Yellow-rumped Warbler in Flowering Japanese Cherry, March 16 2013.

American Goldfinch in Flowering Japanese Cherry, March 16 2013.

Female Allen's Hummingbird in a blooming Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree, March 9 2013.

Yellow-rumped Warbler in a Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree, March 9 2013.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet displaying his ruby crown, in the reeds along the creek.

Great-horned Owl fledgling, April 2012.

A Spotted Towhee singing near Hidden Meadow, April 2012.

A young Great-horned Owl near Hidden Meadow, April 2010.

A male Downy Woodpecker investigating a Carob Tree, January 2013.

Female Downy Woodpecker at a flowering Japanese Cherry, March 2013.

Northern Flicker near the creek, November 2012.

Red-breasted Nuthatch, in an Afghan=Mondell Pine tree at the Hidden Meadow area of the Garden, November 1 2010.

Another pose by the Red-breasted Nuthatch, November 1 2010.

Townsend's Warbler, October 21 2010.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, October 21 2010.

Plumbeous Vireo in a pine tree near Hidden Meadow, October 12 2010.

Another look at the Plumbeous Vireo, October 12 2010.

Female Ring-necked Pheasant, which has been at the Garden around the lake for about a month now, Sept 19 2010.

Yellow Warbler, Sept 4 2010.

Western Scrub-Jay in coral tree, March 2009.

Nutmeg Mannikin, July 24 2010.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, July 18 2010.

Another look at the juvenile Cooper's Hawk, July 18 2010.

Great Horned Owl, July 15 2010.

Male Common Yellowthoat gathering food to feed possible nestlings, July 3 2010.

Female Common Yellowthroat, the mate to the male in the previous photo, also gathering food, July 3 2010.

Another photo of the male Common Yellowthroat, July 3 2010.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher bringing in nesting material to an "apartment" at the Purple Martin bird house on the north side of the "lake", June 13 2010.

Willow Flycatcher foraging in the reeds along the creek, June 13 2010.

Another look at the Willow Flycatcher, a bird rarely-seen at the Garden.

A side view of the Willow Flycatcher showing its "drab brownish wing-bars" and little-or-no eye-ring, June 13 2010.

One last look at the Willow Flycatcher, June 13 2010.

Father Downy Woodpecker (note the red head markings) feeding son, May 30 2010.

Mother Downy delivering food, May 30 2010.

Female Downy Woodpecker going to feed her nestlings in a dead Century plant, May 30 2010.

Female Downy Woodpecker going to feed her nestlings in a dead Century plant, May 30 2010.

Male (note the red head marking) Downy Woodpeckert nestling, May 31 2010.

Female Downy Woodpecker nestling, May 31 2010.

Western Wood-Pewee, May 30 2010.

The Western Wood-Pewee of May 30, 2010 gave me many closeup photo-ops with my Canon 7D/500 f4 lens as it flew about going after insects, sometimes perching at eye-level.

Allen's Hummingbird at the blooming Mexican Bush Sage with an aloe tree providing a colorful background, May 30 2010.

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, May 8 2010.

Anna's female hummingbird at the Salvia Leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage), May 8 2010.

A Western Tanager visits a tree near the Garden of the Senses fountain, May 2 2010.

Closeup of a juvenile Great Horned Owl.

WIlson's Warbler, April 24 2010.

Another view of the Wilson's Warbler in a willow tree along the creek on April 24, 2010.

Male Hermit Warbler in a pine tree at "Hidden Meadow" section of the Garden, April 24 2010.

Female Hermit Warbler seen along with the male above, April 24 2010.

Male Black-headed Grosbeak, along the creek at the Garden, April 24 2010.

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet in a coral tree, April 24 2010.

Townsend's Warbler, Jan 31 2009.

An Allen's Hummingbird nest in a Purple Bottlebrush tree right off a main walkway at the Garden, March 19 2009.

Female Allen's Hummingbird at the Bottlebrush, April 25 2009.

Male Hooded Oriole on a Purple Bottlebrush tree, April 25 2009.

A sign of spring at the Garden, a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, March 28 2010.

Another look at the Pac-slope Flycatcher.

Sharp-shinned Hawk, March 13 2010.

The same Sharp-shinned, without all those intervening branches...

Female Allen's hummingbird in a Flowering Japanese Cherry tree, March 14 2010.

Mr and Mrs Great Horned Owl, Jan 10 2010.

