Welcome to the Gallery of Bird Photographs of Jon Dieges, Architect
BEST PRE-DIGITAL FILM PHOTOS:
A juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk paid a visit October 15, 2001, while on migration.
I got up on a ladder to get this shot of three nestling Western Scrub Jays in a Loquat Tree, May 9, 2000.
Adult male Western Bluebird emerging from feeding its nestlings in its nest in a Valley Oak in the middle of the Ojai Meadows Preserve–I shot 24 frames of film to get this one photo on the 24th try–they move really fast–May 27, 2000.
A pair of Mallards appreciated the water flowing through the Happy Valley Creek in the Ojai Meadows Preserve on April 28, 2000.
A Great Egret stalks the grasslands of the Ojai Meadows Preserve looking for moles and gophers to stab and swallow on April 28, 2000.
A Fledgling Roadrunner just as it was being released after being raised by Ojai Valley Wildlife Rehabiitation volunteers.
Although I took the training way back in 2001, I have mostly helped the wildlife rehabiitation groups by growing mealworms for the songbird rehabiitators, some of the best humans on the planet, or drawing plans for facilities at less tha half price.
Cliff Swallows knocked out of their nest by a thoughtless homeowner–I have worked closely with some of the wildlife rehabilitation groups in the area, took the training myself and got a certificate, but have mainly grown mealworms to help them out over the years; but recently have used the worms mainly to attract beautiful local songbirds into camera range.
Some of the Cliff Swallows being readied for release next to the Lake Casitas Ranger Station, a favorite habitat of the Cliff Swallows in the area because of all the insects associated with the water in the Lake–these specially built pre-release flight cages were just large enough for the swallows to exercise their wings yet small enough to be easily carried and vanned to the “release site.”A Cliff Swallow “Condominium” we (Ojai Valey Wildlife Rehabilitation) built next to the Lake Casitas Ranger Station to supplement the older dilapidated “Swallow Condominiums” that were built to attract the swallos way from the high eaves of the Ranger Station Firengine Garage–only yearling cliff swallows showed any interest in the new better-designed structure because all the “old-timers” went back to their favorite nest sposts in the original condos.
This juvenile female Cooper’s Hawk could be confused with the Sharp-shinned Hawk but it doesn’t have the “Sharpie’s” square tail tip–on March 8, 2000.
Technically not a bird, but a flying mammal, this photo of one of the local bats who thought my archive room over the garage was a “cave” was a happy accident–over-exposed to the point that the bat’s skeletal structure shows clearly.
Another view of the Sharp-shinned Hawk that scared the songbirds on October 15, 2001.
Not a bird, but a ground-squirrel-eating Bobcat taking a drink from the bird bath August 31, 1996.
Also not a bird, but a fabeled Gray Fox to “guard the chicken coop” on July 4, 1988–the side “mug” shot.
Front view “mug shot” of the same Gray Fox on August 31, 1996, or sometime the week before.
First Digital Photos using a Canon EOSxsi SLR with a 70-300mm Telephoto Zoom Lens with camera set at 1/125th of a second shutter speed, ISO 400, 800 or in dim light 1600, automatic lens opening to adjust instantly to different lighting conditions, and manual focusing (automatic focusing just not fast and accurate enough to get birds’ eyes in focus):
SUMMER 2008:
Looking like some creature from the dinasaur age, this fledgling Western Scrub Jay came at 1:46p.m. August 3, 2008, to look “creepy.”
A fledgling Western Scrub Jay beginning to eat on its own at 10:55 a.m. July 18, 2008.
Two fledgling Hooded Orioles demonstrate sibling rivalry in the top of a carob tree at 11:54 a.m. Sunday, August 3, 2008.
Mature adult male Hooded Oriole heads off to feed his fledglings at 4:32 p.m. August 10, 2008.
FALL & WINTER 2008-2009:
Adult male House Finch at 2:02 p.m. February 20, 2009.
This Black Phoebe at 4:29 p.m. February 16, 2009, had stayed around all of the Winter of 2008-2009.
Lingering into early Spring this Golden-crowned Sparrow was here at 3:57 p.m. April 11, 2009.
SPRING & SUMMER 2009:
A rare visit by a grouip of White-faced Ibis at the Ojai Meadows Preserve Pond at 4:53 p.m May 11, 2009.
A Northern Mockingbird at 1:00 p.m. August 15, 2009.
An adult male Red-winged Blackbird posts up at 4:56 p.m. May 11, 2009.
A fledgling Hooded Oriole studies the lunch tray at 12:43 p.m. August 7, 2009.
Fledgling Western Scrub Jay at 1:01 p.m. August 7, 2009.
Fledgling Hooded Oriole at 12:43 p.m. August 7, 2009.
A hapless mature Hooded Oriole father let his guard down and got stuck raising with the parasitic fledgling Brown-headed Cowbrd at 1:22 p.m., August 15, 2009.
My speech April 9, 2013, on Cowbirds at Ojai Valley Toastmasters:
FALL & WINTER 2009-2010:
A Black Phoebe catching flies on January 24, 2010.
