks ago, I actually knew most of them already! I did learn a few things though... Our guide pointed out two species that I would not have been able to Identify on my own, and I also learned how to identify a few birds by their song. It was a cloudy morning, but the birds were still active. After the walk which lasted about two hours, I stayed for another hour birdwatching and taking photos on my own. It was a good day. I saw 21 species and a couple of new ones to add to my life list. Below is a list of the birds I saw today: Mallard, Ring-Necked Duck, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Red-Crowned Parrot, Black Phoebe, California Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Wrentit, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, California Thrasher, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch. White-Crowned Sparrow, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee
I woke up before sunrise Saturday morning because I wanted to check out Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. I’d heard it was a great place for birding with hiking trails and also an Audubon Center. What a gem it turned out to be! Birds galore! And just like Griffith Park, another beautiful oasis surrounded by our sprawling city. It was a lovely morning. I spent at least four hours hiking the trails and birdwatching. I captured an amazing image of a Common Raven calling high up on top of a pine tree. He (or she) was spectacular! Ravens happen to be my favorite birds. When I’m hiking in the mountains, I see them all the time. They are incredibly smart and the male/females stay together as couples. I will most certainly be back again to this park for more birding and exploring! Below is a list of the birds I was able to ID today:
Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, California Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Bewick's Wren , Northern Mockingbird, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, California Towhee, Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Another day of birding at Descanso. I’m really enjoying this as a hobby. Here is a list of some of the birds I saw today and was able to get pictures: Yellow-Rumped Warbler, House Finch, White-Crowned Sparrow, Oak Titmouse, Dark-Eyed Junco, Black Phoebe
I woke up early today to go birdwatching at Descanso. It was a great day for birds! Lots of them singing and out and about. Some of the birds I was able to photograph are: Bewick’s Wren, House Finch, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, White-Crowned Sparrow, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, California Towhee, Northern Mockingbird, Spotted Towhee, Golden-Crowned Sparrow, Red-Tailed Hawk, California Scrub-Jay, Dark-Eyed Junco, Black Phoebe
So today I wanted an easy hike close by so I could go birdwatching. The Grizzly Flat trail is where I like to come to photograph butterflies, so I thought it might be a good one for birds. The trail is an easy climb up a fire road and we hiked it to the base of Hoyt Mountain. On this day I didn't get the opportunity to photograph a lot of birds. I saw some Ravens, Red-tailed hawks and was able to get a few photos of a Bewick’s wren, a Golden-crowned sparrow and a House finch. I heard more of them then I actually saw. A lot of them were hidden away in the trees or a bit too far away. It was still a great hike and a nice day to spend outdoors on the trail.
I’m back at it today with the birding camera and my binoculars. Descanso is a great place to come for birdwatching! Here is a list of birds I was able to photograph today: American Crow, Dark-Eyed Junco, Black Phoebe, Hermit Thrush, California Towhee, Bewicks’ Wren
So for Christmas this year, my husband got me a pair of binoculars. Let me tell you it has opened up a whole new world into the lives of birds! I see and hear birds all the time, but not in as much detail as the binoculars allow. It’s as if a portal to a whole secret world has opened up. There are so many different species. They’re very pleasant and interesting to watch. Here is a list of some of the birds I was able to photograph and identify today: American Crow, American Robin, California Scrub-Jay, California Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Golden-Crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, California Thrasher, California Scrub-Jay, White-crowned Sparrow
