There are many reasons to love Balboa Park. Anyone unfamiliar with the attractions there is truly missing out. The museums alone are worth visiting. There are 18 of them to explore. Across its 1,200-acres, are lawns, forests, a world-class zoo, and ball fields. One could spend many days there and not exhaust all the treats waiting to be discovered.
My favorite memory there was from May-2008, when the San Diego Natural History Museum conducted its first Bio-Blitz in the park. For folks unfamiliar with this type of event, Wikipedia says it “is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area. Groups of scientists, naturalists, and volunteers conduct an intensive field study over a continuous time period (e.g., usually 24 hours).”
I teamed up with Phil Unitt and tried my best to keep pace with this energetic man. Phil showed great patience with me, and tried to give me time to capture images of the species we encountered. I must confess, these were not my best works. Given more time, I believe I could have done better. But I did my best to capture as much as I could. My reward was as much in the education I received, as much as the pictures I took. One would have to be pretty dense to spend a day in the field with Phil, and not learn a thing or two about the natural world.
Fox Squirrel(Sciurus niger) |
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Description: Florida & Upas in Balboa Park. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:06:13 11:08 |
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Location:
North Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD9747-FoxSquirrel |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Hooded Oriole(Icterus cucullatus) |
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Description: Florida & Upas in Balboa Park. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:06:13 11:21 |
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Location:
North Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD9776-HoodedOriole |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 14:14 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD4506WesternBlueBird |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Orange-Crowned Warbler(Leiothlypis celata) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 14:26 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD4511OrangeCrownedWarbler |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 14:28 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD4514SongSparrow |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 14:37 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD4517MourningDove |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
House Finch(Haemorhous mexicanus) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 15:10 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4559HouseFinch |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bewick's Wren(Thryomanes bewickii) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:08:21 20:18 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4573BewicksWren |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 15:44 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4580WesternTanager |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 15:53 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4597BlackHeadedGrosbeak |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Phoebe(Sayornis nigricans) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 16:09 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4610BlackPhoebe |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Desert Cottontail(Sylvilagus audubonii) |
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Description: BioBlitz day in Balboa Park. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 16:11 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4615CottonTailedRabbit |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
California Ground Squirrel(Otospermophilus beecheyi) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 16:13 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4621CaliforniaGroundSquirrel |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Fox Squirrel(Sciurus niger) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 16:19 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4625FoxSquirrel |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 16:22 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4630NorthernMockingBird |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher(Empidonax difficilis) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 16:43 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/45 |
File Name: JCD4641PacificSlopeFlyCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American Robin(Turdus migratorius) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 15:09 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD4644AmericanRobin |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:02 18:12 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD4663WesternGull |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cooper's Hawk(Accipiter cooperii) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 7:13 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD4684CoopersHawk |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Wilson's Warbler(Cardellina pusilla) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 7:26 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD4697WilsonsWarbler |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 8:12 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/40 |
File Name: JCD4725GreatHornedOwl |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Scrub-Jay(Aphelocoma californica) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. This bird used to be called the Western Scrub-Jay, but in 2016 it was officially split in two species-- this bird and the Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii). |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 8:55 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 490 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD4741WesternScrubJay |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 8:59 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 500 mm, f/6.3, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD4750CommonYellowThroat |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Towhee(Melozone crissalis) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 9:53 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD4794CaliforniaTowhee |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 10:08 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/6.3, 1/60 |
File Name: JCD4811BlackChinnedHummingBirdNest |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Hutton's Vireo(Vireo huttoni) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 10:11 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD4819HuttonsVireo |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Thrasher(Toxostoma redivivum) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 10:16 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD4828CaliforniaThrasher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Wrentit(Chamaea fasciata) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 10:28 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD4835WrenTit |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Gnatcatcher(Polioptila californica) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 11:34 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD4848CaliforniaGnatCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Gnatcatcher(Polioptila californica) |
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Description: Juvenile on BioBlitz day in Balboa Park. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 11:38 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD4863CaliforniaGnatCatcher.Juvinile |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 11:52 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD4872SpottedTowhee |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 12:18 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD4888LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Nuttall's Woodpecker(Dryobates nuttallii) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 12:37 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD4893NuttallsWoodPecker |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 13:06 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD4911CassinsKingBird |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 13:18 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD4938KillDeer |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 13:27 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD4984HornedLark.Juvinile |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Anna's Hummingbird(Calypte anna) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:03 13:35 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD4993AnnasHummingbird |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Say's Phoebe(Sayornis saya) |
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Description: BoBlitz 2008 at Balboa Park. This was the first BioBlitz event conducted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego California 2008-05-02. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:17 19:26 |
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Location:
Balboa Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD5012SaysPhoebe |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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