A Quick Trip to Lake Cuyamaca for Birds

We had a clear sunny day after yesterday's raininess, so I made a quick trip to the lake to see what birds were out and about. Some made good photographic subjects.

A Snow Goose was also seen, but not photographed.

Double-crested Cormorant - one of the many that hang around by the dam.

Wing drying.

A fresh-looking Dark-eyed Junco.

Female Phainopepla. I was hearing sounds that were reminiscent of Phainopepla calls, but didn't think of them as being here in early January. But the San Diego County Bird Atlas points out that they are uncommon but not rare either, here and elsewhere W. of the deserts in the wintertime.

Male Red-winged Blackbird (one of many!).

Brewer's Blackbirds were abundant on the low dam-like walkway on the northeast side of the lake. This is a female.

Male Brewer's Blackbird. He was preening and fluffing and putting on quite a show.

He looks almost sinister here as he tidies up his wing-feathers.