Summertime Unsadness Part 1

    Wow after finishing my last post, I realized that it took place over 2 months ago... Someone please send me back on vacation... SIKE still on summer break suckahs!!...although it'll all be over very, very soon... Anyways, as I mentioned in an earlier post, summer has been super eventful in terms of wildlife viewing and unfortunately due to my lateness, I must again revert to the condensed stream of consciousness style. So anyways, here I go!

7/17/15

    On this date, for the first time in a while I birded Shoreline fairly exclusively, rather than taking a quick look at the area before biking towards Sunnyvale / Alviso. Although I didn't see anything new, it was fun to slow down and observe bird behavior more closely. 

Unfortunately I cannot ever be as fabulous or flexible as this exquisite Forster's Tern. I still can dream. I still can dream.

Baby Barn Swallows at that stage in life where they leave the nest but still rely on their parents. Sort of like me lmao.

My first non-flying Red Saddlebags

Common Carp rooting through the algae and sediments at Adobe Creek. Although they're invasive, it's so entertaining seeing these large (2 feet +) fish swimming in unprotected waters probably less than a foot deep. 

7/18/15

    Did Alviso Loop with Will Brooks. Beginning of shorebird migration. Pretty good day.

You know it's a good day when you see this.

Or this.

Or this.

This too.

Sunbathing Barn Swallows? Also generally indicative of a good day.

Human photographing a Black Phoebe

Cooperative Red-tailed Hawk

Snowy Plover running open-mouthed through swarms of brine flies at A12. Yep it was a good day.

7/26/15

    Photographing some bugs seen in San Gabriel Nursery in Pasadena. 

Proctacanthus occidentalis, a large-ish robber fly perched conveniently for photography.

Cotinis mutabilis, the beautiful Figeater Beetle.

Another large fly species, the Mexican Cactus Fly (Copestylum mexicanum)

I did not get a chance to get pictures of any of the Monarchs flying around but did catch this Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala) in decent light.

8/1/15

    Skyline OSP. Bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs lotta buuuuugs.

I endorse this Strawberry Crown Moth. I endorse this Strawberry Crown Moth. I am Jasen Liu and I support this Strawberry Crown Moth. Awesome use of that Batesian mimicry.

Another awesome use of Batesian mimicry, although in this case the mimicry only transcends family level, as opposed to the previous transcendence of order. Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini) doing its best California Sister (Adelpha californica) impression. 

Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum)

Quercus chrysolepis - Canyon Live Oak, my favorite member of the live oaks. 

Trichostema lanceolatum - Vinegar Weed. Didn't bother smelling the leaves but I trust its name...

Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) with its simple yet killer jet black with white wing fringe aesthetic.

Epilobium densiflorum - Many-flowered Willowherb.

Cercyonis pegala - Common Wood-nymph. Although in flight these guys are quite easy to see, with their floppy wingbeats, large size, and dark brown coloration, they are surprisingly difficult to notice when perched, despite those flashy ocelli.

Leaf Miners always make the prettiest artwork

8/2/15

    Pillar Point Harbor. Lotsa birds.

Love multi species shots. This year has been really good for Elegant Tern, with juveniles being a large portion of the huge flocks at Pillar Point (shown here). Also hanging out are a Surf Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser.

Another multi species shot with more Elegant Tern, Caspian Tern (notice how enormous they are), Western Gull, and Harbor Seal.

And finally, a Western Gull with a Common Murre. Unfortunately, that murre looks pretty sickly and probably will end up being food for the gull. 

To be continued...