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Bullock's Orioles at Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma

4/24/2016

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In the garden area near some of the houses in the park from the original ranch property, were the orioles.

Bullock's Oriole, Tolay Lake

Female Bullock's oriole, Tolay Lake

They do like to hang out in the high tree tops.

Male Bullock's oriole, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Male Western bluebird, Tolay Lake

Meadow Lark in a tree

Many of the nest boxes being used by the tree swallows in the park

Tree swallow in nest box, front view

Barn swallow on a fence. Lots of barn swallows in the park right now, busy with nesting.

Jack rabbit "bookends:" two jack rabbits at the end of the garden lane in the park

A pair of mallards in flight, Tolay Lake

Wild hyacinth was in bloom in the park

Male California quail, Tolay Lake

Male goldfinch in bright yellow breeding colors, Tolay Lake

Tree swallow nest in a tree, Tolay Lake Regional Park

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Birds close to home

4/17/2016

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Male Allen's hummer at the feeder

Male Allen's hummer, flashing his colors.

Male Anna's hummer at the feeder.

The pesky Stellar's Jays, Camp Meeker

There's always a spotted Towhee giving its raspy call.

Female black-headed grossbeak, very shy.

Male black-headed grosbeak - there's been a pair visiting, with an occasional other male who is regularly chased off by this male.

Northern Flicker at the suet feeder

In the redwoods above the house, many Wilson's warblers.

Male Wilson's Warbler, Camp Meeker

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Bullock's Orioles in the Laguna

4/15/2016

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Not the best photos, the orioles like to hang out pretty high in the tree tops.

Male Bullock's Oriole, the Laguna

Female Bullock's Oriole, the Laguna

Female Violet-green swallow at a nest in an old oak tree, the Laguna

Young male Downy woodpecker, the Laguna (small patch of red not seen in photo)

Recent walk through Shollenberger Park, Petaluma

Black-necked stilt skims the water for food, Shollenberger Park

Cliff swallows were everywhere, re-building mud nests from last year, under foot bridges, and along the Petaluma River.

The sky was alive with cliff swallows flying back and forth between the source of mud and their nesting sites.

Cliff swallow in flight

Cliff swallows rebuilding mud nests along the Petaluma River, Shollenberger Park.

A small group of least sandpipers worked the shore of the river.

Two American coots grooming each other, Shollenberger Park.

Red-winged blackbird, Shollenberger

Mute swan on the Petaluma River.

Still lots of ruddy ducks, Shollenberger Park.

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Pygmy Nuthatches start a nest in pine tree stump

4/7/2016

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The neighbors above me have an old pine tree stump near their front porch, in which a pair of pygmy nuthatches have started excavating a nest hole - this puts the birds in a direct descending line of flight to my feeders - sort of like moving into a high end condo overlooking a favorite fast food diner...(they are frequent visitors to the feeders).

Pygmy Nuthatch near nest entrance, Camp Meeker

Pygmy nuthatch removing sawdust from the nest cavity.

Removing sawdust - the nest has been under construction for a couple of days.

Meanwhile, a trip to Tomales Bay State Park, near the Pt. Reyes seashore.

Pacific slope fly catcher, Tomales Bay State Park

Male Wilson's Warbler in the woods, Tomales Bay State Park

Male Wilson's Warbler, perched for singing - the males' song resonated throughout the area.

Kind of a short trilling song, repeated over and over.

Wild cucumber blooming in the woods.

At nearby Abbott's Lagoon.

This male California quail came running towards me, very unusual. His urgent manner seemed to indicate he was a scout that lost track of his flock. Abbott's Lagoon.

A lone Cinnamon Teal in the pond, Abbott's Lagoon.

This beautiful wildflower is known as dwarf or Pt. Reyes Checkerbloom.

Small flock of least sandpipers still worked the edges of the shore.

In the open ocean, surf scoters rode the waves.

A large flock of sanderlings hunted for food in the sand, the ocean side of Abbott's Lagoon.

Sanderling finding something tasty in the sand, Abbott's Lagoon.

I believe this is a juvenile sanderling.

Sanderling, Abbott's Lagoon.

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Lark Sparrows and a single Horned Lark, Tolay Lake

4/4/2016

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Sunday hike through Tolay Lake Regional Park revealed several lark sparrows, and a single horned lark, the latter a bird I have been wanting to encounter for some time.