Peanuts In My Pocket

On a recent birding trip to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, I left my birding camera on the passenger seat of my Subaru instead of packing it away in its case. I don’t normally do this unless it’s a short drive, but I’ve decided that if I’m traveling on surface streets instead of the freeway, it’s worth taking the chance. I’m always on the lookout for birds of prey, and if I happen to spot one, I can pull over and snap a few photos.

In theory, it should work.

In practice, I spend far more time paying attention to the road than looking for birds.

I happened to stop at the traffic light at the corner of Bolsa Chica and Edinger when the perfect opportunity presented itself. An Osprey landed on a nearby solar-powered traffic camera, about 50 yards away. While waiting for the light to change, I grabbed my camera and fired off a dozen frames before traffic started moving again. They weren’t my best photos, but I was happy with the results nonetheless.

There’s something wonderfully Southern Californian about an Osprey choosing a solar-powered traffic camera as its perch. Wildlife has an amazing ability to adapt to the world we’ve built around it. Sometimes all we have to do is slow down long enough to notice.

I’m currently searching for a Sharp-shinned Hawk that is rumored to frequent the area near the Navy base. So far, I’ve spotted Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, and a few Turkey Vultures while driving past, but I haven’t managed to stop in time to photograph them. Usually, my camera is packed away, and by the time I could get it out, they’re long gone.

Truth be told, I’m not even sure I’d recognize a Sharp-shinned Hawk if I saw one. I really need a good photograph to confirm the identification. Besides, I may be out of luck until fall migration. None have been reported in the area since March.

Driving with a camera isn’t new to me. I used to do it all the time while commuting on Los Angeles freeways for work. Back then, I photographed whatever caught my eye. These days, it’s almost always birds.

I’ve evolved.

The only problem is that my birding rig is enormous. With the lens hood attached, it’s nearly two feet long, so there’s no such thing as a stealth photo. People point. Sometimes they honk. If I’m safely parked or stopped at a red light, I don’t see much harm in taking a quick photograph.

If you happen to see a tall old guy in a black Subie pointing an obnoxiously large camera at the sky…

Just smile and wave.

I mean no harm.