Blog Archives

Golden Eagle, Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma

6/28/2015

Pretty sure this is a Golden Eagle

A Golden Eagle, being harassed by some small birds, made a couple of low passes over my position, while on a hike in Tolay Lake park.

Golden Eagle, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Small bird still pursues the eagle.

Female Western Bluebird, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Meadow Lark

Lots of Meadow Larks, but all from a distance

Black Phoebe, Tolay Lake

California Poppies, Tolay Lake

Goldfinch were chattering and feeding among the tall grasses

Loggerhead shrike in flight, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Thinking two chunky birds at the top of a bare tree in the park were scrub jays, I didn't give them much attention, just snapped one photo, but when they took off, I realized they were not Jays - they were Loggerhead Shrikes! - Tolay Lake Regional Park is one location where they are known to be seen! Hopefully, I can get some better photos on a return visit.

My one still photo of the intriguing Loggerhead Shrike, Tolay Lake Regional Park

A Tern flew over the park

This female Kestrel was actively hunting near some trees

The woods were full of house wrens

House wren, possibly a juvenile, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Tolay Lake

White-breasted nuthatch, Tolay Lake

Red-tail hawk, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Surprised a red-tail hawk when I turned a bend in a wooded section of the park - it jumped high in this tree and strained to get a good look at the intruder.

Red-tail hawk finally taking to the air

Red tail, zooming away

Some of the tree swallow nests were still active, here is an adult bringing a beak full of bugs to a nest - the chicks could be heard chirping inside

Another view, Tree swallow bringing food to a nest. Tolay Lake Regional Park

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Violet-green swallow chick at apple tree nest

6/26/2015

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One year, western bluebirds were in this tree nest; this year, earlier, a pair of oak titmouse raised their young; now the Violet-green swallows are using it!

Violet-green swallow chick at nest opening, lower orchard

Adult female Violet-green swallow swooped in to deliver a meal to its chick

Violet-green swallow nest in back orchard, near the back yard - here the female shoots out - whenever they visit, the sound of the chicks is audible

Female takes waste droppings out of nest

Here is the male delivering a meal, both parents are involved in frequent visits

Violet-green swallow nest parents take a break

Pygmy nuthatch, back yard

Red-breasted nuthatch, back yard

Fledgling Red-breasted nuthatch waits for a meal

White-breasted nuthatch at one of the suet feeders, back yard

A pair of tree swallows have an active nest in the lower orchard, in one of the nest boxes

Young quail disappear quickly and easily into the dry grasses, back orchard

A young hawk? Red-shouldered hawk on one of the tall trees bordering the back orchard

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Nesting Osprey, Watsonville Wetlands

6/22/2015

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Male Osprey in flight

This was a real treat on my visit with Andrea, to go with a small group to photograph the resident nesting Osprey - there was supposed to be a five day old chick in the nest, but it was too small to make an appearance.

Osprey! Watsonville Wetlands

Catching a nearby tree limb perch

This is the male Osprey

Osprey, Watsonville

White Pelican at the slough, Watsonville Wetlands

White Pelican flying overhead, Watsonville Slough

Small tree swallow stopped for a nice pose, Watsonville Wetlands near the nesting Osprey

Earlier in the day, in the midst of the Watsonville farmlands, a couple of barn swallows sat nicely for the camera

Barn swallow

One of an obliging pair of barn swallows

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Wilder Beach State Park, Santa Cruz

6/22/2015

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Pigeon Guillemot with some breeding holes in the cliffs

Pigeon Guillemot - with bright orange feet!

Pigeon Guillemots on the rocks

Active cliff nest, Wilder Beach State Park

Pigeon Guillemot still had active nest holes in the cliffs above the beaches

Pigeon Guillemot in flight

Cormorant in the water, Wilder Beach State Park

Brown Pelican and cormorants napping and grooming

Seals and sea lions napping on an off shore rock

Northern Harrier, Wilder Beach

Lots of white-crowned sparrows

Also an Ash-throated Flycatcher

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Birding in Corralitos, Watsonville & the Santa Cruz area

6/21/2015

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A fantastic visit to Andrea's - birds galore!!!

