This weekend is the Spring Wings Festival, annual celebration of the migrating birds that make the stop at the Lahontan Valley. There's several activities one can do, like a scavenger hunt or a Big Day or, if you're a kid, a passport book that gets you an airboat ride across one of the reservoirs in the refuge.

Last year, my Big Day was 50 species recorded. This year, I tried to keep better track and ended up with 55 species!

I already updated my eBird and iNaturalist profiles with a majority of the pictures I took (really, you aren't missing out on some of those barely focused snaps) but wanted to share the pictures I like the best.

Super fancy Ruddy Duck.
Protective Canada Goose
Frazzled White-Faced Ibis.
Wind-blown Black-crowned Night-Heron

#LahontanValley #SLineReservoir #StillwaterNWR #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #RuddyDuck #CanadaGoose #WhiteFacedIbis #BlackCrowedNightHeron

Okay, last one, just cause I like it. I was walking along the edge of the marina, expecting to see birds out in the water, or up on the masts of the ships, or little birds in the bushes along the sidewalk. While watching a woman sweep up some leaves, I caught a spot out of the corner of my eye. The black-crowned night heron was perched above her and just hanging out.

I bet she was wondering why I was suddenly pointing a camera above her head. hehe

#SanDiego #California #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #BlackCrowedNightHeron

Spent a week in San Diego and saw quite a few birds while there, including some lifers. I won't post too many pics, but just wanted to share who kept me company while I was in Southern California.

#SanDiego #California #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #CedarWaxwings #BlackCrowedNightHeron #HouseFInch #DoubleCrestedCormorant