Kites, Kestrels, and Shark Watch

We started shark watch today--the daily 8-hour vigil begins.  During the first watch, we had the following fly past the lighthouse over a half-hour period:  7 Lesser Goldfinches, an American Kestrel, and a White-tailed Kite.  Excellent shark watching.

This is my first art photograph: a Western Wood-Pewee taken through Jim's bedroom window.  The screen gave the photo a soft look and I decided to roll with it.  Plus, there have been fewer portrait subjects as of late.

This Lark Bunting was flushed off of the marine terrace by one Rob Rockly.  Snowden got a lifer; Rockly got a county bird.  Take that, Pereksta.

Wind, Wind, Wind.

Today was, again, wind.  No new birds graced us with their presence.  We await the forecasted south and southeast winds beginning Tuesday.  Tomorrow at 8am: the official beginning of shark watch season.  I sincerely hope to provide the world with more passerine portraits in the near future--but be prepared for a week or more of Elephant Seal faces.

This is a Pelagic Cormorant.  It may look ridiculous, but it is a Cormorant.

Western Gulls make yet another appearance (no, not the last)--black of heart and (here) body.