One of several Cedar Waxwings hangs upside down to devour ripe privit berries at 11:33 a.m. February 14, 2010.
SPRING & SUMMER 2010:
A rare visit by a migrating Swainson’s Thrush May 9, 2010.
A fledgling Hooded Oriole who came at 1:04 p.m. September 11, 2010.
WINTER 2010-2011:
A rare visit by Pine Siskins at 2:12 p.m. March 1, 2011–note the faint yellow streaking on the wings and the sharper beak (as opposed to the larger blunter House Finch beak).
An American Goldfinch at 2:25 p.m. March 1, 2011, just beginning to molt off its winter plumage.
SPRING & SUMMER 2011:
A mature adult male Bullock’s Oriole duirng the Spring of 2011.
Just a second after the mother fed worms her child at 6:52 p.m. August 14, 2011, was begging for more.
A closer view of a mature adult male Bullock’s Oriole on May 27, 2011.
FALL & WINTER 2011-2012:
A rare for the area Common Yellowthroat passes through at 3:16 p.m. December 26, 2011, just missing Christmas day.
a Northern Mockingbird comes in close at 10:24 a.m. December 3, 2011.
Bewick’s Wren at 9:33 a.m. October 9, 2011.
Juvenile Female Cooper’s Hawk February 17, 2012.
SPRING & SUMMER 2012:
Adult male Black-headed Grosbeak on April 18, 2012.
Juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak Spring of 2012.
Yearling Bullock’s Oriole on May 28, 2012, the most active period of their nesting season.
Mature adult male Bullock’s Oriole at 12:51 p.m. June 12, 2012.
The only chance to see a mature father Bullock’s Oriole feeding its fledgling within camera range at 6:21 p.m. June 9, 2012.
Juvenile Western Scrub Jay on June 15, 2012.
One of the mature adult father Bullock’s orioles on May 26, 2012.
The first fledgling Bullock’s Oriole to come into camera range on June 14, 2012.
The first juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak at 5:41 p.m. April 12, 2012.
The first Hooded Oriole fledgling of the season on August 11, 2012.
One of the first mature adult father Black-headed Grosbeaks at 5:00 p.m. April 15, 2012.
Another fledgling Hooded Oriole on August 31, 2012.
At first we did not realize how rare this photo was of a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak on May 19, 2012, until we studied the Sibley Field Guide regarding the unique thicker verical striping on her chest.
FALL & WINTER 2012-2013:
Rare Lincoln’s Sparrow at 12:03 p.m. February 26, 2012.
A Common Yellowthroat, a warbler, on November 3, 2012.
The menacing adult male Cooper’s Hawk at 12:47 p.m. January 16, 2013–the males are much smaller than the females strangely–perhaps to take up less space on the nest bringing in food–the females must be bigger since the larger chest size would make them better at “brooding” the chicks and thus favor survival better–“survival of the fittest” as they say.
SPRING & SUMMER 2013:
Close up view of a mature adult male Black-headed Grosbeak in 2013.
A lone Anna’s Hummingbird stands guard near the sugar water feeder on August 21, 2013.
The curious White-breasted Nuthatch loves to go down a tree head first on August 16, 2013, looking for insects.
A fledgling Western Scrub Jay poses on September 11, 2013.
One of the yearling father Hooded Orioles busy feeding its first family on June 20, 2013.
The first Hooded Oriole Fledgling of the season on May 21, 2013.
A yearling father Bullock’s Oriole on May 23, 2013, in the midst of feeding its one nest of nestlings for the season.
One of the oldest father Bullock’s Orioles on May 21, 2013, about to lose a lwft wing feather.
Two of several pesky fledgling House Sparrows on July 30, 2013.
Caught in the act of feeding its fledgling Hooded Oriole at Noon Sunday, August 11, 2013.
A miraculous juxtaposition of a mother American Crow with the deformed upper beak and her fledgling on June 12, 2013, with a pefectly formed beak–a mystery.
The first fledgling Black-headed Grosbeak of the season on July 21, 2013.
Close-up of a Eurasian Collared Dove on August 1, 2013.
The difficult to photograph all black American Crow Fledgling on June 7, 2013.
Close-up of the head of a fledgling American Crow on June 7, 2013.
As the record drought continues a hungry White-breasted Nuthatch looks for a hand-out on Wednesday, Agust 7, 2013.
Mother Hooded Oriole on July 22, 2013.
Father Hooded Oriole on July 28, 2013.
Close-up of unique Wingbar and head of mature adult father Hooded Oriole on July 31, 2013.
Mature adult father Bullock’s Oriole on June 3, 2013.
FALL & WINTER 2013-2014:
Formerly known as “Audubon’s Warbler” this adult male Yellow-rumped Warbler is halfway through its Spring molt and was still here at 5:29 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2014.
A female Lesser Goldfinch posing at 12:11 p.m. Friday, January 31, 2014.
