Marcus C. England
@england-ecology.bsky.social
Biological consultant. Principal at England|Ecology, LLC. Based in Los Angeles.
Website: https://mcengland.com
Website: https://mcengland.com
I found what I am henceforth calling a “Vanilla Dove” along the LA River this morning. In reality, it is a leucistic Mourning Dove; leucism being when an animal has reduced pigmentation, but is not albino. #birds
September 19, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I found what I am henceforth calling a “Vanilla Dove” along the LA River this morning. In reality, it is a leucistic Mourning Dove; leucism being when an animal has reduced pigmentation, but is not albino. #birds
I’m not really sure if this female White-breasted Nuthatch flew in to greet me, give me a stern talking to, or was just busy feeding and paid me no mind.
White-breasted Nuthatch. Verdugo Park, Glendale, California. September 15, 2025.
#birds
White-breasted Nuthatch. Verdugo Park, Glendale, California. September 15, 2025.
#birds
September 15, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I’m not really sure if this female White-breasted Nuthatch flew in to greet me, give me a stern talking to, or was just busy feeding and paid me no mind.
White-breasted Nuthatch. Verdugo Park, Glendale, California. September 15, 2025.
#birds
White-breasted Nuthatch. Verdugo Park, Glendale, California. September 15, 2025.
#birds
At the Cocos Booby breeding colony I posted earlier, we also had Masked Booby, and at least one Blue-footed Booby. I’ve provided two images of the latter as cleaned up as I could get it, but unfortunately the Blue-footed Booby just kept making high circling flights in a pretty dense fog bank. #birds
August 8, 2025 at 4:25 PM
At the Cocos Booby breeding colony I posted earlier, we also had Masked Booby, and at least one Blue-footed Booby. I’ve provided two images of the latter as cleaned up as I could get it, but unfortunately the Blue-footed Booby just kept making high circling flights in a pretty dense fog bank. #birds
A few images from along the LA River this morning:
- A Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- An Ash-throated Flycatcher.
- A pair of Scaly-breasted Munias, a non-native established in SoCal (and elsewhere in the warmer parts of the Americas) native to India and Asia.
#birds
- A Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- An Ash-throated Flycatcher.
- A pair of Scaly-breasted Munias, a non-native established in SoCal (and elsewhere in the warmer parts of the Americas) native to India and Asia.
#birds
August 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
A few images from along the LA River this morning:
- A Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- An Ash-throated Flycatcher.
- A pair of Scaly-breasted Munias, a non-native established in SoCal (and elsewhere in the warmer parts of the Americas) native to India and Asia.
#birds
- A Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- An Ash-throated Flycatcher.
- A pair of Scaly-breasted Munias, a non-native established in SoCal (and elsewhere in the warmer parts of the Americas) native to India and Asia.
#birds
I arrived early this morning at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park for yet another attempt at the phenomenally long-staying Swallow-tailed Kite, a spectacular raptor that is very far away from home. Unfortunately, no flight shots as it flew the opposite direction from where we were posted. #birds
July 28, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I arrived early this morning at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park for yet another attempt at the phenomenally long-staying Swallow-tailed Kite, a spectacular raptor that is very far away from home. Unfortunately, no flight shots as it flew the opposite direction from where we were posted. #birds
Before a survey in nearby Eagle Rock this morning, I went birding along the LA River at North Atwater Park. I came away with photos of two distinctly different types of #birds: a Double-crested Cormorant riding low, and a Customs & Border Protection helicopter riding high.
July 21, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Before a survey in nearby Eagle Rock this morning, I went birding along the LA River at North Atwater Park. I came away with photos of two distinctly different types of #birds: a Double-crested Cormorant riding low, and a Customs & Border Protection helicopter riding high.
A Red-tailed Hawk with a Desert Cottontail caught for lunch, as well as a Northern Mockingbird that was not happy about it. Scene outside of my home office window a few minutes ago. #birds
July 14, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A Red-tailed Hawk with a Desert Cottontail caught for lunch, as well as a Northern Mockingbird that was not happy about it. Scene outside of my home office window a few minutes ago. #birds
The owner of the only type of big beautiful bill that matters: a Great Blue Heron along the LA River this morning is caught in an awkward-looking pose while preening. #birds
July 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The owner of the only type of big beautiful bill that matters: a Great Blue Heron along the LA River this morning is caught in an awkward-looking pose while preening. #birds
An Allen's Hummingbird scratching an itch this morning along the LA River. Not quite the futility of a Tyrannosaurus rex doing the same, but with their tiny feet (they are in the order Apodiformes [Greek for "footless"] for a reason) it seemed challenging. #birds
July 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
An Allen's Hummingbird scratching an itch this morning along the LA River. Not quite the futility of a Tyrannosaurus rex doing the same, but with their tiny feet (they are in the order Apodiformes [Greek for "footless"] for a reason) it seemed challenging. #birds
A flock of Brown Pelicans flies high along the coastline in Pacific Palisades yesterday. I shot this image from well-inland in a steep hillside area, so ended up about the same height they were flying. #birds
June 25, 2025 at 2:37 PM
A flock of Brown Pelicans flies high along the coastline in Pacific Palisades yesterday. I shot this image from well-inland in a steep hillside area, so ended up about the same height they were flying. #birds
After a survey in Bel Air this morning, I headed again to Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park to again fail to find the Swallow-tailed Kite. #Birds shown below are:
- a Snowy Egret not doing much of anything.
- a Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- a Pin-tailed Whydah bathing.
- a Snowy Egret not doing much of anything.
- a Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- a Pin-tailed Whydah bathing.
June 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
After a survey in Bel Air this morning, I headed again to Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park to again fail to find the Swallow-tailed Kite. #Birds shown below are:
- a Snowy Egret not doing much of anything.
- a Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- a Pin-tailed Whydah bathing.
- a Snowy Egret not doing much of anything.
- a Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight.
- a Pin-tailed Whydah bathing.
This morning, I walked along a cloudy and somewhat dreary LA River to test out my new Nikon Z8 and Nikkor 180-600 lens set-up I received yesterday. Shown are American Crows, a Great Egret, a Red-winged Blackbird, and a pair of White-faced Ibis. #birds
June 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
This morning, I walked along a cloudy and somewhat dreary LA River to test out my new Nikon Z8 and Nikkor 180-600 lens set-up I received yesterday. Shown are American Crows, a Great Egret, a Red-winged Blackbird, and a pair of White-faced Ibis. #birds
Some images from the LA River this morning:
- A Great Egret Preening.
- Male and female Western Bluebirds, both sallying for insects for chicks in a nest in a cavity in a cottonwood immediately behind where I stood for these shots.
- My first ever Common Gallinule on the river.
#birds
- A Great Egret Preening.
- Male and female Western Bluebirds, both sallying for insects for chicks in a nest in a cavity in a cottonwood immediately behind where I stood for these shots.
- My first ever Common Gallinule on the river.
#birds
May 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Some images from the LA River this morning:
- A Great Egret Preening.
- Male and female Western Bluebirds, both sallying for insects for chicks in a nest in a cavity in a cottonwood immediately behind where I stood for these shots.
- My first ever Common Gallinule on the river.
#birds
- A Great Egret Preening.
- Male and female Western Bluebirds, both sallying for insects for chicks in a nest in a cavity in a cottonwood immediately behind where I stood for these shots.
- My first ever Common Gallinule on the river.
#birds
A bit of mutual watching occurred between myself and a Bushtit this morning during a nesting bird survey. A bit later, I found an Allen's Hummingbird on its nest high in a pine tree. #birds
May 14, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A bit of mutual watching occurred between myself and a Bushtit this morning during a nesting bird survey. A bit later, I found an Allen's Hummingbird on its nest high in a pine tree. #birds
Image of the Day: Zapata Wren, a bird only found in Zapata Swamp, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
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#birds
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Zapata Wren - England | Ecology
This Zapata Wren (Ferminia cerverai) was photographed by England|Ecology Principal Marcus C. England at Zapata Swamp, Cuba on January 9, 2023. Purchase Prints/Cards on Redbubble View Species on eBird ...
mcengland.com
May 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Image of the Day: Zapata Wren, a bird only found in Zapata Swamp, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/za...
#birds
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Image of the Day: Zapata Sparrow, Zapata Swamp, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
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#birds
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Zapata Sparrow - England | Ecology
This Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata) was photographed by England|Ecology Principal Marcus C. England at Zapata Swamp, Cuba on January 9, 2023. Purchase Prints/Cards on Redbubble View Species o...
mcengland.com
May 4, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Image of the Day: Zapata Sparrow, Zapata Swamp, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
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#birds
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Image of the Day: A different Bare-legged Owl pose, photographed in a roadside woodlot somewhere in Matanzas, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
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#birds
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Bare-legged Owl - England | Ecology
This Bare-legged Owl (Margarobyas lawrencii) was photographed by England|Ecology Principal Marcus C. England at Matanzas, Cuba on January 8, 2023. Purchase Prints/Cards on Redbubble View Species on eB...
mcengland.com
May 2, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Image of the Day: A different Bare-legged Owl pose, photographed in a roadside woodlot somewhere in Matanzas, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/ba...
#birds
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Image of the Day: Bare-legged Owl, photographed in a roadside woodlot somewhere in Matanzas, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/ba...
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/ba...
Bare-legged Owl - England | Ecology
This Bare-legged Owl (Margarobyas lawrencii) was photographed by England|Ecology Principal Marcus C. England at Matanzas, Cuba on January 8, 2023. Purchase Prints/Cards on Redbubble View Species on eB...
mcengland.com
May 1, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Image of the Day: Bare-legged Owl, photographed in a roadside woodlot somewhere in Matanzas, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/ba...
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/ba...
Image of the Day: American Flamingos, Parque Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
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#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/am...
American Flamingo - England | Ecology
These American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) were photographed by England|Ecology Principal Marcus C. England at Parque Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba on January 9, 2023. Purchase Prints/Cards on...
mcengland.com
April 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Image of the Day: American Flamingos, Parque Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba. January 2023.
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/am...
#birds
mcengland.com/downloads/am...
In the context of peak songbird migration for SoCal it was a very slow and quiet morning at Rio de Los Angeles State Park with only 25 species. Photos of #birds presented as replies in the order taken:
April 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
In the context of peak songbird migration for SoCal it was a very slow and quiet morning at Rio de Los Angeles State Park with only 25 species. Photos of #birds presented as replies in the order taken:
Image of the Day: Waterhouse’s Leaf-nosed Bat, Cayo Coco, Cuba. January 2023. Oddly, this was taken at a bat colony in a cave that functions as a bar/nightclub while the bats are gone at night.
#mammals
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#mammals
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Waterhouse’s Leaf-nosed Bat - England | Ecology
This Waterhouse's Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus waterhousii) was photographed by England|Ecology Principal Marcus C. England at Cayo Coco, Cuba on January 11, 2023. Purchase Prints/Cards on Redbubble Vie...
mcengland.com
April 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Image of the Day: Waterhouse’s Leaf-nosed Bat, Cayo Coco, Cuba. January 2023. Oddly, this was taken at a bat colony in a cave that functions as a bar/nightclub while the bats are gone at night.
#mammals
mcengland.com/downloads/wa...
#mammals
mcengland.com/downloads/wa...