A closeup of the male Great Horned Owl.

Townsend's Warbler, Dec 26 2009.

Another look at the Townsend's Warbler.

Northern Mockingbird set against autumnal colors, though it's December 25, 2009.

Just one of the resident Black Phoebes near the Garden for the Senses, Nov 26 2009.

One of the resident Red-shouldered Hawks, Nov 22 2009.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet foraging in the reeds at the "creek", Nov 22 2009.

One of the resident red-shafted Northern Flickers eating Toyon berries, Nov 22 2009.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Nov 6 2009.

Nutmeg Mannikin, Oct 24, 2009.

Warbling Vireo, September 12, 2009.

A scampering Snowy Egret at the "lake", September 12 2009.

Common Yellowthroat male, April 25 2009.

Common Yellowthroat female, April 25 2009.

Spotted Towhee, April 25 2009.

The rare Thick-billed Kingbird still continues at the Garden, March 28 2009.

A male breeding Yellow-rumped Warbler, March 28 2009.

Male Bullock's Oriole in a willow tree, March 28 2009.

A lone Cedar Waxing also at the willow tree in early morning, March 28 2009.

A female Allen's hummingbird at a bottlebrush tree, March 25 2009.

A young Allen's hummingbird male, fledged approximately 2 weeks ago, poses in a coral tree across from his nest, March 25 2009.

A male Bullock's Oriole in a coral tree, March 25 2009.

A female Allen's hummingbird takes a dip at the water fountain in the Garden for the Senses, March 25 2009.

The Thick-billed Kingbird, March 25 2009.

The Thick-billed coughing up a "casting' made up of undigestible material.

Ack! Pa-TOOEY! :o)

A male Hooded Oriole and the Thick-billed Kingbird in the same willow tree, March 25 2009.

A singing California Towhee, March 25 2009.

Two views of the Least Bell's Vireo with breakfast, Feb 26 2009.

Orange-crowned Warbler in Japanese Cherry Blossom tree, Feb 26 2009.

The Thick-billed Kingbird, first seen at the Garden in December, is still there, March 19 2009.

The Thick-billed Kingbird in flight.

The banded Least Bell's Vireo is still at the botanic garden, Feb 25 2009.

Townsend's Warbler in blossoming Japanese Cherry Blossom tree, Feb 25 2009.

Allen's Hummingbird at the fountain, Feb 14 2009. It's the same one as in the next photo, though on different days. This is his territory...

A male Allen's Hummingbird grabbing a little sustenance from a plant near the "bird-bath" water fountain. He had taken a quick dip on the lip of the fountain about a half-hour before this. Feb 11, 2009.

Townsend's Warbler, Jan 31 2009.

A bird of a different feather, my friend "Lil Judd" with her 800mm Sigmonster photographing bathing birds at the water fountain, Feb 11 2009.

On Jan 6 2009 I spotted a banded Bell's Vireo near the south side of the garden's lake. I e-mailed Kimball Garrett, Ornithology Collections Manager at the LA Museum of Natural History, and upon investigation it was discovered to be a rare "Least" Bell's Vireo (subspecies pusillus) banded in a USGS program at the San Luis Rey River near Oceanside in northern San Diego County (program's report at http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sandiego/flycat.html ) The LBVI has been seen as recently as January 31.

Another look at the Least Bell's Vireo.

And another.

Scott's Oriole in a coral tree seen during the Wednesday bird walk, January 21 2009.

And seen in the same coral tree along with the Scott's Oriole on the right is a female Summer Tanager, January 21 2009.

Northern Flicker getting bugs, possibly ants, from a Coral Tree. You can just barely make out its tongue. Feb 8, 2009.

Pacific-Slope Flycatcher, January 31 2009.

Warbling Vireo, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, May 2008.

Northern Mockingbird flying in nesting material, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, June 1 2008.

The following 4-photo sequence shows a Red-Shouldered Hawk nabbing a lizard snack. Taken at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, June 1 2008.

You can just make out the lizard clutched in his right foot...

YUM!

Mr and Mrs American Goldfinch in a 3-photo bathing sequence at the fountain at the South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, August 5 2008.

Cooper's Hawk flyby, Palos Verdes, CA's South Coast Botanic Garden, Sept 27 2008.

Allen's Hummingbird at the Salvia Leucantha (Mexican Sage), South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, Sept 27 2008.

Orange-crowned Warbler, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, Sept 27 2008.