When the Toyon berries ripen three or four Hermit Thrushes can be seen at the same time in this single tree-size native shrub that provides food in the dead of winter– at 8:31 a.m. Thursday, January 9, 2014..
Extremely rare Spotted Dove passed through on October 16, 2013.
One has just a few hours to capture a good photo of this fast moving migrating Rufous Hummingbird–here it paused at 10:04 a.m. February 16, 2014, just long enough to be photographed in focus.
The Northern Mockingbird also relied on the Toyon berries for food last winter at 3:46 p.m. January 9, 2014.
A yearling male House Finch at dusk on October 31, 2013.
A spotted Towhee showed up at 11:06 a.m.Tuesday, February 4, 2014.
A juvenile White-crowned Sparrow on October 24, 2013.
A friendly House Wren lingered at 4:19 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2014.
Looking like the colors of Christmas an Anna’s Hummingbird rests for a few seconds at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2013, after a hard day’s work guarding the sugar water feeder.
A rare White-throated Sparrow stops by at 4:25 p.m. Tuesday, January 28, 2014.
An adult male Lesser Goldfinch on October 24, 2013, attracted by the Nyger Seed feeder.
The quick-moving Bewick’s Wren at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, 2014.
An American Robin spending time feeding on the local ripeToyon berries at 8:37 a.m. Thursday, January 9, 2014.
An adult male Yellow-rumped Warbler still in winter featers at 10:40 a.m. January 19, 2014.
A juvenile White-crowned Sparrow in the rain at 4:34 p.m. Friday, February 28, 2014.
SPRING & SUMMER 2014:
An adult male Caifornia Quail inexplicably passes through far from its home range at 1:50 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2014.
A rare chance to photograph a mature adult father Bullock’s Oriole at 3:01 p.m. Sunday, June 15, 2014–they were terrified all season of a Copper’s Hawk nesting nearby–most of the time the Bullock’s Orioles would only come for worms before sunrise and after sunset making it nearly imossible to get a clear focused photo of them.
A young two-year old father Bullock’s Oriole at 6:53 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2014.
A fledgling Bullock’s Oriole at 7:06 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2014, showing the benefits of good nutrition.
This “old-timer” father Hooded Oriole can be recognized immediately by the small scar behind his left eye at 2:18 p.m. Thursday, June 26, 2014.
A young Hooded Oriole mother comes at 7:23 p.m. June 22, 2014, searching for food for her nestlings or fledglings.
One of several aggressive and opportunistic European House Sparrows that dart in to get their share of worms, like this one at 6:55 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2014.
There were only a few seconds to get a photograph of this rare Yellow Warbler passing through at 1:26 p..m. Wednesday, April 23, 2014, on migration.
Fledgling Hooded Oriole from the second nest of the year at 1:12 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2014.
This Western Scrub Jay mother at 9:48 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2014, successfully raised a family inspite of an injured right leg (note she is not putting much weight on it or gripping with it).
One of the mature adult father Hooded Orioles still feeding children at 1:38 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2014.
The hyperactive Oak Titmouse paused just long enough at 6:54 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2014, to allow its picture to be taken.
One of the yearling Hooded Oriole fathers at 7:12 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2014, most likely born in 2013 in the neighborhood.
The first adorable fledgling Hooded Oriole of the season at 11:13 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2014.
A full-color mature adult male Hooded Oriole in the midst of feeding his children at 7:10 p.m. Monday, June 30, 2014.
A surprise visit by a songbird-eating young adult female Copper’s Hawk at 1:12 p.m. Sunday, August 31, 2014, looking for lunch.
A yearling father Hooded Oriole at 8:29 a.m. Sunday, July 6, 2014, just beginning to show a hint of his black bib on his throat.
Another yearling Hooded Oriole father at 7:06 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2014–they get the black bib long before their bright yellow color, which doesn’t start showing until the third Spring of their lives.
A mated pair of House Sparrows, or a father-child pairing, soaking up the last of the Solstice Sun at 7:30 p.m. Saturday June 21, 2014.
Close-up of a Western Scrub Jay mother at 12:58 p.m. Friday, April 25, 2014.A juvenile Oak Titmouse out and about and eating on its own at 1:37 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2014.
A fledgling Western Scrub Jay showing off its tongue at 2:50 p.m. Sunday, June 15, 2014.
The fledgling Hooded Orioles all suffered through the heat wave the second week of September, 2014, one of them here photographed at 7 p.m. on September 13.
A rare photo of an elusive mature adult father Bullock’s Oriole at 8:03 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2014.
FALL & WINTER 2014-2015:
A Dark-eyed Junco (formerly known as the Oregon Junco) at 5:28 p.m. Sunday, October 26, 2014.
One of the first White-crowned Sparrows to arrive for the Winter of 2014-2015, here at 10:04 a.m. Friday, October 10, 2014.
A rare Fox Sparrow pays a visit to scratch for insects at 12:14 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2014.
A hungry female Cooper’s Hawk followed the songbirds on their migration down the west coast mountain ranges to stop at 2:13 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2014, to look for “lunch.”
