Birds

Birds San Diego

Peregrin Falcon (Falco peregrinus) at Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego

Peregrin falcons (Falco peregrinus) have nested on the sheer cliffs overlooking the ocean at Torrey Pines State Reserve for years. This past spring I made a few visits to try to photograph them. Peregrins are considered the fastest animal on Earth, mostly for the 200 mph speeds they attain while…

Phil CollaJuly 28, 2023

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Pelicans Soaring Along Cliffs After the Storm, Winter 2022/2023, Part VII

I'm shooting the La Jolla pelicans often this winter; see recent blog posts about La Jolla Pelicans as well as a gallery of my favorite brown pelican photos. Our stretch of near-perfect weather for bird photography came to an abrupt end around New Years, with the arrival of a projected…

Phil CollaJanuary 4, 2023

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Pelican Portraiture in Overcast Light, Winter 2022-2023, Part VI

In overcast light there is really only one type of photograph I am looking to make: a portrait. Overcast skies can be thought of an enormous soft box, diffusing the light so it has little or no directionality. That means no shadows, which can be a good look for portraits!…

Phil CollaDecember 30, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Brown Pelican Glottis Exposure: A Curious Seabird Behavior

Glottis exposure -- what is it? A "glottis exposure" is a not-so-well described pelican behavior. I have seen it thousands of times among California brown pelicans but didn't know the proper term for it until recently, when I became aware of some guy on Twitter who described what the behavior…

Phil CollaDecember 29, 2022

Seabird

Royal Terns in La Jolla, Sterna maxima

I've got a couple places in La Jolla that I go to to photograph animals or seabirds. Lately, one of those spots has had many Royal Terns (Sterna maxima). These images illustrate both non-breeding plumage (which is distinguished by the tern's black head cap only covering the back of the…

Phil CollaDecember 29, 2022

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

A Bird Photography Weekend at Bosque del Apache NWR, December 2022

I had been discussing the possibility of re-visiting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico for the last several months with Skip Stubbs, and we finally decided to commit a weekend and get out there. It had been 12 years since I was last there and I was…

Phil CollaDecember 28, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Goldfish Point Pelicans: the Gift that Keeps on Giving, Winter 2022/2023, Part V

I'm shooting the La Jolla pelicans often this winter; see recent blog posts about La Jolla Pelicans as well as a gallery of my favorite brown pelican photos. Our wonderful weather and bird activity continues. It's the day after Christmas and the rest of the country remains freezing and in…

Phil CollaDecember 27, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

A Very Good, Not So Bad Pelican Photo Day, Winter 2022/2023, Part IV

If, like me, you enjoy photographing pelicans, Christmas came a day early this year. Well, sort of. I had to get some bread at Girard Gourmet for Christmas dinner, so went into La Jolla early on Dec 24. I had been photographing 3 of the previous 4 mornings but the…

Phil CollaDecember 26, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Pelican Yoga, Winter 2022/2023, Part III

When photographing the birds in La Jolla, lately I have found myself trying to capture their bizarre contortions and realized these birds are the original yoga practitioners! (When brown pelicans bend their head backward to their back it is usually as a part of preening, so that the preen oil…

Phil CollaDecember 24, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans in La Jolla, Winter 2022/2023, Part II

The first few weeks in December were generally great for photographing a variety of subjects in La Jolla with the exception of La Jolla's California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), at least on the mornings I was there. The pelicans seemed to be mostly gone, perhaps offshore foraging or just occupying cliffs that…

Phil CollaDecember 21, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Interesting Variations in California Brown Pelican Plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Winter 2022/2023 Part I

This is the time of year that I photograph in La Jolla often, and California brown pelicans are one of my favorite subjects. Adult brown pelicans are now entering the period when they display vibrant breeding and non-breeding winter plumage. And there is a variety of juvenile plumage to be…

Phil CollaDecember 20, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Perfect Conditions in La Jolla for Pelican Photography

November is a bit early for the best displays of California brown pelican breeding plumage. But we recently had a week-long run of perfect weather to photograph mornings in La Jolla. By perfect I mean just the right combination of sunlight, wind, certain water conditions (hint: think how the water…

Phil CollaNovember 29, 2022

Birds

Walking on Water – Rushing Grebes at Lake Hodges, San Diego

Yesterday was a wonderful morning on Lake Hodges, in north San Diego County. I went out hoping to see Western Grebes and Clark's Grebes Rushing. The day before a storm system had passed through, but surprisingly it dawned clear and still the morning I was to go out. As I…

