Dr. Nigella Hillgarth

The Cassin’s Kingbird flies past in pursuit of a small insect

There is a Cassin’s Kingbird in the neighborhood and this morning it was hunting for insects in the yard

Another Townsend’s Warbler spent time in the garden last week. This one appears to be an immature as the black Breast feathers are speckled with yellow

It’s that time of year when the crows come to feast on the palm trees across the street

The Golden Bridge, San Francisco at sunset

This does not do justice to last night’s magnificent sunset!

A resident Black Phoebe looking for insects

A classic House Wren pose. Look at those long legs and feet!

A lovely Say’s Phoebe spent a few days by the ocean, Birdrock, La Jolla CA, last week

First Scaly-breasted Munia I have seen in the garden. This species was introduced into the wild through caged birds escaping. Munias are originally from Asia, and now well-established in coastal California and a few other places.

I am pretty certain this is the same Yellow-rumped Warbler that has been in and around the yard for many’s days now. I hope it will stay over the winter.

One of my favorite yard birds is back - Yellow-rumped Warbler. They have been migrating through for a few weeks now. this may be a female cross between two races, the Myrtle X Audubon. It has some yellow on the throat like the Audubon, but brownish head and back like Myrtle.

There are many juvenile Lesser Goldfinches around at the moment - taking advantage of local nyjer seed bird feeders.

The Song sparrows are in the yard a lot and busy eating - this year’s juveniles are still around as well.

A migrating Warbling Vireo spent time in the garden yesterday. La Jolla, CA

Back in La Jolla Female or juvenile Black-throated Gray Warbler around the yard.

Greater Flamingo, Evros Delta, Greece.

The rare and beautiful Eleonora’s Falcon - caught in a moment of sunlight in the forest. Samothrace, Greece

Hooded Crow gliding by, Sifnos, the Aegean

I never knew that Polar Bears had black or dark blue tongues! In fact their skin is black too. I saw this one in Svalbard when it had just finished eating a large meal