I never grow tired of visiting Santa Rosa Mountain, a sky island in southern Riverside County California, a stone’s throw from the border with San Diego County. Part of me connects to this place because of memories of visiting here with my dad in the early 1970s, and camping in Steve Ragsdale’s cabin (now gone) at the 8,000 foot peak of Santa Rosa. Read more on this topic on my Santa Rosa Mountain page.
I’ve paid the mountain many visits since then on my own, and on missions for the San Diego Natural History Museum. Regardless of my motives for going, and despite the 13 miles of rocky, rutted miserable road to get to the summit, transitioning from the low desert scrub and chaparral into the old growth pine and cedar at the top is always a near religious experience for me.
There are numerous worthwhile destinations all along the route to the upper slopes, but since becoming interested in birds and capturing their images, I find the springs at 7500 feet has the strongest pull for me. There, the persistent water source attracts a wealth of bird life. I am able meet hundreds of birds, dozens of species without moving more than a few feet. The highlight of this visit was my first ever meeting with the Plumbeous Vireo. When I shared these images with my friends at the San Diego Natural History Museum it caused some excitement as it documented the southernmost breeding season range for this bird in California. Of three birds in the ‘solitary vireo’ complex, the Cassin’s Vireo is more expected here.
On this visit I met the Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Olive-Sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Cassin’s Finch, Purple Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Western Tanager, Pygmy Nuthatch, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Dark-Eyed Junco, Violet-Green Swallow, White-Headed Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, California Chipmunk, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Plumbeous Vireo, Western Bluebird.
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:24 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/40 |
File Name: D3X5600-WesternBlueBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:28 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5604-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Mountain Chickadee(Poecile gambeli) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:28 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5605-MountainChickadee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 8:26 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X5640-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 8:28 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5663-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Orange-Crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata) |
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Description: Juvenile at the Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 8:29 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X5665-OrangeCrownedWarbler-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 8:32 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X5672-PygmyNutHatch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Mountain Chickadee(Poecile gambeli) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:24 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X5594-MountainChickadee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Cassin's Finch(Haemorhous cassinii) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:32 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X5718-CassinsFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Hairy Woodpecker(Leuconotopicus villosus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:37 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X5728-HairyWoodPecker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:51 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X5751-WesternBlueBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:58 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5757-WesternBlueBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Dark-Eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 14:08 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5403-DarkEyedJunco |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 12:17 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X5170-WesternTanager |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:24 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5253-PygmyNutHatch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Dark-Eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:30 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X5283-DarkEyedJunco |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Violet-Green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:39 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X5298-VioletGreenSwallow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:54 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5383-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Ash-Throated Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens) |
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Description: Garnet Queen Creek Crossing on Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 11:11 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X5100-AshThroatedFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Chipmunk(Neotamias obscurus) |
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Description: Both Mirriam's and California Chipmunks are present here. The striping on the Mirriam's is bold, where that of the California is paler (hense the scientific 'obscurus' name). The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 14:37 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X5477-CaliforniaChipmunk |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Ash-Throated Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 15:40 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/40 |
File Name: D3X5503-AshThroatedFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:09 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X5533-WesternBlueBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Yellow-Rumped Warbler(Setophaga coronata auduboni) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:18 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X5573-YellowRumpedWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Violet-Green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:39 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: Cut_D3X5298-VioletGreenSwallow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Violet-Green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:43 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/50 |
File Name: D3X5330-VioletGreenSwallow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Cassin's Finch(Haemorhous cassinii) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:49 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X5356-CassinsFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Headed Woodpecker(Dryobates albolarvatus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:50 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X5361-WhiteHeadedWoodPecker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Headed Woodpecker(Dryobates albolarvatus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:52 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X5377-WhiteHeadedWoodPecker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 14:33 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X5455-WesternBlueBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 14:34 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5459-WesternBlueBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Purple Finch(Haemorhous purpureus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 14:35 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5464-PurpleFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Steller's Jay(Cyanocitta stelleri) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 15:15 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X5498-StellersJay |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Purple Finch(Haemorhous purpureus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 15:44 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5508-PurpleFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 15:52 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5517-WesternBlueBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Yellow-Rumped Warbler(Setophaga coronata auduboni) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:17 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5568-YellowRumpedWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Steller's Jay(Cyanocitta stelleri) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:32 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/50 |
File Name: D3X5624-StellersJay |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Cassin's Finch(Haemorhous cassinii) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:32 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X5722-CassinsFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Violet-Green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:38 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5731-VioletGreenSwallow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Violet-Green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:40 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X5734-VioletGreenSwallow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Headed Woodpecker(Dryobates albolarvatus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 9:54 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5754-WhiteHeadedWoodPecker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Mountain Chickadee(Poecile gambeli) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 10:14 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5770-MountainChickadee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lizard(Unknown) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 10:35 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5782-Lizard |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Olive-Sided Flycatcher(Contopus cooperi) |
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Description: Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 10:45 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5807-OliveSidedFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Olive-Sided Flycatcher(Contopus cooperi) |
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Description: Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 10:45 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5808-OliveSidedFlyCatcher |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
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