This Cat Tore This OCWA's Face Off

Saw some weird things today.  Nothing really happened.  I move into a really bad hotel with gross stains and stuff like that.  So that's cool.

The photographer dropped dead after staring this cat in the eye for too long.  Cursed.  I wonder how many birds this disgusting animal has murdered.

Longest billed Orange-crowned Warbler.  Ever.

American Hawks

It wasn't a great day for the sport of birding.  At least not at the Puente Hills Landfill, where I spent my workday beside a steady stream of garbage trucks and big rigs hauling their waste up a big hill.  It was the worst place I've worked yet.  I didn't take any photos.  Here are some from the last two days:

Orange-crowned Warbler vs. Mothman.  OCWA wins.  Point Loma, CA.

Red-tailed Hawk at the cemetery.  Paying his respects to a fallen homie.  He looks like a true American too.  A moment after this photo, the bird laid down on his belly and spread his wings out on the ground.  It was weird.  

Duckyducky

Yesterday was full of potential.  Weather was very nice.  There was a massive fallout of Yellow-rumped warblers.  A full on maelstrom of at least twenty birds.  The sky was raining little yellow and gray raindrops down on our heads.  It was overwhelming.  They mostly stayed up at the lighthouse most of the day, so we were not able to band them.  Most notably, there were over a hundred ducks flying around the Island in the morning.  We were able to pick out a few Northern Shovelers and American Wigeon (very good bird out here) among the many Northern Pintail.  Also, these were here:

Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens)

Green-winged Teal.  This duck has been living on the Island for a few weeks.  It just hangs out in the small rancid puddles near the shore.  Seems to like it just fine, though.

Another mini wave occurred yesterday, bringing with it a Band-tailed Pigeon, Magnolia warbler, and a handful of sparrows (all three Zonotrichia, Clay-colored, Lark, and Savannah).  We added a few points for Farallonathon. I think we are somewhere up around 118 after yesterday.  We had Beef Stroganoff for dinner and watched the South Park where the Canadian Royal Family comes under attack and the Princess is abducted.  Here are some birds I banded yesterday with my bare hands.

Magnolia Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler