Summer in Orange County, 2011 Wildlife

Osprey with shark, twice! Deer, RT Hawk, Kite, Owl food exchanges, RT w/snake. A great year in Orange County for wildlife. I hope it continues, although huge Raparian areas in Irvine are being torn up as we speak.

Osprey catches his second shark of the day, he flew off because a crow got too close.
The sun hit the shark in just the right spot! ;)
Second shark of the day! I take it the youngster wasn't a good enough hunter yet to capture the deeper fish. The young sharks are in shallow water. Smart little Osprey!
A shark for the young Osprey
I believe this is the female of the Cooper nest
Little Cooper, always in their PJ's ;)
This was in my kitchen, I found a ladybug ready to fly and it reflected in the window. It looks like she's looking at herself! ;)
I couldn't believe my eyes when capturing the moment the female Dark Morph dropped the rabbit right before she got to the nest, and I got her reaching for it mid-air. Not only the moment, but the expression on her face when she realized it was gone!
Nothing like having a Christmas Card day, in the heart of Orange County in July!
This young guy came up close, typical of juvenile wildlife, they have no fear of humans yet. That is taught by the parents.
It looks like this buck was a little younger than the other one with shiny antlers. At this age he still had his velvet.
Good size Buck for OC.
I love the way this shows the antlers velvet rubbed off.
This buck still has his velvet.
Adult White Tailed Kites exchanging food during the second mating season of the year.
Two of four Cooper hawk fledges. Very near my home in Irvine.
Mom buzzing me to let me know she was there.