With the harshest parts of the COVID-19 pandemic finally behind us, we’ve been able to resume travel around the holidays to see family in Virginia.
Located in Pac Heights, Lafayette Park is 11 acres with trees, rolling hills, a playground for kids, and a view of the San Francisco Bay. I was lucky to visit on a cloudy morning with some sprinkling rain, which made for well exposed photos and active birds.
When driving from Oakland to Berkeley along I-80/I-580, you’re likely to see 1) a lot of traffic and 2) Berkeley’s Aquatic Park, a respite from said traffic. Interestingly, the lagoon was created in the process of paving the interstate when it cut into the edge of the San Francisco Bay.
As if a dinner bell had rung, we got to watch many different birds hunting for dinner. This evening was particularly active.
Lake Merritt had a big group of White Pelicans, far more than I’ve seen in the past few years. They were very active, gulping down fish in the lake.
The many trees in downtown Oakland that are home to Black-crowned Night-Herons and Snowy Egrets are much quieter than in prior days. Many nests are emptying out as birds test their wings and fly off.
As I was working on photos, I heard a bird call outside that I couldn’t recognize. I slowly opened a door to look around, seeing a chickadee hopping around in some plants. It was answering a call from another bird from farther away. I scrambled to get my gear–camera, memory […]
Ardenwood Historic Farm is a family friendly farm with educational activities from around 1890-1930. Want to watch a blacksmith make tools? Or ride a heritage train that’s maintained by volunteers? What I didn’t expect was a gaggle of photographers with giant cameras by a patch of flowers.
What are the typical signs of herons and egrets nesting in downtown Oakland? Lots of loud squawking, a pungent fishy smell, and surfaces covered with bird droppings. Not so exciting for those trying to park their cars in the area, but great for those walking by with a camera and […]
I’ve never been able to keep up with the volume of photos that I take to share online. But a tip from a photographer friend led me to try out using Photo Mechanic, a fast tool for reviewing, tagging, and selecting photos. In a few work sessions it has helped […]
I’m fortunate to be within walking distance of Lake Merritt, which is also why so many posts are from there! Not only is it close for me, it attracts many many birds too.
Last set of photos from a short trip to Hawaii. Oahu is quite a contrast from Kauai with busy downtown streets and boardwalks. But Diamond Head is a short hike up to get views of nature, a huge 300,000 year old crater, and Waikiki. Amble trees and vegetation along the […]