We went total hardcore, spending the morning at the city water treatment plant which always garnishes shorebirds just not the best backgrounds. Not this time, not a single shorebird, literally none. So I went to my fallback plan, breakie! Afterward we went back to a location we had checked days before, not for birds but to see if the light was working for this one tree photograph. While we were there, Sharon found our first band of shorebirds, a dozen sandpipers. It was great to see them! We had about an hour with them before the rising tide made their little beach disappear. We’ll be back at it today, hoping to find a bunch more cause a dozen doesn’t mean success.

Those LBJs (Little Brown Jobs) have started to hit our beaches and now’s a great time to get out there with them. Why now? There are a number of reasons, top of the list is that they are still wearing their breeding plumage quite often. Like this Willet photographed on a San Diego beach. This is not their winter plumage but the much more spectacular feathers they have to catch the attention of the opposite sex. Right now the rarer shorebirds come through more often or not. Another reason to get out now is they are busy refueling and a whole lot more likely to be approachable. Don’t approach them, let them come to you as I did here. Simply lie on the sands at a spot where they might want to feed (I like when the tide is going out) and simply wait. They’ll come up and then the shot is easy peasy! I know of nothin better than spending the morning on the beach (in the west) or the evening (in the east) lying on the sands with the LBJs. Now’s the time, they’re coming!

Fall is when mammals, especially big game look their best with their winter coats. Those coats change slightly each year based on the quality of the browse and the temps. This year with the heat waves and extreme drought, much of the west isn’t offering the same quality habitat as in a typical year. Just watching the White-tailed and Mule Deers on The Ranch, I can see a measurable difference in their pelts. So if planning on chasing the big boys, do some homework for the region you’re heading to. I will make a difference in your final photograph. Fall mammals, plan carefully!