Since I had gotten a late start on my walk around Ralphine Lake/Spring Lake and had already spent considerable time taking pictures of the mergansers, I decided I had better get walking if I wanted to get back before dinner. But as often happens, as I was leaving I glanced up and noticed a pair of cormorants sitting in the tree and couldn’t couldn’t resist getting one more good shot before I left.
Before I could get a shot of the cormorant a Green Heron suddenly landed right in front of me.
Needless to say, I couldn’t resist shooting it first. This may be the best shot I have ever taken of a Green Heron in breeding plumage, though apparently even this isn’t full breeding colors.
The green heron flew off nearly as quickly as it had appeared and I refocused of the Cormorant before I headed for Spring Lake.
I must admit I’m so used to seeing these sitting on pier posts on Puget Sound or on the ocean that I’m nearly as surprised to see them sitting in a tree as I am seeing a great blue Heron sitting in a tree.
One of my three “firsts” on this trip to California was this Red-Shouldered Hawk I saw on a snag between the two lakes.
At first I just assumed it was a Red-Tailed Hawk and wasn’t too concerned about getting a shot but as it flew off
I knew instantly it was not a hawk that I recognized.
I was so distracted by the sight of this hawk that I didn’t pay much attention to the turn-off and when I returned after circling Spring Lake without taking a single picture I walked right by the turn-off and walked another half mile or so before I realized I was lost. I actually had to ask another walker if I was on the right path back to Howarth Lake and barely made it back before dark.