brewer's blackbird

"The Blues Brothers" Brewer’s Blackbirds (Euphagus cyanocephalus) males.

or is this one of the kids? Maybe a son with just the first hints of his shiny suit?

Next day would have been my father's 100th birthday. Brother, sister-in-law, and I marked the day with a picnic at Doran Park, including reading some chapters from my fathers autobiography. This Brewer's was in the iceplant near where we picnicked.

I've heard that washing one's hair with beer gives a good sheen. Perhaps that's what this brewer does ...?

This guy was landing for a bite of peanut butter.

This male will soon have his all black coloring.

Not that he was planning on taking a swim, but maybe a quick bath in the shallows ...? Rohnert Park is hardly a birding hot spot. It's a massive "planned community" built on one immense farm that two bachelor brother farmers sold to a developer back in the late 1950's. The development...

Now you see her there behind him. In the earlier shot I posted only her beak was visible. Now back to finishing up the Xmas preparations. A few more truffles to roll out and coat with chocolate, a batch of meringues to whip up and bake, and the traditional Dec. 23 pre-dinner: rice porridge...

She doesn't have the male's iridescent blue head. One could say she's more sober. Perhaps she doesn't taste-test the brew quite as often as he does. ;)

Pair of Brewer's blackbirds hunkering down out of the fog and wind at Bodega Head. Sorry I haven't been able to browse and comment today. May not have time tomorrow either. Today I flew to Brussels, then waited 'til the next flight via Copenhagen landed as well in case my suitcase was on that...

Time for some birds again (although there will be some landscapes from this day later). While the laundry machine was running, I checked out the birds around the campground. Lots of Brewer's Blackbirds and American Robins (red-breasted thrushes, actually). I've already shared the dud shots taken...

Sitting in a lecture hall at the moment, listening to a lecture on cyberwar. Somehow this shot seemed the most appropriate one to post. I'm not sure what these quills are about. They reminded me of the spurs on Southern Lapwings, but they could also just be new feathers (leucistic ones?) emerging.

Another shot of a Brewer's at the outer side of Bodega Head. There's always some wind out there. This one had turned his back to the wind, something the wind took advantage of to play a little prank on him by ruffling up his plumage.

Iceplant is an introduced and invasive species. At Ao Nuevo State Park I once participated in a volunteer work day devoted to digging it out so as to replant the park with native species. But where it still grows it does serve some purpose(s): stabilizing erosion-susceptible sand dunes and...

Same bird as in Singing, glaring at me seemingly in irritation, perhaps because the clicking of the shutter was interrupting his song. ;)

Three birds from the California coast today, then back to work for a bit. Will browse this evening. First two images of a Brewer's Blackbird, perched on the parking barrier (to keep drivers from going over the cliff and down into the Pacific ocean :eek!:) at the outer side of Bodega Head. That...

This handsome guy lets me walk up close. Thanks to everyone for your kind comments.

Rain and dark clouds here but the birds have a way of cheering me up as they let me walk up closer to them.

On my third day at the Crane Festival, I started the day with a boat trip at Elephant Butte Lake. Not so many species as we were hoping for on the lake, but by practicing some of what I'd learned at the Shoot the Light class I'd taken the day before I did get some nice shots of this Brewer's...

This young blackbird got tired of waiting in line and decided to jump on the dove's back. That didn't bother the dove at all and it kept eating until it had its fill. I shot this through the window.

I've never noticed the inside of the mouth on these blackbirds before this. This is a young male with the light eye.