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| The Daily Animal World As Seen By Terry Costales |
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Anna's Hummingbird by Terry Costales posted 2007/12/09 (1 of 126) A female hummingbird on a... view more |
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Reindeer by Terry Costales posted 2007/12/08 (2 of 126) The quintessential Christmas... view more |
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Sparrow in Pickleweed by Terry Costales posted 2007/12/07 (3 of 126) Pickleweed makes even a little sparrow look... view more |
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Polar Bear (Urus maritimus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/12/02 (4 of 126) What a face. And under all that gorgeous white fur is black skin. All the better to absorb heat and keep the bear... view more |
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Savannah Sparrow by Terry Costales posted 2007/12/01 (5 of 126) Fall colors provide a wonderful background for this little... view more |
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Hawk by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/25 (6 of 126) Disturbed by photographer, the Thanksgiving hawk fled to higher... view more |
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Hawk with Prey by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/24 (7 of 126) This hawk unaware that it was Thanksgiving morning, none the less, enjoyed the holiday while helping the city lessen its vermin problem.... view more |
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Warthog by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/21 (8 of 126) The profile of a warthog is not handsome. Neither is any other view. They do have their niche in nature, but they just don't look good filling... view more |
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Mr and Mrs Dieter Welte by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/20 (9 of 126) I know this should be the Animalblog, but my only son, Dieter, got married this Sunday! Here is Dieter with his beautiful wife, Lizzy. My Congratulations and Best Wishes to them... view more |
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Killdeer in Flight by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/16 (10 of 126) Killdeer are a shy and fast bird. Consequently I rarely get a good shot of one. I was lucky this day to get that elusive shot.... view more |
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Canada Geese in a California Sky by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/15 (11 of 126) When Canada Geese trumpet their arrival while flying directly overhead, no-one could possibly pass up the opportunity to photograph them.... view more |
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Sparrow by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/13 (12 of 126) A well camouflaged bird in the... view more |
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Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/12 (13 of 126) In all my visits to this area over the past year, I finally captured a decent shot of a Harrier. Up until now, they have always been too distant and too fast.... view more |
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Ring-necked Pheasant by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/11 (14 of 126) This gorgeous male pheasant was much too tame for its own good. It came right up to me looking for... view more |
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Great Egret by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/10 (15 of 126) The Great Egret has just caught a small fish.... view more |
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Bonaparte's Gulls (winter plumage) by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/09 (16 of 126) I generally prefer to photograph individual birds or pairs. But sometimes the flock can prove just as... view more |
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Great Egret by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/08 (17 of 126) I was fascinated to watch this egret hunt. He moved very patiently and slowly, then his head would dart into the shallow water and he would come up with a little fish. It must take a lot of little... view more |
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Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/06 (18 of 126) The face of an Australian bird which is odd, but... view more |
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Flamingos by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/05 (19 of 126) This photo reminds me of peach colored roses in a garden, ready to... view more |
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Tortoise by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/04 (20 of 126) These two large tortoises ambled about and were not as sluggish as one might expect. I dont know which species of tortoise this is because I forgot to photograph the... view more |
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Small Shorebird by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/03 (21 of 126) A small shorebird, about 4-6 inches long, was perched on a rock. I don't know what kind it... view more |
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Western Grebe by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/02 (22 of 126) An adult Western Grebe amid ripples and... view more |
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Double-crested Cormorant by Terry Costales posted 2007/11/01 (23 of 126) Here is a cormorant in its classic drying off pose. The name "double-crested" is insired by the tufts of white feathers over the eyes that only appear in breeding... view more |
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Boxer Puppy by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/31 (24 of 126) This little guy was as sweet as Halloween candy and was like velvet to the touch. You can tell he is well cared for and... view more |
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Male Lion Sleeping by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/28 (25 of 126) Here is a photo of a lion doing what a lion does... view more |
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Magellanic Penguin (Speniscus magellanicus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/27 (26 of 126) When the brown and white penguin is done molting it will become black and white, just like its... view more |
