I went looking for Black-Backed Woodpeckers at a two or three-year-old burn along US Highway 395 a few miles north of June Lake Junction. While I failed in that endeavor, I found Williamson’s Sapsuckers and Lewis’ Woodpeckers instead. Also found here were Brewer’s Sparrows, Sage Thrasher (juvenile) and Green-Tailed Towhees.
I had spent four wonderful days in the area, but the following day I headed south towards home. Rather than a direct route south, I detoured by taking a left turn in Big Pine and driving up to the area of White Mountain, a peak nearly as high as the highest in the Sierra-Nevadas (Mount Whitney), but in the lesser-known anticline range east of the Sierras, and home to perhaps the oldest living things on earth — the Bristlecone Pines. The threat of approaching storms persuaded me not to press on to these amazing trees. Instead, I spent the night on the ridge near the road that enters the White Mountain area. The next morning I enjoyed the sunrise washing the Sierra-Nevadas west of my perch on the ridge and visited a young Green-Tailed Towhee family before heading home.
For more information about the geology of the region, read <This Post>.
Images of these subjects appear below:
Yellow-Rumped Warbler(Setophaga coronata auduboni) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 12:26 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X7195-YellowRumpedWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Clark's Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 11:32 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X7072-ClarksNutCracker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Clark's Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 11:33 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X7083-ClarksNutCracker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Clark's Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 11:45 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X7097-ClarksNutCracker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Steller's Jay(Cyanocitta stelleri) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 12:52 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7207-StellersJay |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Steller's Jay(Cyanocitta stelleri) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 12:53 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7233-StellersJay |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Clark's Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 12:58 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X7253-ClarksNutCracker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 7:56 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X6908-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Juvenile at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:11 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6926-WesternWoodPewee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Parent with juvenile at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:12 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6932-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: A watchful parent bird at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:15 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6935-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:16 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6941-BrewersSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:17 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X6943-BrewersSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:19 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X6948-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Juvenile at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California USA 2014-08-07. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:21 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6954-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Willow Flycatcher(Empidonax traillii) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 10:41 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X7012-WillowFlycatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Willow Flycatcher(Empidonax traillii) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 10:42 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X7024-WillowFlycatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Willow Flycatcher(Empidonax traillii) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 10:42 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X7026-WillowFlycatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Orange-Crowned Warbler(Leiothlypis celata) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets pines overlooking the shores. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 12:21 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7157-OrangeCrownedWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Mountain Chickadee(Poecile gambeli) |
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Description: In the neighborhood around the town of June Lake. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 17:27 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X7269-MountainChickadee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:08 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7307-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Adult bird seen west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California USA 2014-08-08. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:08 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7309-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
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Description: Juvenile west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:42 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7351-BrewersSparrow-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:43 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X7352-BrewersSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:43 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7354-BrewersSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
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Description: Juvenile bird found west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:43 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7358-BrewersSparrow-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
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Description: Adult bird found west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:43 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7360-BrewersSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:01 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7373-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Adult bird found west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:02 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X7383-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Juvenile west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:03 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7387-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Sage Thrasher(Oreoscoptes montanus) |
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Description: I met this juvenile bird west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California USA 2014-08-08. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:28 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7396-SageThrasher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Molting juvenile west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California USA 2014-08-08. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:36 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7404-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: On White Mountain at about 9300 feet elevation. Northern Inyo County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:09 17:19 |
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Location:
White Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X7800-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Juvenile on White Mountain at about 9300 feet elevation. Northern Inyo County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:09 17:21 |
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Location:
White Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X7808-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lewis's Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 9:28 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X7273-LewisWoodPecker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lewis's Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 9:29 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X7276-LewisWoodPecker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lewis's Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 9:31 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7286-LewisWoodPecker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis) |
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Description: Juvenile west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:09 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X7326-RedTailedHawk-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
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