Mountain Birding: Elevation 5890 Feet - Part 3

Today I have some more pics from our walk around Manzanita Lake at Lassen Volcanic National Park...

And I couldn't be happier to share these photos of the female White-headed Woodpecker we saw...

This was the first time I've been able to get a clear shot of one because they move so quickly and are usually among the dense foliage of the trees...

But this one was more than obliging and pecked away on the tree right in front of us, allowing us to take pictures to our hearts' content...

Sometimes the birds don't cooperate and test my patience, and other days they seem to pose for me...

Tomorrow I'm posting my first ever pics of a Brown Creeper! Talk about fast-movers!

Mountain Birding: Elevation 5890 Feet - Part 2

Several times now we've seen an American Dipper at Manzanita Lake at Lassen Volcanic National Park. What a delightful bird! The cute little way they bee-bop around makes them one of my favorite birds to watch...

Later, after our walk around the lake, we saw another Dipper (or perhaps the same one) in Manzanita Creek...

Here's some video so you can get the full effect of his cute movements:

Mountain Birding: Elevation 5890 Feet - Part 1

Every time we visit Manzanita Lake at Lassen Volcanic National Park, I'm always surprised at how beautiful it is. No matter how many times I've seen it, the picturesque lake takes my breath away like I'm seeing it for the first time...

Although there are manzanita bushes scattered around the lake, I think it should be called Glass Lake or Reflection Lake because of obvious reasons.

Anywho, on to the birds we saw...

There were a couple of Mallards swimming around, along with a few Canada Geese and a Pied-billed Grebe...

 And, of course, there were lots of squirrels and chipmunks hanging around to make things interesting...

On tomorrow's blog post, we're takin' a dip...

Summer Hummers

It's been incredibly hot here in good ole Californ-i-a, so we haven't been able to go to our usual birding haunts--our local wildlife refuges. However, I have had a TON of activity at my hummingbird feeders! Is anyone else out there going through a gallon of nectar a week like I am?

Anywho, here are a few of my greedy backyard visitors in all of their sequined beauty...

Lassen Volcanic National Park - Part 2

Manzanita Creek at Lassen Volcanic National Park is a great place to find birds!

 This juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was bopping around the creek bank...

And we also spotted an American Dipper!

 Guess who decided to drop in while we were birdwatching...

 A mama deer and her twins!

Lassen Volcanic National Park - Part 1

Lots of water rushing by in Kings Creek...

Careful not to get swept away!

The early bird gets the worm at Lassen VNP!

In this case, an American Robin was fishing for grub at Manzanita Creek...

Birds aren't the only critters out and about at the park...

So cute!!!

Read Part 2 here.