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@CaliphAssagai’s Birding/Nature Burner Account

@blaptainplanet

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Nature-loving, surfing, hiking, paddling #birdnerd passionate about the outdoors. Sharing joy & building community. Life List 454. Joy List ♾️

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Doing my best @californiabrownpelican impression. Slides 1&3 are my favorites. Which one do you like best?⬇️ by @blaptainplanet

My favorite heron is definitely ✨this✨Green Heron. Yes, this exact one. Because he sat there for so long letting my practice shooting. So long that I got to just sit and watch him without even thinking about the shot. It was one of those, “So, you’re not going to fly away?” moments. Until another birder carelessly approached and scared him away. But it’s all good, she directed me to the Madarin Duck and that made my whole day 😃 by @blaptainplanet

I spent too much on this new lens, but I could look into this Snowy Egret’s eyes for hours. Worth it. by @blaptainplanet

Yesterday I was lucky enough to get up close and personal with this Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Liberty Station, alongside a few new friends.

This wasn’t a “lifer” for me in the traditional sense: I had seen hundreds if not thousands on my last trip to Costa Rica, but they were far enough away to where it took WORK to get the ID right—I could make out the shape, but the colors were hard to catch from that distance and in the fading light. But now, right here in my own backyard, I got to spend some quality time with this beauty.

This is my absolute favorite thing about birding. Not just getting lifers, but experiencing birds differently, and deeper, over time. It’s one thing to see a flash of a bird. It’s another thing to see that flash, want more, and then be blessed with an intimate encounter that leaves your heart feeling full and your awe-meter maxed out.

Especially when something so magnificent can just happen in your backyard.

Grateful for the birds and the community that comes with them. 🙏🏾 by @blaptainplanet

Lately I’ve been overthinking every photo and not posting much. But this series definitely moved me. Love that the Reddish Egret makes its home in San Diego. Beautiful birds. Great dancers. But not as good of a dancer as @tamerrathewatcher 🤣

One the first day I saw this bird in this spot, my camera died. Or so I thought. What actually happened is my battery grip had come loose, and I haven’t been shooting enough lately to remember to check it when I lose power. That day, I let go of the photo and moved on.

The next day, I just happened to have my camera all charged up, battery grip locked in. And lo and behold, same bird, same spot, better light. Glad to have spent a moment so close to this majestic beauty 😍 by @blaptainplanet

Invasive but so cute🥰 Can’t get enough is the Scaly-breasted Munia! It make sense that these were so popular as pets (called Spice Finches), which lead to their invasive take over. I wish they weren’t here but as long as they are, ima take some pics! by @blaptainplanet

Mount Laguna is absolutely swarming with Pigmy Nuthatches. They’re so cute, but so fast! Happy to get a dew decent shots to remember they day 😊 by @blaptainplanet

The Gila Woodpecker is a savage🔪🩸 My first lifer from Los Cabos also allowed me to see behavior I had never seen before from a woodpecker: this one was absolutely destroying this gecko with its beak. It makes sense they are omnivores, but seeing it with this bloody beak was a little unsettling 🤣 Glad I snapped out of it and got the shot 😅 See slide 3 to identify the lizard!🦎 by @blaptainplanet

Another gem and lifer from Los Cabos—a Least Grebe. I gotta say, I’m a sucker for its yellow eyes 😍 I’m a fan of grebes overall but this one was special because it’s endemic to the Los Cabos area. New birds just make me smile, ya know? 🥹 by @blaptainplanet

One of my favorite little bird homies, the Common Yellow Throat. I love their little calls and how wide they open their beaks to sing. Really putting in that effort! 🤣 by @blaptainplanet

Earlier this year, I had to cancel a trip to Arizona; and then later in the year I was “required” to take a trip to Cabo to use an expiring flight credit.

I never really thought about birding in Baja—I was there to surf!

But it gave me some amazing lifers, including this Northern Cardinal. I know this is so common for some people to see, but for me, it was an absolute highlight, and one of my favorite lifers so far.

Thanks @birding_loscabos for giving me the encouragement to look one last time—almost left without seeing it 😭 by @blaptainplanet

I’ve seen a lot of Stellar’s Jays, but never one that was bald like me 🤣🥹 I was surprised to see this Stellar’s Jay’s appearance, and thought it must have been sick. Then, due to the magic of the interwebs, learned that it was molting. I personally think it looks good bald, but that might be my bias.👨🏾‍🦲 by @blaptainplanet