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Rescued a Brandt’s Cormorant!

Did my good deed for the week! I encountered a Brandt’s Cormorant all tangled up in fishing line whilst photographing at Ballona Creek this past weekend. I text’d Peter Wallerstein with LA Marine Animal Rescue and he responded immediately at the scene 15 minutes later! I took a short little video of Peter netting the Cormorant:

Peter capturing the Brandt’s Cormorant

The happy Brandt’s Cormorant after Peter freed it from the fishing line wrapped all around its body and wings:

Brandt’s Cormorant

I was rewarded later in the afternoon by getting up close and personal with a beautiful Brant. Probably one of the cleanest Brants I’ve encountered in Southern California.

Brant

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Posted by ctaylor on February 9, 2012 in Photography Adventures

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Tags: ballona creek, brandt's cormorant, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, marine animal rescue, peter wallerstein, Playa del Rey

Crested Caracara in Ballona Wetlands

February 03

A bit behind on blog updates but a Crested Caracara made a brief appearance in the Ballona Wetlands on January 13th. It only stuck around for a day…actually more like half a day. I was able to get some photos of it before a Red-tailed dive bombed it. It circled around the area few times going higher and higher, riding the afternoon thermal updrafts only to never be seen again!

Crested Caracara

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Posted by ctaylor on February 3, 2012 in Photography Adventures

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Tags: ballona, crested caracara, Marina del Rey, mexico, Playa del Rey, wetlands

Pacific Golden-Plover @ Ballona Cr.

November 18

It’s been a while since a decent species has shown up at Ballona Creek. Yesterday, Martin Meyers found a Pacific Golden-Plover along Ballona Creek. While not a significant bird to the state or county, for that matter, it was a bird that once wintered in the Ballona Wetlands in decent numbers. But due to urbanization and habitat loss there has only been 1 or 2 records in the past 20 years.

Pacific Golden-Plover

I’ve photographed Pacific Golden-Plovers in Hawaii before but this gave me a good opportunity to photograph one in relatively good lighting and really close to home! There were also many Dunlin in the area but I didn’t have much time to photograph anything but the Pacific Golden-Plover before the parking meter was going to expire. I’ll have to get back out there this weekend.

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Posted by ctaylor on November 18, 2010 in Photography Adventures

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Tags: ballona, ballona creek, golden plover, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, pacific golden-plover, Playa del Rey, plover

Ballona Wetlands

April 09

Spent more time this morning photographing plants and such at Ballona Wetlands this morning. Was able to get permission through Dan Cooper to photograph in some of the restricted areas for the book that we’re working on. Encountered most of the usual suspects including a rather photogenic adult male Allen’s Hummingbird along with a Jerusalem Cricket posing on the dunes.

Ballona Wetlands – Marina del Rey in Distance

Ballona Wetlands – Playa del Rey in Distance

Ballona Wetlands – Lupine

Ballona Wetlands – Native Groundcover

Ballona Wetlands – Jerusalem Cricket

Allen’s Hummingbird

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Posted by ctaylor on April 9, 2009 in Photography Adventures

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Tags: allen's hummingbird, ballona wetlands, dan cooper, jersualem cricket, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey

Cedar Waxwings???

April 10

I just happened to glance out my home office window and saw a flock of small birds flying over our yard. Curious, I grabbed my binoculars and was surprised to see 25-30 Cedar Waxwings! They circled around, landing in a neighbor’s tree about 50 yards away. A bit far for decent pictures but I snapped a few record shots anyway:

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Tag Archives: Marina del Rey

Rescued a Brandt’s Cormorant!

Crested Caracara in Ballona Wetlands

Pacific Golden-Plover @ Ballona Cr.

Ballona Wetlands

Cedar Waxwings???

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