It was another great year in 2025 with 2 trips away from my home in Reno, NV. One of my first favorites was a flight of Gadwalls I captured at a local pond. Although it was 900 when I captured the Gadwalls, the Reno valley has the Sierras in west and the Virginia Range in the east and the sun hits the valley around 800 in early January limiting the amount of light. Also in Januray, I was lucky to get a cooperative Belted Kingfisher, a Dipper on the near banks of the Truckee River instead of on the far side, sunlit Pintails in shadowed water, and a Juniper Titmouse in the Junipers north of Lemmon Valley.
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) - Diamond Creek Pond, WAS (NV), Taken: 1-3-2025 at 9:05
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO1100, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) - Truckee River - GSR, WAS (NV), Taken: 1-3-2025 at 10:59
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO320, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) - Mayberry Park, WAS (NV), Taken: 1-17-2025 at 8:46
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO1250, +1 EV, Conditions: sunrise
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) - Rosewood NSA, WAS (NV), Taken: 1-18-2025 at 11:37
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO500, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) - Washoe Co. Archery Range, WAS (NV), Taken: 1-28-2025 at 10:23
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO360, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Early spring had me searching for Pinyon Jays and Topaz Lake is a great place to find them in close range. Steller’s Jay are native to the area but at times you get an unusual pose. One of my favorite sparrows is the Lincoln’s and this one popped up just outside my minimum focus distance. For years, I make my APR trek to the Sheep Springs Lek to find the impressive Greater Sage Grouse and I was rewarded this year too.
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) - Topaz Lake, DOU (NV), Taken: 2-25-2025 at 10:35
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO400, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Steller's Jay, Coastal (Cyanocitta stelleri [stelleri Group]) - Mayberry Park, WAS (NV), Taken: 4-10-2025 at 11:34
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO220, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) - Canyon Way - Long Valley Creek, STO (NV), Taken: 4-15-2025 at 11:35
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO400, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) - Sheep Springs, WAS (NV), Taken: 4-18-2025 at 5:54
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO720, +1 EV, Conditions: sunrise
At the end of April and most of May, Jeannine, our Labs Diesel and Kyanne, and I spent our time at the Oregon coast with our base near Newport. One of my favorite birds I miss living in Reno is the Wrentit. On the first day I headed south and stopped at the Carl Washburne State Park and as soon as I got out of the car I heard the song of the Wrentit. It was early with a heavy fog and the guy I capture popped out with a bill full of insects for her young and soaked in fog. It was a great adventure and these are only a few of the awesome birds I was reacquainted with on this trip.
Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) - Carl Washburne SP, LAN (OR), 4-29-2025 7:31
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO2000, +1 EV, Conditions: foggy
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - Siuslaw River - North Jetty Mudflats, LAN (NV), Taken: 4-29-2025 at 9:49
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO140, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) - Yaquina Head ONA - Lighthouse, LIN (OR), Taken: 5-6-2025 at 12:11
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO800, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) - William M Tugman SP, COO (OR), Taken: 5-9-2025 at 7:37
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO140, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Newport Bridge over the Yaquina Bay - Yaquina River - SW Jetty Way, LIN (OR), Taken: 5-20-2025 at 11:19
Settings: Pixel 8 Pro 7mm (35mm eqv), 1/1400s, f/1.7, ISO21, +0 EV, Conditions: sunny
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) - No Beaver Creek Rd, LIN (OR), Taken: 5-22-2025 at 10:33
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/8, ISO2500, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Back in the Reno area after Oregon, I found Virginia Rails at Swan Lake with the immature being more cooperative later in the summer and I say you hear 20 before you see one.
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) - Swan Lake - Boardwalk, WAS (NV), Taken: 7-25-2025 at 9:20
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO1000, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Cassin's Finch (Haemorhous cassinii) - Galena Creek RP, WAS (NV), Taken: 8-15-2025 at 9:55
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO1600, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Virginia Rail, immature (Rallus limicola) - Swan Lake - Boardwalk, WAS (NV), Taken: 8-19-2025 at 10:52
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO800, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) - 6 Mile Canyon, STO (NV), Taken: 9-2-2025 at 8:10
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO1400, +1 EV, Conditions: overcast
Our trip to Santa Cruz in September was a trip back to where we lived for 30 years and it has a warm place in my heart. See a more detailed experience and photos at my Santa Cruz, CA post.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) - Lighthouse Field SB, SCZ (CA), Taken: 9-16-2025 at 9:22
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO800, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) - Palm Beach, SCZ (CA), Taken: 9-17-2025 at 10:39
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO220, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny fog
Western Flycatcher, Pacific-slope (Empidonax difficilis) - Lighthouse Field SB, SCZ (CA), Taken: 9-20-2025 at 14:30
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO2500, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi) - Lighthouse Field SB, SCZ (CA), Taken: 9-20-2025 at 14:30
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO2000, +1 EV, Conditions: shady fog
After Santa Cruz, I took a trip through Gerlach, which is in the North East section of Washoe County where I found a Long-eared Owl. As winter approached I found a female Bushtit, returning wintering Barrow’s Goldeneye, a lingering Snowy Egret, and on the Fallon CBC a Vermilion Flycatcher. Any bird I find in my view finder and able to capture are my favorites. Hope you enjoy them as I do.
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) - Godey's Gap Riparian Area, WAS (NV), Taken: 10-1-2025 at 8:14
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO360, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) - Diamond Creek Pond, WAS (NV), Taken: 10-30-2025 at 12:21
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/500s, f/6.3, ISO500, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Bushtit, Interior (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus) - Lockwood RP, WAS (NV), Taken: 11-7-2025 at 8:27
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO2000, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) - Cottonwood Park, WAS (NV), Taken: 11-21-2025 at 9:34
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO800, +1 EV, Conditions: shady
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) - Swan Lake - Boardwalk, WAS (NV), Taken: 11-25-2025 at 10:36
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/18, ISO3200, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) - Damonte Ranch - Carat Pond, WAS (NV), Taken: 12-11-2025 at 11:22
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO500, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) - Carson Lake - Fallon CBC, CHU (NV), 12-16-2025 at 13:14
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/2000s, f/5.6, ISO280, +1 EV, Conditions: sunny
Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.