Highlights of the month include BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS, a few insects and spiders, and the International Space Station shot from the desert. 

I got a new Nikon D7100 camera which focuses faster, works better in low light, and takes a much sharper image than my prior camera. Between the new camera and winter migration I went a little wild shooting birds and particularly trying to shoot birds in flight. Most of the month was spent close to home

Osprey - Pandion haliaetusOrder: ACCIPITRIFORMES
Family: PANDIONIDAE - Osprey

El Dorado Park, Area III


12/08/2013 Cassin's Kingbird - Tyrannus vociferansOrder: PASSERIFORMES - Perching birds
Family: TYRANNIDAE - Tyrant Flycatchers

El Dorado Park Area III 12/09/2013 Northern Flicker (red shafted) - Colaptes auratusOrder: PICIFORMES - Woodpeckers and Allies
Family: PICIDAE

Migrant Sept thru Mar


El Dorado Park Area II 12/20/2013

I found Eared Grebes and Western Grebes diving for fish.

Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollisOrder: PODICIPEDIFORMES - Grebes
Family: PODICIPEDIDAE

Visitor November to March



Jack Dunster Marine Reserve 12/04/2013 Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollisOrder: PODICIPEDIFORMES - Grebes
Family: PODICIPEDIDAE

Visitor November to March



Jack Dunster Marine Reserve 12/04/2013

I photographed a few birds new to my site including American Pipit, White-throated Swift, Ross's Goose, a Pink-sided variation of a Dark-eyed Junco and a leucistic (white not albino) Black-crowned Night Heron. In the image below you can see Black-crowned Night Herons from left to right a juvenile, the leucistic adult, a young adult, and a normal adult. Leucism is caused by defects in pigment cells during development. Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticoraxOrder: CICONIIFORMES - Herons and Allies
Family: ARDEIDAE - Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

This bird is likely a rare color morph where pigment cells are damaged during development causing the pale coloration (Leucism).


Sims' pond 12/11/2013

I participated in the Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. My area covered the Los Cerritos Wetlands and Gum Grove Park.

Killdeer - Catoptrophorus semipalmatusKilldeer - Catoptrophorus semipalmatus Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleucaGreater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca

In my insect and spider world, I played with my macro lens and took a few photos in my yard where I added a new Ichneumon wasp (Temelucha grapholithae) to my list. On the bird count I saw Monarch butterflies overwintering at Gum Grove Park. Somewhat common in my yard, and kinda cool, is the Stripe-eyed flower fly (Eristalinus taeniops). 

Stripe-eyed flower fly - Eristalinus taeniopsFamily Syrphidae - Flower Flies (a.k.a. Hover Flies)

Non-native. Bee mimic

12/11/2013 Monarch - Danaus plexippusFamily Nymphalidae - Brushfooted Butterflies

Gum Grove Park 12/14/2013

The month culminated in a camping trip to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where I visited the slot canyons, wind caves, and shot the night sky with the International Space Station.

The International Space StationDec 28; 16:51 facing SSE. Two images combined. View from the Wind Caves

Want to explore the full series?

Local shots of birds and bugs http://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_dec_2013

Christmas Bird Count at Los Cerritos Wetlands http://kimssight.zenfolio.com/cbc_2013

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park http://kimssight.zenfolio.com/anza-borrego_dec_2013