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Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/26 (27 of 126) I hate to give away the secret behind this shot but, in actuality, this ferocious tiger is merely... view more |
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Otter (Lutra canadensis) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/25 (28 of 126) This is a North American River Otter having a scratch and a yawn. There were two in the exhibit and their cute faces and playful antics drew quite a crowd.... view more |
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Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/24 (29 of 126) This photo caught a sleepy juvenile unaware of the camera. Like yesterday's photo, I love the narrow field of... view more |
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English Sparrow by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/23 (30 of 126) I don't usually photograph English Sparrows because it is common knowledge what this introduced species looks like. I like this shot not so much for the subject, but for the shot itself. The narrow... view more |
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Great Egret by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/22 (31 of 126) I think I am addicted to taking shots of flying egrets.... view more |
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Great Egret by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/21 (32 of 126) I got this shot just as the egret was landing. Look closely and you can see the feet haven't quite come to rest on the... view more |
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Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/20 (33 of 126) Seeing a bright red eye on a bird, to me, is quite startling. Although the heron appears to be standing one-legged, the other leg is actually stretched out in front, grasping another... view more |
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Great Egret flying by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/18 (34 of 126) To get a shot of a graceful bird flying is always a... view more |
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Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/17 (35 of 126) The namesake... view more |
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Red-tailed Hawk by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/16 (36 of 126) There are many hawks living in the Delta, doing their part to keep the circle of life... view more |
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Black-crowned Night Heron by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/15 (37 of 126) The bird on the left is a young adult who won't achieve the look of the mature bird on its right for another year.... view more |
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Great Egret and Pheasant by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/13 (38 of 126) I didn't see a pheasant when I looked at this tree, only the Egret. As the boat drew nearer to the tree the pheasant burst out, startling the egret and me. I tried to get a shot of them as they flew... view more |
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Great Blue Heron by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/12 (39 of 126) This is a photo of the heron taking off as the boat got too close for... view more |
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Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/11 (40 of 126) I went out on my brother's boat last Monday and saw many Great Blue Herons. Twice I saw one noisily chase away a Great Egret that he thought was encroaching on his fishing... view more |
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American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/10 (41 of 126) Yesterday I thought these birds might be Australian Pelicans but with further research I found they are American White Pelicans in non-breeding plumage. I'm glad that's... view more |
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White Pelicans by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/09 (42 of 126) Taking photos from a boat was a new experience. I was able to get much closer to this flock of Pelicans before they took flight. These appear to be Australian Pelicans because of the pink bills. Or... view more |
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Zebra (Equus burchelli boehmi) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/07 (43 of 126) A beautiful Zebra with gorgeous long lashes. I would love to see Zebras in California fields alongside the horses, sheep and cows. We have Ostriches and Llamas, why not... view more |
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Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) by Terry Costales posted 2007/10/01 (44 of 126) The flamingos were just waking up, looking beautifully exotic in the morning light.... view more |
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Snoozing Rhinocerous by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/30 (45 of 126) What a face. A puppy and a kitten sleeping together in a basket couldn't be cuter than this! Visit the San Francisco Zoo whenever you... view more |
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Magpie (Pica pica) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/29 (46 of 126) Flying shots are hard to get. The bird was on the path when I lifted the camera but I managed to get this photo without cutting off any part of its body, just... view more |
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Jackdaw by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/28 (47 of 126) The Jackdaw is another type of crow common to Europe. Smaller than the Hooded crow from yesterday's posting and much less... view more |
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Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/27 (48 of 126) I had never seen this kind of crow before. As soon as he noticed me he walked over the peak of the roof and out of... view more |
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Goeldi's Monkey by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/18 (49 of 126) As I have mentioned before, monkeys are not my favorite animals. That said however, this guy was little, cute and the afternoon sun made for a shot I couldn't resist. Goeldi's Monkeys live in the... view more |
