Merry Christmas!

I figured it would be appropriate to post some pictures of Santa Claus today.  So here's mine...these were taken a couple years ago while backpacking.  I was lucky enough to see Santa making a practice run!

A wish for peace, harmony and love.  May you discover the power within yourself to create the life you want!

From our family to yours...Merry Christmas!

Red-tailed Hawk Encounter

Red-tailed Hawk Glaring

 

Bolsa Chica Reserve, Huntington Beach, Ca.

Found this guy (or girl) on a trail at Bolsa Chica yesterday.  I was actually turned the opposite way shooting a Reddish Egret "dancing" in the bay (images to follow if I got anything good) and suddenly all the shore birds got a little startled and begun flying around.  I looked around knowing that when a flock of birds suddenly takes of it's almost always because of a predator.  I didn't see any raptors though.  So a few minutes later after exhausting the Reddish Egret shots I got up and back on the trail and not 15 feet down the trail was this Red-tailed Hawk perched on a sign post.  It must have been camouflage from my vantage point.  Anyhow, I was able to snap off a few shots before he realized I was a little too close for his comfort.

A side note: It always amazes me how small birds instinctively know what raptors are a threat to them.  Birds know that, for example, an Osprey is not a threat because it only eats fish but on the other hand if a Harrier or Peregrine Falcon were to fly over they would definitely scurry out of the way.  The particular birds that this guy spooked only did a circle or two before landed safely back on the shore; I think they realized after a moment that this hawk wasn't too much of a threat.  Most likely it was looking for rodents, rabbits or snakes.

Cool fact: The oldest known Red-tailed Hawk was 28 years 10 months old.  (www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-tailed_hawk/id)

Reese and Jack

Took a short trip out to Creek Park in La Mirada a few days ago to shoot Reese and Jack.  Here's what happened...

 Reese loves nature!

Needless to say we did a "few" takes of this shot.

 

I think Reese has a future in modeling maybe (I never once asked her to pose)...

I love this shot of the siblings!

 

I'll end with the face I think I saw the most...