Phil CollaMarch 8, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wisdom

Photographing California Brown Pelicans at the La Jolla Cliffs

Here are my thoughts and recommendations for photographing California brown pelicans in La Jolla. If you like these photos, you can also see lots more blog posts from past sessions photographing California brown pelicans in La Jolla. Or, I've got a gallery of some keepers on my website, but most…

Phil CollaFebruary 28, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Late Season Brown Pelican Flight and Portrait Photos, 2022

While February does bring a pronounced fading in the colorful breeding plumage of the California brown pelican, it also brings a near-absence of other photographers and as a partial result, a lot of birds on the cliffs. There are usually at least a few that are still exhibiting beautiful colors.…

Phil CollaFebruary 27, 2022

Seabird

Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani, La Jolla

I don't have the discipline to be a real bird photographer, but when seabirds (which are my favorites) walk right up to me I will of course do my best to get an image. This black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) was walking among the sea lions on Alligator Head one recent…

Phil CollaFebruary 4, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Photos of California Brown Pelicans in Flight, 2021/2022

This winter my bird photography goal was to make about a dozen strong images of California brown pelicans in flight. I've been out many mornings photographing them. In late December I had some productive days with a run of four straight mornings during which conditions were ideal. There was nobody…

Phil CollaJanuary 30, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wisdom

Photographing the Head Throw of the California Brown Pelican in La Jolla

I photograph brown California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis). A lot. I love them, they are at once both graceful and awkward. They surf. They dive. They eat fish. They live along the coast of California. All things I like to do too! Here are some of my favorite images, showing…

Phil CollaJanuary 23, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelican Portraits and Head Throws, 2021/2022

I usually photograph California brown pelicans in La Jolla from late December through February. I spent many mornings photographing them already this season, and am mainly interested in flight images. But it is hard to resist a beautiful portrait or head throw when a pelican decides to oblige, especially when…

Phil CollaJanuary 21, 2022

Birds

Allen’s Hummingbird, Adult Male, La Jolla

I came across this gorgeous tiny male Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) while walking the coast trail in La Jolla. I had actually seen this specific bird on one particular shrub repeatedly over several days, and one an overcast morning decided to stop and take its portrait. Cheers, and thanks for…

Phil CollaJanuary 20, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Ghost Pelicans

I photograph California brown pelicans often, and lately have been working on different ways to portray them besides being lit by the warm morning sun. Well before sunrise, I have been out trying to capture them as they glide over waves or approach the seaside cliffs of La Jolla. I…

Phil CollaJanuary 19, 2022

Seabird

Cormorant Coming in Hot

Cormorants are another of my favorite birds. I've spent a lot of time underwater with them, watching as they submerge -- up to 100' deep! -- and hunt through schools of bait, or pick around among detritus on the sea floor. Photographing them in flight is not one of strong…

Phil CollaJanuary 14, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla San Diego Seabird

Overcast Light, Pelican Portrait, Surf Background

It looks like our run of clear mornings may be coming to an end for a while. I knew this change brought the potential for a colorful sunrise, so I made my way downtown very early and caught some great light and clouds over the San Diego City Skyline. The…

Phil CollaJanuary 11, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Preening, Seabirds and the Uropygial Gland

On Preening, Seabirds and the Uropygial Gland Many birds, including most seabirds, preen their feathers. This involves spreading a substance known as "preen oil", secreted from the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of the bird's tail, to feathers all over the body. The preen oil protects the feathers…

Phil CollaJanuary 10, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wisdom

On Instability, or, A Small Change in Perspective Goes a Long Way

Instability: the characteristic of a system in which a small change in inputs leads to relatively much larger change in output. I was first introduced to the formal idea of instability as a graduate student at UCSD in a series of lectures offered by William Nachbar, one of my favorite…

Phil CollaJanuary 5, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wisdom

Canon R5 Autofocus Settings for Birds in Flight

My recommendations for the Canon R5 settings for birds in flight. The world doesn't need another image of a brown pelican in flight, but I enjoy trying to make different renditions of my favorite seabirds flying and it keeps me in practice during the winter between dive trips. Recently we…

Phil CollaDecember 28, 2021

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Brown Pelican Yellow Morph, with Yellow Gular Pouch (Throat) instead of Red

The Yellow Variant, or Morph, of the California Brown Pelican I have noticed quite a few brown pelicans sporting yellow gular pouches (throats). As everyone knows, the gular pouch expands to catch water and prey, as much as three times the volume of the pelican's stomach. Not only is the…

