Turkey Vultures are quite spectacular birds.
They are also nature's cleanup crew, preventing nasty bacteria from
spreading. |
![](tv/TurkeyVultureLR-01x1cw_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture |
![](tv/TVMines_001xyw_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture |
![](tv/TV_birdrockPL_002w_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture |
![](tv/TurkeyVultureLR-29xw_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture |
![](tv/TVMines_008xyw_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture |
![](tv/TVNP_241vw_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture |
![](tv/TV_birdrockPL_004w_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture
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![](tv/TurkeyVultureDV_002w_small.jpg)
Turkey vulture |
.![](quails/ef042205-009xcw_small.jpg)
Quails are common in the foothills of Mt. Diablo.
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![](Osprey/Quail-BR-05xw_small.jpg)
Female quails. |
![](quails/QuailSR_002w_small.jpg)
Quail. Their calls can be heard from afar |
![](tv/TurkeyVulturesCo_004w_small.JPG)
Turkey vulture |
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Wild Turkey
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![](tv/TurkeyLR_043w_small.jpg)
wild turkeys strutting their stuff |
![](tv/TurkeyLR_088w_small.jpg)
a sight to behold |
![](songbirds/SwallownestsLDV_364w_small.jpg)
Cliff swallow nests |
![](songbirds/SwallownestsLDV_366w_small.jpg) |
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I photographed these
Ring-necked
pheasants on Staten Island road which leads right through very rich
farmland.
The pheasants are
quite illusive and I have only been able to photograph them twice.
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![](quails/Pheasant_12xyw_small.jpg) |
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Alligator Lizard |
Fence lizard |
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![](reptiles/PturtleREslider_1085w_small.JPG)
Two Pond turtles & one Red-eared slider |
![](reptiles/TurtleFamilyHF_023w_small.JPG)
Pond turtle family |
![](reptiles/PturtleRslider-_001w_small.jpg)
A most attractive plank for turtles |
![](reptiles/R.E.Sliders%20HF_018w_small.JPG)
There is always space for one more |
![](reptiles/Coot&Slider%20HF_004w_small.JPG)
A coot and a turtle is good company |
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![](Jellyfish/jellyfishML_023w_small.JPG)
Medusa Jellyfish (sea jellies) |
![](Jellyfish/jellyfishML_033w_small.JPG)
There was a huge number of them and these photos
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![](Jellyfish/jellyfishML_044w_small.JPG)
show some we
were watching for a while. |
![](Jellyfish/jellyfishML_081w_small.JPG)
They were very lively, interacting with each
other. |
![](Jellyfish/jellyfishML_094w_small.JPG)
They were actually mating the way jellyfish do,
which typically |
![](Jellyfish/jellyfishML_099w_small.JPG)
ends with death. We saw it happen while watching. |
Rattlesnakes, gopher and king
snakes, and other snakes live in our hills though mostly well hidden. My
wife and I almost stepped on this rattler. Tarantulas may be
seen when crossing a trail, but Fall is the time when they are out and
about to look for mates. This is the best time to observe them.
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![](reptiles/WRatlesnake-SR_002w_small.jpg)
Western Rattlesnake
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![](reptiles/WRatlesnake-SR_007w_small.jpg) |
Garter snake |
![](reptiles/gartersnakeTP100w_small.jpg) |
![](insects/D3A_1027xw_small.jpg)
Tarantula |
Many different species of dragon flies
populate any area where there is a body of water. They rarely hold
still. |
![](insects/BluetsNorthernLR-06xw_small.jpg)
Bluets caught in the act |
![](insects/BluetsNorthernLR-07defx1w_small.jpg) |
![](insects/dragonfly-052606-tp-02_small.jpg)
Common Whitetail Dragonfly
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![](insects/CardilMeadowhawk_03w_small.JPG)
Cardinal Meadow hawk Dragonfly |
![](insects/ComGreenDarnerHF_08w_small.JPG)
Common Green Darner |
![](insects/MeadowhawkVarieg_002w_small.JPG)
Meadowhawk Variegated
Dragonfly |
![](insects/Walker'sDarnerHF_002w_small.JPG)
Walker's Darner
Dragonfly |
![](insects/BeeWatermilfoil_009aw_small.jpg)
Bee on Watermilfoil |
Bees on flowers |
Bee on apple blossoms
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![](insects/BeesPollenHF_002w_small.JPG)
Honey bee |
![Mantis_022w.jpg (267330 bytes)](insects/Mantis_022w_small.jpg)
Preying mantis
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![](insects/TarantulaHawk-02w_small.jpg)
Tarantula hawk |
![](insects/sunflower-07xbctw_small.jpg)
Bee on Sunflower |
This
needs another sunflower or hummingbird on the flower. |
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