California Wildlife Photos

My life has been enriching by observing and taking pictures of wildlife. Let me share some wildlife shots from California, where I have been living since the past 16 years.

A female mallard with her chicks in a lake.

Wild parrots ate date palm fruits and resting on cassia trees, before flying to the shelters in the woods. They are noisy, but so heartwarming to see them.

A hummingbird sitting pretty on a bird of paradise flower. A darting jewel.

Mallards flying over fire-charred hills and canyons of South California.

The sea lion lived in the Pacific Ocean but wanted free food. I spotted it near the pier, asking for food. It was not a nice practice to feel wild creatures.

No creature is more hard-working, vigilant, anxious and courageous than a bird tending to her chicks. It’s a phoebe. She perched on a cycle as I was watching her next with chicks under the roof of my kid's school.

It is a tree squirrel. As such it is wildlife, but it wants human food. Humans though repeatedly told processed food is not safe for them, do not stop giving them. Here is one with a French fry. A tourist gave it. People got to know, these creatures don't have the right enzymes to digest the food. They will become obese and fall prey to raptors.

We got to be ashamed. Cans thrown near nesting site of gulls on the bluffs. I would like to think tourists did it. Whoever it is, it’s irresponsible. Do better. We have no right to trash the habitat of our wildlife.

A great egret fishing in a local pond. Focus of egrets is inspiring.

A flock of cedar waxwings on a mulberry tree. It was so rewarding to spot them.

Gulls at a local beach.

A rewarding photo for me. An oriole couple decided to make a nest under a great bird of paradise leaf near my kitchen window. I saw the adorable chicks.

Harbor seals taking nap in cove, La Jolla Beach, San Diego.

A big flock of cormorants floating in a local lake. These birds are expert in fishing.

A leucistic ground squirrel near a shore. Had you seen one like this before?

It feels good when humans do kind things for other creatures. A number of wooden boxes have been installed for tree swallows along a marsh in my neighboring city.

A coyote near a riparian area.

I hope you liked the pictures.

Through these photos I have showed some struggles faced by wildlife. We must not treat them wrongfully for our ignorance. We must not damage the habitat of these creatures. They have as much right to thrive as we do. They have no voice to share their plights. As the top creature, we need to be the stewards.

"We are beginning to learn that each animal has a life and a place and a role in this world. If we place compassion and care in the middle of all our dealings with the animal world and honor and respect their lives, our attitudes will change." - Dr. Jane Goodall

"It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth." - Sir David Attenborough

"If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Share my wildlife with me. Because humans want to save things that they love." - Steve Irwin

"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant, 'What good is it?'" - Aldo Leopold