The California Thrasher is a bird unique to California and Baja - due to habitat destruction, its numbers are in jeopardy. Seemed to be thriving in Corralitos, however!

The California Thrasher

Thrasher with a sunflower seed

Pacific Slope Flycather, side yard, Corralitos

Same bird, different position

Lots of quail!

Mourning dove, front yard, Corralitos

Juvenile or female Black-headed grosbeak, front yard

Probably juvenile black-headed grosbeaks

North Flicker in the front yard, Corralitos

Northern Flicker at a water bowl

Male Hooded Oriole with a bug - front yard

Female or juvenile Hooded Oriole

Male Hooded Oriole, front yard

Male Hooded Oriole seemed to like this flower!

Small fluffed up hummer near one of the feeders

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With summer, birds & animals try to chill out on the hot days

6/17/2015

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Mourning dove, front house bird bath

Spotted Towhee, under shade trees in backyard

Pygmy Nuthatch, adult, staying cool in backyard

A mother deer with her twin fawns in the lower orchard; mother parks her fawns in the shade.

Fawn, lower orchard

Pacific Slope Flycatcher in the backyard - after months of not seeing this bird at all, two sightings in one week

An Oak Titmouse in the back orchard checks out the active swallow's nest in one of the nest boxes

Black-headed grosbeak in the shaded canopy

Juvenile Red-breasted nuthatch at one of the hanging water bowls in the back yard

Brief Evening walk in the Laguna - Northern Mockingbird in full-throated song, in the last light of the day and a Great Egret flies overhead towards its nightly roost.

Great Egret in flight, the Laguna

Northern Mockingbird, the Laguna

Juvenile Bushtit, the Laguna

Song sparrow sings to the ending of the day, the Laguna

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The Hour of the Quail

6/15/2015

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An early evening walk through the orchards, and found many quail about, and even some chicks!

The fearless male California quail, lower orchard

California Quail

Quail chicks, perfectly camouflaged for the summer conditions in the orchards

This male appeared, right after the chicks disappeared into the grasses, ready to take on any predators

Another scout quail

Female, her less vibrant coloring giving her perfect cover

Only a few spring wildflowers remain in the orchards

Finally, the Pacific Slope Flycather - I think this is a young bird, in the lower orchard along a privately wooded area. Small migratory summer visitor, olive colored, likes to hang out in wooded canopies, difficult to see until it moves. Has a distinctive two tone whistle-like call.

Pacific Slope Flycatcher

Young Pacific Slope Flycatcher, lower orchard

Also, in the same area, I heard and finally saw some brown creepers. I think there is a nest in here somewhere, but I could never pinpoint it. Here is a brown creeper with a beak full of bugs, surely going to a nest. (below)

Brown Creeper, with bugs

Closer look, the bugs look like small beetles

I found a cherry tree in a thickly wooded area next to one of the orchards - must be the lone survivor - Cherry Ridge is named after the cherry trees that were first planted here, but did not thrive, hence the change to apples, and now many orchards have been converted to grapes.

Cherries on Cherry Ridge

Male Western Bluebird, lower orchard

Anna's hummer in the lower orchard

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Cherryridge Summer birds, part two

6/13/2015

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The resident red-tail hawk makes a low pass...

Red-tailed Hawk

Savannah sparrow in the back yard!

Female turkey takes a dust bath in the back orchard

Stirring up the dust!!!

Goldfinch in the canopy near the feeders, back yard

Chestnut-backed chickadee with a sunflower seed

The seed is firmly grasped by both feet on a stout tree branch

And is hammered until the seed is broken open

This beautiful male goldfinch has an extra long toenail!

The male black-headed Grosbeak

Oak Titmouse at he suet feeder

The female black-headed grosbeak

Much more shy, the female black-headed grosbeak, getting some water

The resident Red-shouldered hawk, fluffed up on a nearby utility pole

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The Pygmy Nuthatch

6/11/2015

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Pygmy Nuthatch adult, backyard

Cutest small bird award? Lucky enough to have a small flock of pygmy nuthatches come by the backyard suet feeder every year, bringing their newly fledged chicks.