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Rusty Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Orgyia antigua: Erebidae) 3.0-4.0 cm (1.2-1.6 in) long.

Tree Swallow gathering nest material near a marsh/pond

This species is a very rare visitor to Alameda County. This male has been seen off-and-on excavating a roosting hole along the Stream Trail in Redwood Park this week. Several of us waited about two hours this morning before the Pileated Woodpecker finally appeared around 11:40am.

Enjoying the rain

Got a glimpse of this pretty girl yesterday but couldn't get to the camera in time. Staked out on the back porch for awhile today and she came around again. Hopefully her boyfriend will come around as well. Female rose-breasted grosbeak, pheucticus ludovicianus, and male house sparrow...

Eared Grebe (one of about five) hanging out at Fort Irwin, CA. The water treatment plant has several runoff ponds that support a surprising number and variety of birds, especially for the middle of a desert.

Noticed the small speck in upper right hand corner of image.

Was fighting with another YBS about 30 seconds earlier

Barely saw these birds in time to get a couple photos; of course they were flying away from me and not the other way around... Decided they had to be either snow geese or white pelicans and did some research and from photos, and descriptions of how each bird tends to fly, I became pretty...

Once again I'm walking home from the park and as I approach the house I hear a bird singing, very near, and I have to look around a bit before I see this one on my neighbor's rain gutter

Two beautiful Canada geese flying over the park in the morning. They were very kind in announcing their approach to give me time to make a couple quick photos.

Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis: Nymphalidae) Wingspan 2.54-6.35 cm (1.0-2.54 in).

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus frontalis) male.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus).

This attractive species reaches the western edge of its breeding range here on the Edwards Plateau. We heard them singing fairly often, usually from high in the canopy but found them difficult to see. This individual obliged by bathing at a water feature on the ground. Sexes are similar but...

Great Egret , showing some breeding plumage and colors, taking a break from fishing to catch up on a little grooming.

Among the most elegant of the herons, the slender Snowy Egret sets off immaculate white plumage with black legs and brilliant yellow feet. Male and female Snowy Egrets take turns incubating their eggs. As one mate takes over for the other, it sometimes presents a stick, almost as if passing a...

Appeared a couple times today right overhead. Think he is eyeing our neighbor's small white dog.

Ornate Metallic Wood Borer (Acmaeodera ornatoides: Buprestidae) 8-11 mm (0.3-0.4 in) long. Foraging on Potato-dandelion: Krigia dandelion: Asteraceae)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus).

Lazuli Bunting

I saw this Great Blue Heron on an early morning walk along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.

"Hedda Gabler." Adult male with relaxed snood.

Savannah sparrow in a small tree, one of many at the park today. Hard birds to photograph, relatively speaking, as they're constantly in motion and when they do stop, usually for a very few seconds, they're typically surrounded (or completely hidden) by leaves and branches.