A gray heron forages the banks of the Santa Ana River in Anaheim for something to eat on Friday, September 16, 2022 as water from recent storms rush by. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Great Egret takes off after standing in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim on Friday, September 16, 2022 as water from recent storms flows by. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A turtle sits on a rock in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim as water from recent storms flows past on Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A snowy egret stands on the edge of the Santa Ana River in Anaheim as water from recent storms rush by on Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cormorants perch on concrete structures at the bottom of a small spillway in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim as water from recent storms spills past Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A beehive fills a nest box in a tree on the banks of the Santa Ana River in Anaheim. On Friday September 16, 2022, water from recent storms will flow into the river, attracting various waterfowl. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Water from the recent storms flows over a small spillway in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim on Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Turtles sit on rocks while basking in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim as water from recent storms rush by on Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Water from the recent storms is pouring into the Santa Ana River in Anaheim on Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A cormorant sits on a rock in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim as water from recent storms rush by Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A cormorant perches on a concrete structure at the bottom of a small spillway in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim as water from recent storms spills past Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Great Egret takes off after standing in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim on Friday, September 16, 2022 as water from recent storms flows by. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Water from the recent storms is pouring into the Santa Ana River in Anaheim on Friday, September 16, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A gray heron forages the banks of the Santa Ana River in Anaheim for something to eat on Friday, September 16, 2022 as water from recent storms rush by. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Great Egret takes off after standing in the Santa Ana River in Anaheim on Friday, September 16, 2022 as water from recent storms flows by. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A gray heron forages the banks of the Santa Ana River in Anaheim for something to eat on Friday, September 16, 2022 as water from recent storms rush by. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Due to recent rains, parts of the Santa Ana River are flowing with water, providing the perfect opportunity for photography enthusiasts to snap wildlife photos.
A telephoto lens is recommended for taking close-up photos of birds and other animals. These were captured during a walk of about a mile that is easily accessible in Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim.
Even if you’re not a photographer, there’s plenty of wildlife to see with the naked eye, including the great blue heron, one of Orange County’s largest birds.
