Blog Archives

Early morning visit, Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge

1/31/2017

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The Aleutian Cackling goose winters in this refuge, thousands of them resting and feeding until their return north.

A partial view of the geese in flight with the early morning light behind them, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Aleutian cackling goose in flight.

A trio of Aleutian Cackling geese in a grassy area in the refuge.

These could be tundra swans in flight, the early morning light just touching their wings.

Male Downy woodpecker tackles a dead tree, Humboldt Bay NWR.

Large groups of coots in the sloughs.

The sound of meadow larks resounded in the refuge, as they basked in the first rays of sunlight.

A male Northern Harrier on a trail sign, contemplating the new day.

Getting ready to fly away, male northern harrier, Humboldt Bay NWR.

The morning light catches a flock of northern shovelers taking off from one of the large wetland ponds.

Two pairs of cinnamon teals near one of the viewing decks.

Many marsh wrens in the reeds, singing.

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Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

1/30/2017

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First afternoon visit to the refuge on a quick trip north to Humboldt County.

American Bittern, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Black-capped chickadee in the refuge

Another view, a black-capped chickadee foraging in the tree branches.

Lincoln's sparrow among the reeds, Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Pied-billed grebe in one of the sloughs

Early signs of spring, the pussy willows starting to bud and bloom.

A pair of bufflehead ducks along with a ruddy duck, near the open bay water.

Horned grebe with a fish at the entrance to the open bay waters.

A curious ruby-crowned kinglet in a willow tree, Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge.

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A walk through Shollenberger Park after all the rain

1/26/2017

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A Bewick's wren on a chain link fence - one part of Shollenberger borders along an industrial park.

This young red-shoudered hawk is probably the same one that hangs out near the main entrance to the park. Seems very used to the hustle and bustle of people using the park.

Prairie Falcon, flew right over me, Shollenberger Park, Petaluma

Prairie Falcon circling over Shollenberger Park

Male and female wigeons, Shollenberger

A small flock of wigeons circled around twice, in a flurry of wings and honking noises.

Same flock of wigeons with their wings facing.

Green-winged teal, Shollenberger

American Avocet, non-breeding colors

Female Northern Harrier cruising with a watchful eye, Shollenberger

Male Northern Shoveler, Ellis Creek Water Plant, connects with Shollenberger Park

Male Northern Harrier, hunting over the Ellis Creek ponds.

Red-shafted flicker, Ellis Creek, I think this is a female.

Male and female Northern Shovelers feeding, Ellis Creek Water Treatment, Petaluma

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Tolay Lake fills up after weeks of rain, and with more coming

1/21/2017

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Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma

Canada geese at the edge of the water.

Northern Shovelers, Tolay Lake

A flock of cinnamon teal, Tolay Lake

Red-tailed hawk circling, Tolay Lake Regional Park

As I walked towards one of the large trees in the park, a huge bird flew out of it. Flying over to the next tree, the bird was this great horned owl.

Great horned owl, jumping away. It was getting dive bombed by white-tailed hawks in its rather exposed position.

Against a storm laden sky, a western meadow lark in flight, Tolay Lake

The white-tailed hawk in its usual position on a tumbling down fence, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Male mallards in flight, Tolay Lake

The white-tailed kite on another fence post.

California Towhee on a gate, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Golden-crowned sparrow on a lichen covered fence in the park.

Cooper's hawk carrying off a bird, Tolay Lake Regional Park.

Northern Mockingbird on one of the white vineyard fences along the road out of the park.

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Dark-morph Red-tail Hawk, Doran Bird Walk Bodega

1/16/2017

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This dark morph red tail was so dark it looked like some kind of black hawk! Not a rare bird, but maybe unusual.

Dark-morph red-tail hawk, Doran bird walk, Bodega

Jumping from its perch

Dark morph red-tail hawk in flight, Bodega Bay

Lots of yellow-rumped warblers still in the area around Campbell Cove, this one with a yellow patch on its head.

A female belted kingfisher zoomed over the water near the mudflats off of Smith Brothers Rd, Bodega

Lots of great egrets were roosting in the trees near the Doran bird walk, Bodega

Female bufflehead duck near Doran Bird Walk

A snowy egret in the same area, Doran Bird walk, Bodega

A lone sanderling on Doran Beach, Bodega

Whimbrel, Doran Beach, Bodega

From an earlier visit to the coast, just before the week of storms that the area recently experienced.

Red-tail hawk, exhibiting more commonly seen coloring, on the speed limit sign, Bodega Bay

This seemed like a regular hunting perch for this bird - red-tail hawk, Bodega Bay

Male Brewer's black bird, Bodega Head.

A peregrine falcon holding steady in a strong wind over Bodega Bay.

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Bald Eagle, Doran Bird Walk, Bodega Bay

1/11/2017

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Bald Eagle, Bodega

Bald eagle in flight, Bodega Bay

The eagle took off from its perch as I approached, but then circled around and landed there again.

This is a pretty large bird, so the landing was a little rough.

Trying to find a solid perch, bald eagle

The eagle has landed!

Bald Eagle, Doran Bird Walk, Bodega

Two pied-billed grebes on hole in the head, Bodega

Juvenile great blue heron gets a drink of water from the flooded area near hole in the head, Bodega

Surf bird perched on the wind protected side of the ocean rocks at Bodega Head.

Black oystercatcher on same rock, Bodega Head

Male surf scoter on Bodega Bay

I believe this is a horned grebe and an eared grebe together. I might have been getting these two birds mixed up, but the horned grebe has the larger white patch on the neck.

Common goldeneye, Bodega Bay

Marbled godwits and a willet, Bodega Bay

Least sandpipers joined the flock of godwits and willets, Bodega Bay

White-crowned sparrow eating leaves, Doran bird walk, Bodega

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Some Sonoma County winter birds

1/8/2017

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In the middle of our atmospheric river storm here, but there was a brief two day break, with clear skies and cold temps.

A small flock of common goldeneye on the russian river near Jenner. This is a male and female.

A pair of common goldeneye in flight.

Briefly appearing, a river otter!

Kinglet with a small worm, Willow Creek Rd near Jenner.

Every few group of shrubs seemed to have its own kinglet (ruby-crowned).

Ruby-crowned kinglet, a perfect color match to its surroundings.

Also the elusive hermit thrush was very present, I saw three or four different ones in this area.

Hermit thrush, Willow Creek Rd near Jenner

Another thrush, the American Robin

Scout quail keeping watch over a flock on the ground, which I heard, but never saw - Willow Creek Rd

The chestnut-backed chickadee, of course.

A Bewick's wren jumped into view, then quickly disappeared back into the thick shrubbery.

This is a good area to hear and see wrentits, Willow Creek rd near Jenner.

Near the creek, this is also a thickly wooded area.

Fox Sparrow, willow creek rd.

Another kinglet? Look again, this is a Hutton's vireo.

Hutton's vireo, Willow Creek Rd near Jenner.

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A couple of recent walks, Tolay Lake Regional Park

1/3/2017

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Torrential rains here currently for the next few days - here's some photos before the rains, weather dry and very cold - thought I'd better put the post up while I still had electricity.