10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2013

A California Sea-lion surfaced close by, making me jump and spooking the birds, but they soon returned. The rocks, made a great platform to shoot from and kept my silhouette hidden. By sitting quietly, the birds would gradually work their way along the edge and approach quite close.

San Francisco 156

San Francisco Sea Lions Lions California 156

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

For whatever reason, however, yesterday on my way to work my mind wasn’t with our upcoming spring, but with September’s in California. I saw a wagtail there once, which was exceptionally cool for California (I’m told). Under the surface we could sea Oceanic Sunfish and Blue Sharks. And there where whales.

Whales 157

Whales Whaling Sharks Bats 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2012

Despite avoiding all rare bird alerts and birding email lists, he woke up one morning to find out that none other than an Ivory Gull had made its way to Arroyo Grande, California. After taking in the staggering significance of this bird being in California, it dawned on him that he could actually look at with his own eyes. He blinked.

San Francisco 160

San Francisco Sea Lions California Lions 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2013

A large number of people I talk to believe the island to be next to the city of Santa Cruz, California. The scenery is stunning…expansive, rolling grasslands, towering vertical cliffs, cozy canyons filled with oaks, quiet coves where sea lions and cormorants mingle over the kelp forests. This is not true.

California 163

California Birds Sea Lions Whales 163

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2015

In a nice moment of serendipity, my review copy of Offshore Sea Life ID Guide: West Coast by Steve N.G. Sullivan, in collaboration with Todd McGrath and Tom Johnson, arrived at my door the day before I was leaving for southern California. Birds of California , the new volume in the ABA series, arrived the day I returned.

Dolphins 162

Dolphins Whales Whaling Porpoises 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2016

That was my first trip to California Wildlife Center. It’s the same reason so many people now cut up their plastic six-pack holders — because the connection between their soda and the strangled sea lion becomes obvious, visual and intimate. I surprised her and she dropped the bird before vaporizing again. I was mortified.

Cats 211

Cats Stray Cat Stray Wildlife Rehabilitation 211

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

But what I have long wanted to do is get out on a boat in California, the fabled land of albatrosses, murrelets, and auklets. California: if you can make it here well, that’s actually not that impressive because if you can’t make it as a birder in California you must really suck. Sadly, it was the best that I got.

Whales 109

Whales Whaling Albatross Dolphins 109