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Peafowl by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/16 (50 of 126) This female peafowl, called a peahen, was well camouflaged. She was just off the paved path and dozens of people passed within two feet of her and never realized she was there. I noticed her... view more |
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Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/15 (51 of 126) This snowy owl at the Dublin Zoo was very quiet but, if it had spoken, it would have had an unusual... view more |
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Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/14 (52 of 126) The hippos I've seen in other zoos have been rather lethargic. But the two hippos in this pool were very active, swimming, diving with a great splash, surfacing again, over and over. They attracted... view more |
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Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/13 (53 of 126) Here is a meerkat enjoying a good scratch and, as you can see, he has the nails for it. Meerkats have been popular since the movie "The Lion King" which had a meerkat as a funny side-kick... view more |
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Red-ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata rubra) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/12 (54 of 126) The red-ruffed lemur is a pretty big animal. I love watching them interact with one another. This one looks like he was wringing his paws with glee after stealing a tasty... view more |
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Flamingo by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/11 (55 of 126) I love this close-up of a flamingo on its nest. I never realized there eyes were so... view more |
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Celebes macaque by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/10 (56 of 126) Monkeys and apes aren't my favorite animals but this guy looked interesting. Cool... view more |
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Bongo by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/09 (57 of 126) It was difficult to get a shot through the fence of the Bongo. This close-up was the only one that turned out well enough to... view more |
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Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/08 (58 of 126) All the Black-headed gulls I saw in Dublin were all in winter plumage. What a great excuse I have now to go back and get photos of them in their fancy summer outfits.... view more |
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British Pied Wagtail (Motcilla alba yarrellii) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/06 (59 of 126) This little bird was fast and wary and did not want its picture taken. Persistent stalking wins the day (and the... view more |
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Tiger by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/05 (60 of 126) To me the tiger is the most awe inspiring animal I have ever seen. So majestic and powerful I could watch them forever, but in zoos they don't tend to do much whenever I'm... view more |
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Baby Elephant by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/04 (61 of 126) This is a baby Asian Elephant that is only a few months old. It drew a huge crowd of admirers and everyone wanted its picture.... view more |
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Elephant reaching for food by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/03 (62 of 126) The largest elephant in the group reached up to pull down some hay. The elephants in this zoo had a very large enclosure with varying terrain. The Dublin Zoo seems to be doing an excellent job of... view more |
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Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) by Terry Costales posted 2007/09/02 (63 of 126) Taken August 23rd, this is a Grey Heron hunting for food in a Dublin canal. This bird is a year round resident throughout England and Ireland. But I didn't expect one to be found downtown! Fifteen... view more |
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Weezy the Rooster by Terry Costales posted 2007/08/01 (64 of 126) Weezie was supposed to be a hen. He was picked at random out of bin of Barred Plymouth Rock chicks, 90% guaranteed to be female. As you can see Weezie turned out to not be female. He grew up to... view more |
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Crow by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/23 (65 of 126) Long to soar, Long to fly away. Leave it all behind? Or rush forward to start anew? Wind and feathers obey the... view more |
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Mother Coot and Young by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/20 (66 of 126) On July 16th I was surprised to see a young coot with its parent. I hadn't been to this location in a while and I had missed seeing the coot chick when it was small. That's one of the attractions of... view more |
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Harbor Seal by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/18 (67 of 126) This photo of a Harbor Seal was taken very near the Lucy Evans Interpretive Center at the bird sanctuary. I was very surprised to see it but the ranger verified that they have been known to... view more |
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Zoe the Vizsla by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/16 (68 of 126) Today I met a very nice young woman and her beautiful dog Zoe. I learned a lot about the Vizsla breed and am looking forward to finding out even... view more |
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Two Red-tailed Hawks by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/15 (69 of 126) I took this photo before the fog had burned off yesterday. These two aerial acrobats had a good time swooping and clowning around. After this display they landed on top of a cypress tree and then... view more |