Phil CollaDecember 27, 2021

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Variability in California Brown Pelican Breeding Plumage

I spend an inordinate amount of time photographing California Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) each winter. It's partly because I need the practice and they are a great subject upon which to hone my topside camera skills, and partly because mornings on the ocean in La Jolla, without summer tourists and…

Phil CollaDecember 22, 2021

La Jolla Seabird

Double-Crested Cormorant Nuptial Crests and Breeding Plumage

Each winter the breeding adults of the Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) display a beautiful form of mating plumage, namely a pair of nuptial crests above each eye for which the species if named. These large tufts of feathers are striking in that they cannot be missed. The nuptial crests can be…

Phil CollaMarch 12, 2021

La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans in La Jolla, New Portrait and Flight Images

Each winter I photograph the California race of Brown Pelican in La Jolla (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus). From about mid December through early February, if I look out the window and the skies to the east are clear and there is no fog over La Jolla, I have a chance to hustle…

Phil CollaMarch 11, 2021

Birds San Diego

Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes Rushing on Lake Hodges

Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) exhibit some of the most elaborate and impressive courtship behavior found in the animal world, including various vocalizations, swimming movements, the exchange of nesting material ("weed ceremony") and, most notably, the "rushing ceremony". When grebes rush, they rise entirely out of…

Phil CollaMarch 9, 2021

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Photos of California Brown Pelicans in La Jolla

Since I dive with seabirds and often have fine opportunities to observe them in and under the water, photography of seabirds holds a certain appeal and I do pursue it from time to time. However, there is really only one bird that I have been able to photograph well, primarily…

Phil CollaJanuary 31, 2019

Alaska Antarctica Bald Eagle California Fiji Hawaii Mexico Ocean Sunfish Penguin Surf Underwater Photography

Seven of my Favorite Images #challengeonnaturephotography

In December a Facebook "challenge" was making the rounds named #challengeonnaturephotography. One of my favorite underwater photographers, Allison Vitsky Sallmon, nominated me to give it a try, and these are the seven images I plucked from my files to share. Each bears a special place in my personal history of…

Phil CollaJanuary 16, 2016

San Diego

Paradise in February: San Diego

President's Weekend was nice here. The rest of the country is freezing, yup that's pretty bad. Southern California is in the midst of a bad drought and our Sierra Nevada is missing its usual snowpack which is going to hurt in the coming months, but at least the warm winter…

Phil CollaFebruary 18, 2015

Birds Pelicans of La Jolla San Diego Seabird

The Original Wind Surfers: Pelicans, Waves and Surf

Wikipedia describes the origins of wind surfing in the 1940s and 1950s. It couldn't be more wrong. For as long as they have existed, sea birds and their ancestors have plied the oceans, riding the updrafts of surf, waves and sea swells to gain efficiency and a free ride. My…

Phil CollaFebruary 16, 2015

Birds La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

La Jolla Birds

La Jolla birds as of this morning. I had until 8:45 before catching the end of Sarah's practice so I went down the coast highway. There were some waves in Encinitas but nothing special. Spectacular clearing mist at Torrey Pines at sunrise. In La Jolla the light changed much and…

Phil CollaFebruary 7, 2015

Birds

Ring-Billed Gull, Larus Delawarensis, La Jolla

Once in a while I will photograph seagulls. I really should spend more time on them, since they can at times be beautiful in the right light and when in good condition. Unfortunately, gulls often they look like crap, and when I see them out on the water I invariably…

Phil CollaFebruary 6, 2015

Birds

Heermann’s Gull, Larus heermanni

The Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni), photographed when I am out and about in La Jolla and North County. Lately I have been trying to frame seabirds against blue water, or have the ocean horizon in the image to anchor the composition and help tie the animal with the ocean. Cheers,…

Phil CollaFebruary 1, 2015

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans, La Jolla, December 2014

A PDF guide to photographing these pelicans: Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. If you like these photos, you can also see lots more blog posts from past sessions photographing California brown pelicans in La Jolla. Or, I've got a gallery of some keepers on my website, but most…

Phil CollaDecember 10, 2014

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans, Winter Plumage, La Jolla

The plumage of La Jolla's California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) has been especially striking this year, it seems there are more really red throats and deep brown necked adult brown pelicans on the bluffs than usual. I also find it interesting how much color variation there is in the bills…

Phil CollaJanuary 20, 2014

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