Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles, the 3.5 mile Santa Monica beach is an iconic example of the famed beautiful beaches of Southern California.
The beach sign below has cutouts for the umbrella and the birds so that the colors change depending upon the shade of the sky in the background.
The exotic Mute Swan is the elegant bird of Russian ballets and European fairy tales. The name ‘mute’ derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Here is a mute swan at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
A covered barge with feed at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC attracts a variety of birds
An ideal spot to dine while overlooking the ocean. Birds too have a sheltered cove for their feeding.
Silhouette photography is all about getting your lighting right. A silhouette effect is created when a light source is placed behind your subject, with little to no light in front of your subject. Here the bird and tree are silhouetted against a serene sky.
Birds find a nice perch surrounded by reflections on Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
A peaceful coexistence between a bird and humans at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
The King Vulture is an uncommon, large, and spectacular bird of lowland tropical forest, mainly in wilder areas and not around human habitation. Most often seen soaring overhead in mid-late morning, often fairly high up; rarely seen perched. Striking adult has a colorful head and neck, piercing white eyes, and mostly white plumage with a black trailing edge to the wings and tail. Here is a captive, perched vulture at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
King Vulture
The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren’t really bald, but their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings.
Some bald eagles in captivity at Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina.
Bald Eagle Posing
Bald Eagle
The Eurasian eagle-owl’s large, very distinctive, orange eyes provide excellent night vision. This male bird is at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Eyes of a Eurasian Eagle Owl Male
The Eurasian eagle-owl is a species of eagle-owl that resides in much of Eurasia. It is one of the largest species of owl, and females can grow to a total length of 30 inches, with a wingspan of 6 ft. 2 in, with males being slightly smaller. This bird has distinctive ear tufts, with upper parts that are mottled with darker blackish coloring and tawny. The wings and tail are barred and the underparts are a variably hued buff, streaked with darker coloring.
Here is a male Eurasian eagle-owl at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Eurasian Eagle Owl Male
Eurasian Eagle Owl Male Piercing Eyes
Outstandingly maneuverable, Lanner Falcons use their large tails and relatively low wing loading to perform exceptionally to the lure and can take a range of small birds as prey. The piercing eyes of a Lanner Falcon at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Eyes of a Lanner Falcon Male
Lanner Falcon Male Closeup
The Lanner Falcon is a large bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and Asia and is a bird of open country and savanna. Males and females look alike, but the browner young birds resemble Saker Falcons even more. However, Sakers have a lighter top of the head and less clear head-side patterns. Here is a male Lanner Falcon in captivity at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Lanner Falcon Male Perched on a Rock
Tethered Lanner Falcon Male
A small, stocky raptor with black-and-white bands on the tail, the Broad-winged Hawk is a bird of the forest interior and can be hard to see during the nesting season. Its call is a piercing, two-parted whistle. Here is a captive male at the Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina.
Broad-winged Hawk Male Looking at You
Broad-winged Hawk Male Looking Away
The Barred Owl is a nocturnal bird. It hides in dense foliage during the day, usually high up. May also roost on a branch close to a broad tree-trunk, or in a natural tree hole. May be very aggressive when defending a nest. Here is female version – perched at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Barred Owl Female Perched
Carolina Raptor Center (Huntersville, North Carolina) is a living museum, dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey. It is home to over 25 species of native and exotic raptors — hawks, falcons, eagles, merlins, kites and vultures.
Although in captivity, we got an opportunity to photograph some birds in their natural setting. Will be posting individual images of these magnificent birds over the next few weeks.
Birds at Carolina Raptor Center
Birds frequent Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Three of a Kind
In addition to numerous sculptures, Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina is also home to many wild species that make the greater area of the Gardens their home. Some of these birds, eagles and herons, have sustained an injury and could not survive in the wild. Their professional zookeepers provide safety, shelter, and enrichment for these birds.
Rescued Eagles
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron Rescued
Black-crowned Night Heron Perched
An artistic sculpture with a woman in pose with three birds at Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina
Artistic Sculpture
A sculpture of mother and baby birds at Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina
A Duck Family Sculpture
Photos by Ravi 