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Caged Tiger by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/14 (70 of 126) This photo was taken August 13th, 2006, which was my first day with my new camera. The tiger rapidly paced her cage, back and forth, revealing an occasional silent snarl. I waited in front of the... view more |
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Dog with orange ball by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/13 (71 of 126) This is a happy dog. He's getting exercise, interacting in the park with his human companion. And that's a nice orange ball! I've been watching the Dog Whisperer lately and exercise is a hugely... view more |
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Irish Dog by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/12 (72 of 126) They say everyone is Irish on St Pat's Day and I guess that includes the animal kingdom. Our dogs are eager to accompany we humans on all of our crazy endeavors. Whether it's dogs on motorcycles or... view more |
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French Bulldog puppy by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/11 (73 of 126) These are just the cutest but strange little dogs. Owners of French Bulldogs call their dogs Frenchies and I actually saw quite a few in... view more |
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Parade Horse by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/10 (74 of 126) The face of a horse can be very fascinating. Such a large animal, capable of such force and power, yet with such gentle eyes it just makes one sigh. This picture is a Police horse patiently... view more |
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Horses at dawn by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/09 (75 of 126) Backlit at dawn, two horses in the Northwest are a calm and beautiful sight. Almost everything looks better when the... view more |
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White Horse by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/08 (76 of 126) Hyde Park is a large London park with much to offer visitors. Kids played soccer on the lawns. People paddled boats. Couples strolled the many paths in and around the Serpentine This photo is of... view more |
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French Donkeys by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/07 (77 of 126) Just west of the Louvre are wonderful gardens called Jardin des Tuileries. The gardens contain outdoor cafes, fountains, scattered statuary, chestnut trees, formal flower beds and trimmed hedges.... view more |
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Soft-shelled Turtle (Trionyx ferox) by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/06 (78 of 126) This is a photo of a soft-shelled turtle. Unlike the numerous red-eared sliders, this was the only soft-shelled turtle I saw that day.... view more |
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Red-eared Slider by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/05 (79 of 126) There are hundreds of these turtles in Stow Lake. If the little pet turtle you had as a kid ever lived long enough to outgrow its little plastic dish (the one with the fake palm tree) it would've... view more |
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Mute Swan (Cgnus olor) and white dove by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/04 (80 of 126) Our boat was moored on the Canal du Midi and the four of us aboard all commented on the picturesque red and blue boat tied up across the way. When the swan swam near the boat I saw a photo op I... view more |
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Domesticated Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/03 (81 of 126) This is a photo of a domesticated Swan Goose, originally called a Chinese goose. I've seen geese like this in California, Washington and France. Clearly they must adapt easily to many different... view more |
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European Starling (sturnus vulgaris) by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/02 (82 of 126) Finally a European starling where it belongs: in Europe. I have observed large flocks of Starlings since I was a kid. Sometimes I've seen enormous groups making, what I like to call, "flock... view more |
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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) by Terry Costales posted 2007/07/01 (83 of 126) This is a photo of the female mallard from yesterday's posting . Even though the nest is visible to people in boats and the towpath, it's quite well protected by it's... view more |
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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/30 (84 of 126) This is a photograph of a pair of Mallards nesting on a concrete outcropping that is part of this canal lock. The roar of the water as it leaves the lock and close proximity to boats going by... view more |
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Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/29 (85 of 126) When I took this photo I thought it was a common crow. That was in April. I processed this photo recently and discovered it was actually a jackdaw. A Jackdaw is a type of crow but has a grey... view more |
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Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/28 (86 of 126) Of course England has it's fair share of "flying rats". For some reason this one in Hyde Park seemed more like an actual bird to me than just feathered vermin. I'm sure if I was there long enough... view more |
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Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/27 (87 of 126) This is a photo of a duck with a "crazy hairdo". I had never before seen a picture of a Tufted Duck, and was quite startled to observe this unusual species. Looking at the photos on our return home... view more |
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Pochard (Aythya ferina) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/26 (88 of 126) When I first saw this duck I thought it was a Canvasback . Later, I realized only its basic coloration was the same. The Pochard is not found here in the States. It's closest relative, in... view more |
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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/25 (89 of 126) Something about a swan. I see one and I feel like I am getting a small glimpse into a fairy tale. Swans conjure images of fairy princesses, enchanted lakes and talking animals. I almost expect to... view more |
