Not Bosque... but close enough
p.1 #1Not Bosque... but close enough
Did not make it to Bosque this December and January as originally planned, so I did the closest substitute available to me - the Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge at the Salton Sea. Had never been there before and was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. The birds in the reserve itself are fairly far away, but the agricultural channels provide ample opportunities. This is "a bit" image heavy, and I did not even include the many great images of egrets, raptors, stilts, herons, and cormorants.
I am still post processing some of the images, larger sizes and bird pics from other sessions can be seen here
Sandhill Cranes
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
Snow Geese
#7
#8
White Faced Ibis
#9
#10
#11
#12
Burrowing owls
#13
#14
Edited on Feb 08, 2026 at 12:53 PM · View previous versions
I am still post processing some of the images, larger sizes and bird pics from other sessions can be seen here
Sandhill Cranes
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
Snow Geese
#7
#8
White Faced Ibis
#9
#10
#11
#12
Burrowing owls
#13
#14
Edited on Feb 08, 2026 at 12:53 PM · View previous versions
Feb 07, 2026 at 07:18 PM
p.1 #3Not Bosque... but close enough
Lots of good shot here, congrats! Looks like a good place to visit.
Mark
Mark
Feb 08, 2026 at 12:48 AM
p.1 #5Not Bosque... but close enough
This looks like a great place to shoot Boyan and you took wonderful advantage of the environment and varied subjects. This is an excellent set of images.
Morris
Morris
Feb 08, 2026 at 09:03 AM
p.1 #6Not Bosque... but close enough
Dragonfire wrote:
Nice variety and photography
Yes, the variety isn't perhaps as large as other SoCal coastal areas, but there is plenty to do.
---------------------------------------------
amyandmark3 wrote:
Lots of good shot here, congrats! Looks like a good place to visit.
Mark
December to February, it is too hot there rest of the year, with reduced bird presence. If you go keep in mind that the whole area is a tangle of irrigation channels, agricultural fields and closures, and it takes a bit of time to figure out how to get around and where to go. The official "units" SW of Brawley and Calipatria are HEAVILY regulated, with only a single road access to Unit 1 and a single trail in Unit 2. Unit 2 is an OK stroll but a total bust from a photography viewpoint. The areas open to public access are, with a single exception, far away from the birds. Most of the images posted here are with a 500/4 + 1.4TC. But the raptors hang out around the agricultural fields and then it depends on the stalking skill what type of shot you get.
---------------------------------------------
douter wrote:
Beautiful light, Geek!
Douglas
Yes, the thing that makes Anza Borrego a difficult to shoot landscape makes it a great early morning and late afternoon bird location. The sky is usually clear or mostly clear, so you get those 10 minutes of beautiful under-lighting and glow almost every day.
---------------------------------------------
morris wrote:
This looks like a great place to shoot Boyan and you took wonderful advantage of the environment and varied subjects. This is an excellent set of images.
Morris
Thank you. I am thoroughly appreciating San Diego's reputation as "the birdiest county in the US".. 13 years after moving here. Better late than never I guess. On the upside, the Nikon F-mount exotic primes can be purchased for a (relative) song these days, 12 years ago that would not have been the case.
Nice variety and photography
Yes, the variety isn't perhaps as large as other SoCal coastal areas, but there is plenty to do.
---------------------------------------------
amyandmark3 wrote:
Lots of good shot here, congrats! Looks like a good place to visit.
Mark
December to February, it is too hot there rest of the year, with reduced bird presence. If you go keep in mind that the whole area is a tangle of irrigation channels, agricultural fields and closures, and it takes a bit of time to figure out how to get around and where to go. The official "units" SW of Brawley and Calipatria are HEAVILY regulated, with only a single road access to Unit 1 and a single trail in Unit 2. Unit 2 is an OK stroll but a total bust from a photography viewpoint. The areas open to public access are, with a single exception, far away from the birds. Most of the images posted here are with a 500/4 + 1.4TC. But the raptors hang out around the agricultural fields and then it depends on the stalking skill what type of shot you get.
---------------------------------------------
douter wrote:
Beautiful light, Geek!
Douglas
Yes, the thing that makes Anza Borrego a difficult to shoot landscape makes it a great early morning and late afternoon bird location. The sky is usually clear or mostly clear, so you get those 10 minutes of beautiful under-lighting and glow almost every day.
---------------------------------------------
morris wrote:
This looks like a great place to shoot Boyan and you took wonderful advantage of the environment and varied subjects. This is an excellent set of images.
Morris
Thank you. I am thoroughly appreciating San Diego's reputation as "the birdiest county in the US".. 13 years after moving here. Better late than never I guess. On the upside, the Nikon F-mount exotic primes can be purchased for a (relative) song these days, 12 years ago that would not have been the case.
Feb 08, 2026 at 12:48 PM
|
p.1 #7Not Bosque... but close enough
Lovely set and such varied and beautiful light! Very nicely done.
Birdie
Birdie
Feb 08, 2026 at 08:15 PM
p.1 #8Not Bosque... but close enough
Your work is refreshing to see
Enjoying the light and subjects and your presentation. What a fantastic variety, great images
Karl
Enjoying the light and subjects and your presentation. What a fantastic variety, great images
Karl
Feb 09, 2026 at 05:14 PM
p.1 #9Not Bosque... but close enough
Those purple sky's are majestic and you got some terrific BIFs and portraits in a great environment. A real banner day in any location.
Eric
Eric
Feb 10, 2026 at 08:00 AM
p.1 #10Not Bosque... but close enough
Love the colors here...beautiful set of images!
Feb 10, 2026 at 11:11 AM
p.1 #11Not Bosque... but close enough
birdied wrote:
Lovely set and such varied and beautiful light! Very nicely done.
Birdie
Thank you
---------------------------------------------
Karl Witt wrote:
Your work is refreshing to see
Enjoying the light and subjects and your presentation. What a fantastic variety, great images
Karl
Thank you
---------------------------------------------
Erictator wrote:
Those purple sky's are majestic and you got some terrific BIFs and portraits in a great environment. A real banner day in any location.
Eric
That is one thing about bird photography that is far easier than landscapes - the morning and evening light is often better on blue-bird sky days. In this particular case there was not a cloud in the sky to be seen in any direction, the colors are just the normal "earth shadow" effects at sunrise and sunset.
---------------------------------------------
Al Trujillo wrote:
Love the colors here...beautiful set of images!
Thank you
Lovely set and such varied and beautiful light! Very nicely done.
Birdie
Thank you
---------------------------------------------
Karl Witt wrote:
Your work is refreshing to see
Enjoying the light and subjects and your presentation. What a fantastic variety, great images
Karl
Thank you
---------------------------------------------
Erictator wrote:
Those purple sky's are majestic and you got some terrific BIFs and portraits in a great environment. A real banner day in any location.
Eric
That is one thing about bird photography that is far easier than landscapes - the morning and evening light is often better on blue-bird sky days. In this particular case there was not a cloud in the sky to be seen in any direction, the colors are just the normal "earth shadow" effects at sunrise and sunset.
---------------------------------------------
Al Trujillo wrote:
Love the colors here...beautiful set of images!
Thank you
Feb 12, 2026 at 05:08 AM