Last week I had to make a business trip to Orange County, CA so, naturally, I planned a birding trip!  This was my first real trip to Southern California and I had a great time.  Newport clearly has money because the Back Bay wildlife preserve had well-defined trails and even a bathroom…with running water!

The area is perfect for birding because there was a scrub area with cactuses, areas with thicker vegetation and marshes.  I have so many beautiful pictures, but I don’t want to overwhelm.  So I’ll start with bunnies!

Such soft brown eyes.

Oh Hai.

There was a lot of bird activity.  The House Finches and Song Sparrows were singing their hearts out.  At one point the heat was too much so I talked beneath a tree for some shade.  Then I heard a low growl, like an angry cat.  Then I saw an eye:

A Mockingbird.  This picture is a testament to my new Nikon D300s, which can sift through all the branches to focus in on birds.  My Nikon D40 has more trouble and often churns and churns while it tries to focus or changes its mind at the last minute.

This Mockingbird wanted me to find him.  He hopped in and out of the bushes, watching me the entire time.  Mockingbirds are very outgoing.  If you hear a bird that sounds like a car alarm, it’s probably a Mockingbird.

I’ve been saving some Mockingbird pictures from California.  These give you a better idea of the Mockingbird’s plumage.

The tips of their wings are white.

and they have white bottoms

But my favorite part is still their orange eyes.