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Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/24 (90 of 126) The moorhen is a very commonly found bird in England, Europe and the States. Even so, I had never seen one before this day in Hyde Park. Moorhens are related more to Coots than to ducks. Moorhens... view more |
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Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/23 (91 of 126) The Grey Heron is very similar to the larger Great Blue Heron we have in California. This one seems to be in full breeding plumage. It was the only heron I saw in Hyde Park and was standing on one... view more |
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Eurasian Coot by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/22 (92 of 126) The most obvious difference between the Eurasian Coot and the American coot is the larger white face shield. The coots were very numerous in Hyde Park and seemed to behave just like the coots I'm... view more |
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Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/21 (93 of 126) I took this photo April 4th of this year while in London. I didn't know what it was at the time but I knew I had never seen this duck before. I was quite taken with the brilliant gold of it's head.... view more |
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Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/20 (94 of 126) The female Killdeer in this picture is adopting a wounded bird pose and making a distress call. She is trying to lure me away from her nest by convincing me she is easy prey. Luckily for her I only... view more |
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Killdeer eggs by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/19 (95 of 126) This is a photo of three very well camouflaged eggs in a Killdeer "nest." Because Killdeer often lay their eggs on gravel, the parking lot at the sanctuary had become a favorite nesting spot for... view more |
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Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/18 (96 of 126) This female Killdeer is standing over eggs in its "nest." Three eggs are actually present but only one is clearly visible. Even the clearly visible one is very well camouflaged. It is reputed their... view more |
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Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/17 (97 of 126) Here is the Oriole perched on a barbeque grill in the picnic area. He and several blackbirds had just chased a crow that dared to enter their territory. Crows are a threat to them because they will... view more |
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Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/16 (98 of 126) The Bullock's Oriole is the western version of the Baltimore Oriole which is found east of the Rockies. This photo was taken late May and what a great pose he gave... view more |
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Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/15 (99 of 126) This oriole was named for William Bullock, a British amateur naturalist. In all my visits to this bird sanctuary, this was the only time I've seen this bird. I was very lucky to get some photos of... view more |
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Parade of Canada Geese by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/14 (100 of 126) Mom is leading her brood from the duck pond, across the road and into the marsh. This is not an uncommon sight and one of the reasons there is a 15 MPH speed limit at the santuary. ... view more |
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Young Canada Geese by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/13 (101 of 126) Yesterdays picture was taken of a gosling that was only a few days old. Today's photo was taken three weeks later. Now you should definitely be able to see that they are becoming adult geese.... view more |
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Canada Goose Gosling by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/12 (102 of 126) A gosling is so darn cute when it's little. It's hard to believe that there is an entire industry devoted to the task of making them go away. When large flocks of adult geese show up in a "wrong... view more |
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Canada Goose and Goslings by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/11 (103 of 126) This is a real Mother Goose watching over a few of her very large brood. Mother Goose as a person in literature has been around for a very long time. There is even a Mother Goose Society and... view more |
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Canada Goose by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/10 (104 of 126) This goose is very widespread and commonly found in the wild, and at almost any park that has a pond, lake or marsh. There are many other species of ducks , shorebirds , and terns found at the... view more |
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Baby Cliff Swallows by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/09 (105 of 126) This photo was taken the last day of May. Nine days earlier there were no visible signs of chicks, although you could hear them peeping. On this day there were many little heads framed in the... view more |
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Cliff Swallow in its nest by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/08 (106 of 126) This is a close-up of a typical nest with the adult peering out. Mud gathering has made its bill appear lighter than it actually... view more |
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Cliff Swallows Gathering Mud by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/07 (107 of 126) These two swallows were among dozens gathering mud on the bank of an inlet close to their colony. They landed and scooped up mud with their wings held high and fluttering. Once they got a good... view more |
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Cliff Swallow in Flight (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/06 (108 of 126) This picture was taken just after the swallow had gathered a mouthful of mud to add to its nest. It plainly shows the tail shape that helps to distinguish it from the Barn Swallow. This is the... view more |
