This immature was bigger than a sharp-shinned but I will defer to hawk experts if I've got the id wrong. I love the transitioning plumage and that fierceness that comes through

the frost had settled on the back of the turkey and I caught them early enough before it melted away

Thank you for your visits, thoughts and inspiration!!

In our area, the California Gray Squirrel competes heavily with the Eastern fox squirrel for food. At this time of year on our hillside, they are harvesting the buckeye trees with a vengeance!

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

A new kind of magnolia blossom!

wild plums blooming under the canopy of eucalyptus

coming around the back of the house I ran into this woodchuck. No time for settings or changing position, I just shot more to document. Last week I saw three bobcats but had no camera and simply took pleasure in watching them make their way across the meadow without fuss but now I know who to look out for!

Thank you for your visits and inspiration!

black-tailed jackrabbit

so young and inexperienced that he hopped right up to me...

I got home yesterday and found this female quail up on our deck. Clearly, she was positioning herself in the best spot to call to her mate from whom she was separated. She called for a solid half hour in our area before continuing on. I did not hear any responses. Early this morning I heard calling but have yet to see them on their daily traversing of the hillside. I hope they have reunited.

Downy woodpecker in the woods

Thank you for your visits, thoughts and inspiration!!

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

California jackrabbit making himself at home

a beautiful band-tailed taking in the sun

Thank you for your visits, thoughts and inspiration!!

Mouring Dove - Zenaida macroura - in a California Sycamore

Thanks to all who stop by for a visit, comment or fav....it is all very appreciated!

Birding in Tennessee Valley

a rainy day but the juncos provide some cheer

many thanks for stopping by to visit and share....risa...and have a nice weekend!

thank you so much for your visits and inspiration

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

handsome wild turkey in the snow

Thank you for your visits, thoughts and inspiration!!

so happy to have you stopping by and sharing your views!

Allen's Hummingbird feeding at the Pride of the Madeira

A herd grazing on the bluffs above the Pacific

Iris douglasiana 'Canyon Snow'

Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!

Little Gem Magnolia

male in the locust tree

Painted Lady in the salvia

Padme in the shadows

the life of fur

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Golden-crowned sparrow sitting out the rain

Cooper's juvenile

blacktailed jackrabbit figuring out what to do...

Anna's in the garden

California Jackrabbit

our beautiful California Brown Pelicans riding the currents above the Pacific

Thank you for your visits and inspiration

Sedum Autumn Joy interlaced with salvia

A thrilling moment when this great horned owl flew to our newly leafed out buckeye tree and there was enough daylight to shoot a few pictures! For half an hour, three acorn woodpeckers, two bluejays, three crows and a northern flicker formed an umbrella of birds over this predator and let everyone in the vicinity know he was there. The vocalizations and agitated movement of all these birds was quite something to behold. The owl was completely unfazed by all the ruckus and settled in for some preening time and waited for darkness to fall.

We have heard a variety of great horned owl calls for the last two years mainly starting up in the middle of winter but glimpses of them have been rare and mostly in the dark.

The thrill of seeing new birds never grows old and nature always astounds..