 Female black-headed grosbeak in the cherry tree by the deck feeders, near Occidental  Female black-headed grosbeak  An acrobatic reach, female black-headed grosbeak, May 2020  California Towhee in the cherry tree  A male wilson's warbler stops by, near Occidental  Allen's hummer near deck feeders, spring 2020  Male Allen hummer at one of the deck feeders, near Occidental  Male purple finch, near deck feeders, late May 2020
0 Comments
 A male Lazuli bunting appeared in this tree while I was just a few steps away, an opportunity that I had been desiring for some time!  Lazuli Bunting, Pine Flat Rd  Male Lazulie bunting May 2020
 Fairy lanterns, Pine Flat Rd  Red Larkspur  Ribbon clarkia wildflower with rattlesnake grass in the background  Indian paintbrush  Purple jewelflower, Pine Flat Rd  Wild penstemon Pine flat RD  Distant shot, ash-throated flycatcher returning for the spring and summer at Pine Flat Rd. However, this area was severely burned in the previous year's Kincade fire.  After the fire, Pine Flat RD  Windmill pink wildflower, Pine Flat Rd Healdsburd, May 2020  Male rufous hummer, with notched tail feathers, near Occidental  Male rufous hummer.  Almost completely orange back, rufous hummingbird, near Occidental  All photos following are the same bird.  In flight!   Wilson's warbler, in the woods near Occidental, April 2020  Male Wilson's warbler  Male black-headed grosbeak in the woods near Occidental  Native wild iris start to bloom in the woods.  Red larkspur along the road, Occidental  Cotati backyard with palm tree, orioles return every year to make a nest. Here an oriole couple inspect the palm tree for best nest location, Spring 2020  Male hooded oriole  Male hooded oriole, Cotati, 2020  The more elusive female hooded oriole, working with the male to select best spot in the tree for spring nest.  Male Hooded Oriole, Cotati  A nest is usually woven and attached under one of the palm leaves.  Hooded Oriole, palm tree, Cotati, 2020
 Western bluebirds squabble, Cotati, 2020  Violet-green swallows inspect a possible nest cavity in an old oak tree, along the Cotati path.  Violet-green swallow  Male violet green swallow inspecting potential nest hole, Cotati Spring 2020  Garter snake along the path, Cotati, 2020  Beautiful male black-headed grosbeak, near Occidental  Grosbeaks love sunflower seeds!  Pine siskin, near Occidental  Male rufous hummingbird, near Occidental  Rufous hummer in flight  Small flock of bushtits check out the yard, near Occidental  Bushtit  A frequent sight, a black-crowned night heron fishing in one of the Cotati sloughs.  It seemed we were always seeing the same bird, so we named it Nigel the night heron.  Red-tailed hawk in one of the bordering trees.  Song sparrow, Cotati  Barn swallow in flight, Cotati  Male Wilson's warbler, along the creek  Oak titmouse, Cotati  Snowy egret browsing for fish in the slough waters, notice this bird is banded.  Mallard ducks in flight, Cotati  Black phoebe along the slough  A wild mink!!!! Rare to see these in Sonoma County....the Cotati sloughs  Lots of pond turtles, sunning in the early spring weather  Great Egret, Cotati sloughs, unincorporated Cotati, March 2020  Many wonderful close encounters with resident red-tailed hawks, often actively engaged in courtship as the time is early spring, 2020  Red-tailed hawk, unincorporated Cotati  Close fly-by, red-tailed hawk  Bushtit, cotati
 Male yellow-rumped warbler, in bright breeding plumage.  Another male western bluebird, against the bright green fields of early spring, Cotati  The area supports a large and active flock of wild turkeys. Cotati, March 2020  A couple of acorn woodpeckers check out a possible nest site, unincorporated Cotati.  Acorn woodpecker  A pair of red-tail hawks fly over, Cotati, March 2020 |
