May always starts with good bird migration, and then tapers off with only the hopes of finding a late vagrant. A Black Swift was migrating over my house. Indeed it was a great find, especially for a 'yard' bird. I have a bad photo, but enough for positive identification.  I caught the the usual complement of birds migrating through, such as the flycatchers, Western Tanager, and Lazuli Bunting.

Locally breeding birds start to show up with their off-spring. What is cuter than baby Killdeer, and ducklings! Even if you don't see the babies, you know they are there because the parents are gathering insects to feed them. They have their beaks stuffed with caterpillars and anything else they can catch.

The garden starts to bloom, and I spend more time photographing insects.  I once again held my gathering for fellow entomologically inclined iNaturalist photographer friends. Wasps were also gathering caterpillars to feed to their young. Everyone needs protein. One of my friends pointed out a Sharptail bee (Coelioxys sp.). I missed it that day but went back and staked out the same flowers the next day and found it again.

My night cameras picked up lots of skunk activity. They are coming by almost every night. Two came by on more than one occasion, with at least one looking like a young one. On one night, they got into a wrestling match! Skunks are adorable when you don't smell them.

My monthly wetlands survey was pleasant. There seemed to be more red-winged blackbirds than we usually see. Usually we see only one or so at a time and infrequently. This time we saw several males and a female. Will they be breeding here?

And then the last two days of May and the first day of June: WOW! I went on a birding trip to the Eastern Sierra with three other friends. My friends Christine and Donna have great knowledge of the area and skills at finding birds. I added three birds to my life list: Common Nighthawk, Sooty Grouse, and Greater Sage Grouse. We had beautiful scenery, good food, great company, and mountain birds.

Enjoy the photos!
 

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Watch the slideshows or click on the links to look through at your own pace. Links open in a new tab.

Local Stuff:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_may-2025

Los Cerritos Wetlands Survey:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/hellman_may-2025

Eastern Sierra:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/eastern_sierra_may-2025