Just back from a couple of weeks in The U.S.A., mainly in California but a few days on the east coast too.

A family holiday but very good for wildlife generally with the Highlights as follows:

Black Bear, 1 in Yosemite,

Elephant Seal, c100 on the west coast,

California Sea Lion, c50 on west coast,

Harbor Seal, c20 on west coast,

Sea Otter, 1 on west coast,

Common Dolphin, c100 on west coast whale watch,

Common Loon, 1 on west coast,

Pink Footed Shearwater, common on west coast whale watch,

Sooty Shearwater, c12 on west coast whale,

Brown Pelican, common along west coast,

Brandt's Cormorant, common along west coast,

Black-Crowned Night Heron, 2 on west coast,

Snowy Egret, c6 on west coast,

Great Egret, 1 on west coast,

Surf Scoter, 4 on west coast,

Killdeer, 4 on west coast,

Whimbrel, 1 on west coast,

Long-billed Curlew, 4 on west coast,

Phalarope species off west coast whale watch,

South Polar Skua, 1 off west coast whale watch,

Heermann's Gull, common on west coast,

Laughing Gull, 3 on east coast,

Western Gull, common on west coast,

Least Tern, 2 on west coast,

Elegant Tern, flock of c100 on west coast,

Caspian Tern, 2 on west coast,

Pigeon Guillemot, 4 on west coast,

Turkey Vulture, common on west coast & Yosemite,

Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 on west coast,

Red-tailed Hawk, common on west coast & Yosemite,

Osprey, 1 on west coast,

American Kestrel, 1 on west coast,

Peregrine, family party plus single female on west coast,

Chimney Swift, 2 on east coast,

Hummingbird species, c12 on west coast i.d. not clarified,

Scrub Jay, c6 on west coast,

Hermit Thrush, 4 on west coast,

Common Raven, common on west coast & Yosemite,

Northern Cardinal, 3 on east coast,

White-crowned Sparrow, 2 on west coast.

Regards,

David.