A look back through the first six months of 2025 — favourite bird photos from local patches around San Rafael and Las Gallinas, plus a few farther afield at Corte Madera Creek, Abbotts Lagoon, Angel Island, and Pinnacles National Park.
January
The year started with grebes and shorebirds around the San Rafael waterfront.
A busy month, with a first proper visit to Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District ponds.
Greater Scaup, Aythya marilaHorned Grebe, Podiceps auritusBlack-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanusBlack Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmaniPied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podicepsHorned Grebe, Podiceps auritusSnowy Egret, Egretta thulaBlack-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticoraxCommon Raven, Corvus coraxGreen Heron, Butorides virescens — Las GallinasNorthern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos — Las GallinasBonaparte’s Gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia — Las Gallinas
April
Spring arrivals, a first hummingbird of the year, and a day trip out to Pinnacles National Park for its resident California Condors.
Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutillaHorned Grebe, Podiceps auritusOak Titmouse, Baeolophus inornatusAcorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus — Pinnacles National ParkCalifornia Condor, Gymnogyps californianus — Pinnacles National ParkRed-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus — Las GallinasSnowy Egret, Egretta thulaGreat Egret, Ardea albaAnna’s Hummingbird, Calypte annaGreat Egret, Ardea alba — Las GallinasForster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri — Las GallinasGreat Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
May
A quieter month for outings, but a stop on Angel Island turned up an Acorn Woodpecker, and Las Gallinas produced a first Great-tailed Grackle of the year.
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, and Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticoraxAcorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus — Angel IslandBlack-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanusBlack Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmaniGreat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus — Las GallinasJuvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax — Las Gallinas
June
Closing out the half-year with a trip out to Abbotts Lagoon and a strong run of local favourites back home.
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia — Abbotts LagoonOsprey, Pandion haliaetus — Abbotts LagoonGreen Heron, Butorides virescensNorthern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos — Las GallinasGreat Egret, Ardea albaBlack-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticoraxRed-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensisBushtit, Psaltriparus minimusSnowy Egret, Egretta thulaAmerican White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Sixty-seven frames, six months, and a good reminder of how much is out there within a short walk of home.
Brian Smith's Photos 
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