
A walk with the camera through Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol
Heard a lot of whooping sounds, and discovered this pileated woodpecker on this tree - then to my astonishment, it jumped onto a nearby grapevine for a grape snack. ![]() A walk with the camera through Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol
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Several juvenile white-tailed kites perching and grooming at the Laguna, until one took off to do some hunting. Quick trip to Bodega Bay
![]() While checking out Schollenberger Park in Petaluma, I discovered a small wooded environment adjacent to the park, squeezed between the industrial parks in the area, known as Adobe Creek. At the time I was there, a few small woodpeckers were vying for territory on the best trees. Back at Camp Meeker, a hermit thrush checks out the bird friendly area near the front deck
My first sighting of this small sea bird, but known to all as a species endangered by the loss of old growth forest (like the spotted owl), and adversely impacted by logging. ![]() Many terns were diving in the bay, along with pelicans. I believe these are common terns. Some inland areas around Bodega Bay are known in the birding world as "vagrant traps," meaning unusual species are often seen there. It can get rather crazed with whole troops of birders descending on the area at certain times, so I don't frequent it too often. But the other day, it was quiet and no one else was there, so I braved a venture up the well-traveled and trampled path that is known as Owl Canyon. ![]() I counted six white-tailed kites, all perched close to each other in one of the small wooded areas of the park. Some of them are juveniles, probably from this year. They seemed to be a darker variety from the ones at the Laguna. ![]() Also, in the thick branches, this owl. Since I had seen a great horned owl in this same location last year, I thought it was the same bird. However, since there are no ear tufts, it might be a short-eared owl. I've been hearing this bird's beautiful lilting whistle call in the parks, and finally started seeing them, this one checking out my front yard bird bath and feeder. A largish migratory sparrow, it arrives in late summer and leaves by late spring. ![]() The Say's phoebe hovers like the white tailed kite, only close to the ground, watching the grasses for insects. |
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