Heermann's Gull

(249 views)
by Terry Costales

This juvenile Heermann's gull exhibits its main identifying marks clearly: black feet, red bill and dusky body. As an adult, its head will become pure white.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

(248 views)
by Denver Welte

Bald Eagles are very numerous in Dutch Harbor, where they live year round. They are used to people and you see them perched on dumpsters and piers, looking for an easy meal. Bald comes from the Old English "pie-bald", which means partially white.

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

(246 views)
by Terry Costales

Greater Scaups are very common in the Bay Area. This is a male.

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)

(246 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is a shot of the male from yesterday's posting which shows the unusual feather formation over his back.

American White Pelican

(246 views)
by Terry Costales

There was this one lone white pelican at the nature center that day. It was probably an injured bird being nursed back to health, or it just knew a good hand-out when it saw one.

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja, sometimes Ajaia ajaja)

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

On our boat trip to Turtle Beach Lodge we saw many Roseate Spoonbills feeding near the banks. When they feed, they move their heads rapidly back and forth in the shallow water, making them look very industrious and a bit silly.

Flamingos

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

Maybe I should have posted this on Valentines Day. It's either affection or defense of territory.

Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

A caiman lived in the lodge marina and could almost always be seen hanging out in its far corner. We found out the marina staff were feeding it chicken scraps from the kitchen. I supppose feeding a caiman is much more exciting than feeding a stray dog or feral cat.

Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

The red squirrels in Germany don't look like the squirrels here. Get a load of those ear tufts! This shot was back lit and little more than a silhouette, but it was the only close-up I got. So I digitally adjusted it much more than I would normally.

Black Crowned Night Heron

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

It's breeding season again for the Night Herons and Snowy Egrets. Here is a Heron settling a property dispute with his Egret neighbor.

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

This prehistoric looking male Green Iguana appeared beautiful yet frightening.

Long-nosed bat

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

On a tour of the Canal of Palms, this was the first animal spotted by our guide. There were three of these tiny bats on the underside of a dead branch. How the guide even saw them was a mystery because they were perfectly camouflaged. The guide identified them as long-nosed bats.

Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

(245 views)
by Terry Costales

The light color of this bird indicates that it is a juvenile. The adult of this bird is all black. Neotropic is the only species of cormorant that resides in Costa Rica.

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a very cute little diving bird . When they come up after a dive they puff up their posterior so it looks like a big powder puff. Then right before they dive, they bring those feathers close to their body and the powder puff becomes a streamlined torpedo.

Anna's Hummingbird

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

Yesterday in Palo Alto was chilly and grey for the most part. Fortunately the sun came out once in a while and highlighted this wonderful little bird while it fed.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

This pair of woodpeckers stayed in the tops of very tall trees making them very hard to photograph. This shot has been cropped about 75%. The Great Spotted is larger, with a longer bill than the Middle Spotted Woodpecker. Yes, there is a Lesser Spotted but I never saw one.

Howler Monkey

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

On our way to Tortuguero on the eastern coast, the guide spotted a family of howler monkeys in the trees next to the road. The van stopped and we got out to watch them. The noise the howlers make is thunderous and can be heard for miles. So when I finally saw them, I was surprised by how small they turned out to be. Barely two feet or so tall.

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

A large fledgling appears mesmerized by the camera.

Chinese Crested

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

It's an odd looking animal, but it's like any other dog, really.

Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

The only motmot seen on this trip appeared just after dawn. The tree in which it was perched was a favorite of several species. Unfortunately, the motmot's gorgeous colors were not visible from this angle, but the unique tail feathers were.

Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus)

(244 views)
by Denver Welte

Taken July 2007, this photo shows the summer coloring of the Arctic Fox. In winter it will be snow white.

Irish Wolfhound

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed of dog. It's hard to imagine this extremely gentle animal being used in war, but war is the original use for which they were bred.

Greater Scaup

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

This is the female scaup. Much more muted in coloration than yesterdays male.

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

Another view of the distant and beautiful Harrier.

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

(244 views)
by Terry Costales

Earlier this year the cliff swallows were busy feeding their young under the eaves of the Lucy Evans Interpretive Center.