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Barn Swallow by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/05 (109 of 126) This picture was taken moments after the one I posted yesterday. It's a small bird, about 7 inches long, and was singing its little heart out. I only saw a couple of barn swallows that day, but... view more |
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Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/04 (110 of 126) This picture was taken late May of this year. This is a very active bird so I was surprised and delighted to see it perch long enough for me to photograph it. The Barn Swallow is the only American... view more |
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Snowy Egret Feeding Her Young by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/03 (111 of 126) This is the trio of nestlings from yesterday's blog. Mom swoops in, holds on to the nest with her feet, uses her wings to stay balanced and feeds them on the fly, as it were. They set up a clamor... view more |
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Young Snowy Egrets by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/02 (112 of 126) These 3 birds are all siblings but one is quite smaller than the rest. I kept expecting it to get shoved aside, or even knocked out of the nest, but it really held it's own. The mother would fly up... view more |
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Nesting Snowy Egret with young by Terry Costales posted 2007/06/01 (113 of 126) This picture was taken in late May. There were mother egrets in the colony still sitting on eggs while others, like the one above, were taking care of their small chicks. Many mother egrets were... view more |
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Snowy Egret (Leucophoyx thula) by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/31 (114 of 126) This picture was taken in late April of this year and shows this gorgeous Snowy Egret bringing a twig back to the nest as an offering to his mate. Their distinguishing marks are the black legs,... view more |
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Young Night Heron by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/30 (115 of 126) This photo was taken early in May. There were 4 or 5 young ones about this size on the ground all within the fenced in area. Sometimes one of them would clamber up into a bush, but mostly they sat... view more |
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Young Night Herons by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/29 (116 of 126) This picture was taken in early May and these two seem a little older than the other fledglings I saw. They have gotten big enough to come out of the nest and perch on the branches... view more |
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Fledgling Night Heron by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/28 (117 of 126) This picture was taken early May. The nest was in a very shady area and it was overcast, but luckily there was a brief break in the clouds which provided enough light for me to get a decent... view more |
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Fledgling Night Heron by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/27 (118 of 126) This was taken in early May and shows a fledgling night heron that has fallen out of it's nest. It took shelter next to a fence that was only a few feet from a path. I hope everyone knew to leave... view more |
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Nesting Night Heron by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/26 (119 of 126) This nest was not in the fenced off area near the pond but next to the picnic tables. The herons are used to seeing and hearing people and seem quite tolerant of being ogled and photographed.... view more |
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Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/25 (120 of 126) Taken late March, this bird is probably a year or two old and has the yellow legs you see on both juveniles and non breeding adults. They get their full adult plumage in the third year. If you look... view more |
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Black-crowned Night Heron (nycticorax nicticorax) by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/24 (121 of 126) At the sanctuary, there is a group of palm trees next to the large pond that provides prime nesting spots. It is fenced off to ensure the breeding birds are not disturbed. In late March, this was... view more |
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Great Egret (ardea alba) by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/23 (122 of 126) This shows all the markings you would look for in identifying this bird in the breeding season. The lacy plumes on the back and the green/blue "mask" that extends from the base of the bill to the... view more |
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Great Egret (Ardea Alba) by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/22 (123 of 126) These large egrets are graceful and breathtaking in flight. I watched this bird flying back and forth several times bringing nesting material back to it's mate. There was only one pair that I saw... view more |
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Breeding pair of Avocets by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/21 (124 of 126) Taken Early May, they are guarding a nest and looking lovely. Maybe next trip out there I can get a shot of some Avocet... view more |
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Avocet in breeding plumage (Recurvirostra americana) by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/20 (125 of 126) This view shows the extent of the buff coloring avocets acquire on neck and chest in the breeding season. They stand about 15 to 20 inches tall and Wikipedia has more info on these birds if you're... view more |
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Avocet non-breeding plumage by Terry Costales posted 2007/05/19 (126 of 126) This photo was taken late March of this year and many birds were still in just black and white. For courting and breeding the necks and chest acquire a rusty or tan color. They really seem to... view more |
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