A few 'desert' birds shots from a recent trip to Palm Desert

[Terry O]

Thanks to all of the water/golf courses, the Palm Desert/Palm Springs area is an oasis for birds. Here's a few of the better shots I took during the week of February 17th (my 81st)

All shots taken with the Canon 5Diii and 400 mm f5.6L - mostly 1/1250s and low ISOs, thank to the light!! All hand held.
(best resolution if you click on the image).

A Black-crowned Night Heron - often they hang out at a local Palm Desert Park with lots of attractive ponds



And a Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron in the same area



To my amazement I captured a couple of shots of a female Kestrel perched near the top of a very tall palm tree - looks like it might be a nest





And a new bird for me, but common in the desert - a Verdin (thanks to Cornell Ornithology app for the ID)

 

[squirl033]

Really nice series, Terry! I'd love to get a black-crowned night heron someday... such cool looking birds!

 

[Bill Anderson]

Good shots after "deserting" me for a week.

 

[Terry O]

Good shots after "deserting" me for a week.

Thanks Bill - sometime duty calls!

 

[Terry O]

Really nice series, Terry! I'd love to get a black-crowned night heron someday... such cool looking birds!

Thanks, Rocky. Its fun to get a few shots in a different venue!