When I walk the trails between The Breakers and the Pacific Ocean, I am filled with a sense of wonder and discovery. There is always something different or new to hear and see.

Like this bird perched on top of a Shore Pine Tree, singing insistently! It was a drizzly morning, so I only had my iPhone camera. Still the shots were good enough that I could identify the bird later – White-crowned Sparrow. Oh what a smile his song gave me!

Several Mallard couples have worked out their territories within the marsh, but I could tell one of these pairs was not Mallard.  As the intruders rapidly swam away from the residents, I snapped photos with my cell in hopes I could identify them later.

This was another “first sighting” for me. Though it’s quite likely that I have seen these birds some other time/place in my lifetime, what makes this special is that on this occasion, I was able to identify the pair as Hooded Mergansers – female left, male right. That makes me smile!

“It has to be Greater Yellowlegs,” I thought as I watched this beauty working the edge of the pond. I photographed (and identified) one last year – in about the same location. Not being absolutely sure I was right would haunt me though – so I snapped photos as I observed the rocking motion it made as it stepped forward. No doubt about it – Greater Yellowlegs!

 Smile