Yellow-billed Magpie.
Common in the open oak woodlands in central (and apparently, Northern) California –
but found nowhere else in the world.
Lucky us.
It likes open areas with large trees and streams,
and forages in grassland and fields.
Which means it lives and soars above the rain-restored meadow behind my work.
Lucky me.
Gardens For Goldens 
I love them so much and we have none in SoCal. These photos are simply incredible.
Thanks! They surprised me. I don’t think I have ever seen them in the meadow before. Really fun to watch…traveling in packs and all hanging out together in the trees.
never seen one before would love too
Beautiful!
Right time, right place and most importantly, right lens. Fantastic!
For a change! 🙂
Great shots in flight!! We used to have loads of them around our house until the developers came in and took the land surrounding us 😠 We had a big long haired tuxedo cat that caught two of the birds in flight! We made him let go of course. They can be noisy.