Santa Ana

11am until 5.30pm

 

A relaxed "no rush" day, just seeing what came my way...ahhhhhhhh!

 

I started at the feeders around the back of the visitor centre. I was disappointed to find no oranges present as I was hoping to see an Oriole? I did eventually get a brief visit from a Buff-bellied Hummingbird...

 

 

First bird of note in the still lifting mist was a stunning if distant White-tailed Kite...

 

 

We enjoyed a good 2 hours just walking the reserve in a pleasant 70F. I showed Louise the Pauraque...but she had to find it first...

 

 

She did...with a few clues...

 

 

Time to leave it be...

 

 

I was also able to point out Olive Sparrow further along the track...

 

 

Pleased with this one in the heavy shade. A difficult bird to see never mind photograph...he says modestly!

 

The sun had broken through by mid-afternoon and the temperature had risen! I was still hoping for an Oriole sighting, as 3 species had been reported on eBird the day before...namely Altamira, Audubon and Hooded.

 

The reserve looked well...

 

 

I stood in some cover and scanned across the pool into the sun...

 

 

Was it a mirage? No, it was an Oriole on steroids...Altamira!! Trouble was it was at least 100 yards away across the water...and it was hot...and I can't run...cue violins.

 

You get there as quick as you can, right?

 

I made my way around the edge of the pool trying to figure out where the tree I'd seen it in was, whilst trying not to fall over. I had another brief sighting but the bird flew off. The only plus was that the bird looked like an orange beacon in the bright sunlight. Then I looked up above the path and there sat preening about 30 feet up was this...

 

 

Overjoyed to find one but frustrated with the view through the vegetation. I tried to get a better position but it was impossible, so I settled for what I had. Then, another! The two birds sat preening for a good couple of minutes before flying of strongly when harassed by a Kiskadee...

 

Not the best BUT illustrates the point I think

Before they left...

 

 

I personally love capturing images like this. Much more of a challenge than the picture postcard type...and that COLOUR!!! A tremendous experience with an iconic species.

 

On my return I spotted another favourite surveying it's domain...

 

 

It looked magnificent in the full sun...

 

 

Just love this bird!

 

My final stop was on the levee to wait for a hoped for Hooded/Audubon's Oriole. The eBird report was from this location. It was gone 5pm by now and the sun was sinking fast. Plenty of Kiskadees present but nothing else. I just checked my app (big mistake) to check some info', I looked up and there in a tree for a brief moment was the male Hooded Oriole! Of course by the time I'd lifted my camera the Kiskadees had chased it off. ill I never learn? Probably not!

 

Still a great day...in a great place.

..........................................................................................

Today (Thursday) we drove 4 hours North to New Braunfels to try for Clyde. No luck this afternoon but I'm back again at dawn for another try.

Stay tuned...