A couple weeks of rain was not enough to break the drought…
Lake Oroville
but after it ended spring fever hit me and I loaded the photography gear and headed out to some of my favorite spots in central California. My first stop was Putah Creek where for some unknown reason, diving ducks congregate. My quarry was the hooded merganser and after a lot of distant shots, one came close enough for a good image.
Hooded Merganser
Then it was off to Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough, a small bay on the coast just north of Monterey. The area abounds with marine life, sea otters, sea lions, seals and shorebirds in the mud flats.
Sea Otter Portraits
Snacking on a crab
Sea Lions
Harbor Seals & Gulls
Pelagic Cormorant
Long-billed Curlew
Whimbrel (eating crab)
Willet
From Moss Landing I headed inland to Pinnacles National Park hoping to get some photos of the California condors that are now occupying that area. No luck on condors but there was lots of other wildlife and scenic opportunities.
Pinnacles National Park-The Pinnacles
Yellow-billed Magpie
California Quail
Scrub Jay
Brown Towhee
Wild Turkeys (The Boys!)
Next month I’m headed to Panama for more bird photography.
deansshots 
