Recently, I’ve been doing most of my birdwatching at Coyote Hills and Pescadero, so I hadn’t visited Bair Island in a while. On this long-overdue visit, I had a rewarding birding session, so I’ll introduce it in two parts. By the way, the evening light here is excellent, so afternoon visits are best for photography.
A Spotted Sandpiper, as usual walking along the water’s edge.A male Greater Scaup. The green sheen on its head is less noticeable than that of a Mallard. If the sheen appears purplish instead, it’s a Lesser Scaup.A female Greater Scaup, entirely brown in color.A Dunlin enthusiastically bathing in the evening light.After finishing their bath, instead of walking back, they hop lightly to return.A female Bufflehead with a Greater Scaup. It might be a young male.A Black-bellied Plover wandering alone. This was my first time observing one in the U.S.A group of Long-billed Dowitchers resting together as usual.An American Avocet. A group actively foraging for food. In the background is a Marbled Godwit.
Equipment used: 400 mm f/2.8 (with built-in teleconverter)