Another look at the Orange-crowned Warbler.

Swallowtail Butterfly, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, Sept 27 2008.

Allen's Hummingbird in early-morning at the Mexican Sage/Purple Salvia, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, Oct 18 2008.

Though a lousy shot, it's proof that I saw a Ring-Necked Pheasant on December 12 at 1:30pm just north of the "lake" at Palos Verdes' South Coast Botanic Garden.

A Thick-Billed Kingbird, a rarity for the southern California area, hangs out at the South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, December 20, 2008.

The Botanic Gardens' Thick-Billed Kingbird racing off in pursuit of possible food.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk at Palos Verdes' South Coast Botanic Garden, Dec 20 2008.

Nutmeg Mannikin, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, Dec 20 2008.

One of the resident Red-Shouldered Hawks sitting pretty, March 3 2007.

Western Wood-Pewee, , Sept 2007.

A female Anna's at the Mexican Sage (Salvia Leucantha), June 24 2007.

Those dang intervening branches...Two Bushtits, June 16 07.

Red-Shouldered Hawk caught in a palm-tree background, June 3 2007.

This is the Mississippi Kite I "discovered" at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, CA on May 26, 2007. I've read that it's only the 6th documented time in history that it's been seen here; it's usually only seen in the southeast US and a small pocket of Arizona. It stayed at the Garden for 9 days then disappeared as mysteriously as it had arrived.

The Palos Verdes Mississippi Kite showing its unusual upperwing plumage colors, part of the visual ID that marks is as "First Summer" Kite., May 26 2007.

The perched Mississippi Kite.

This and the next shot are of a Townsend's Warbler I came across at the South Coast Botanic Garden here on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It was hopping around in the underbrush and I just patiently waited until it momentarily got into the clear. May 12, 2007.

"A Hummingbird's World", an Allen's in the Purple Bottlebrush, ISO 400 @ 270mm.

Allen's in flight, ISO 1250 @ 270mm, taken with the Pentax K10D and the Sigma "Bigma" 50-500mm lens.

American Robin, ISO 100, f14, 1/200 sec @ 500mm, South Coast Botanic Garden.

An Allen's Hummingbird investigating a honeysuckle plant, South Coast Botanic Garden, April 21 2007.

This shows that even hummingbirds need to rest their wings once in a while , but they still use all means possible to get at the nectar.

A K10D ISO 1600 pic, just resized from the original, uncropped and no NR applied.

Here's a capture at ISO 1000, no noise reduction used...

The Sigma "Bigma" 50-500mm lens works quite well on hummingbirds, even at the minimum 500mm distance of 9.8 feet. Here's an Allen's giving a Purple Bottlebrush a workover...

Anna's Hummingbird at the cactus garden, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, April 14 2007.

Mallard Mom and ducklings, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, April 7 2007.

Mom is very protective and watchful of her 12 ducklings, but chances are the resident Red-Shouldered hawks will snag a few...

UPDATE: 2 weeks later I saw Mom and Dad Mallard, but there was no trace of the 12 ducklings. One must only assume... :o(

The little ones learned a lesson from Mom as I was watching. "Now children, gather 'round as I've something to show you. Not too close to the edge, now! "

"Here's how you go into the water. Watch carefully! You just ease yourself down, and..."

**splash**
"Now come along, children!"

"One at a time, now!"
"Gee, it sure looks a long way down..."

Spotted Towhee, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, March 2 2008.

This next sequence is of an Allen's hummingbird taking a bath in one of the botanic garden's water fountains. I was sitting directly across from it and used my Pentax K10D/Sigma 50-500mm lens to capture its bathing behavior.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler, October 14 2007.

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, ISO 800, 1/60 sec, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, September 30 2007.

Anna's Hummingbird at ISO 1600, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, April 7 2007.

"Decision Time" -- Allen's hummingbird, 2007.

One of the Garden's resident Red-Shouldered Hawks, Jan 1 2009.

The Red-Shouldered Hawk soaring above the Garden.

Orange-Crowned Warbler, January 1 2009.

Thick-Billed Kingbird is still at the botanic garden, Jan 17 2009...been there for about a month.

Red-Shouldered Hawk portrait, January 31 2009.

One of about 6 Northern Flickers at the Garden, taken during the birdwalk on Sunday, Feb 1 2009.

The resident Song Sparrow at the Garden lake, May 2008.

The Orange-Crowned Warbler at one of the fountains ready to take a bath.