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Sparrows face the setting sun at the Laguna de Santa Rosa

12/30/2014

White-crowned sparrow

A small flock of white-crowned sparrows sat quietly and serenely, looking towards the bright winter sun as it sank in the western sky.

Juvenile white-crowned sparrow

Juvenile white-crowned sparrow in the light of the setting sun

Female Kestrel in the Laguna flies right over me!

Female Kestrel in flight

The same kestrel that flew right over me, then caught this snake

Sharp-shinned or cooper's hawk, the Laguna

Circling red-tailed hawk, the Laguna

Hawks abounded at the Laguna on this particular late afternoon/early evening stroll

Perched Northern Harrier

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Finally, a daylight owl...

12/28/2014

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Great Horned Owl, Tolay Lake Regional Park

This Great Horned Owl was sitting back in a thick cluster of branches, I would never have seen it except when I got too close, it panicked and flew a little ways down where I was able to approach cautiously for a photo.

Ruby-crowned kinglet, Tolay Lake

You can see the relaxed red crown here on the kinglet

Western Meadowlark, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Meadowlark singing

Northern Mockingbird, Tolay Lake

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier was zooming over the fields looking for prey.

Female Bufflehead on the lake

Lots of Kestrels in the park

Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma

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The Kestrel in Winter

12/26/2014

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Nice bright winter's day on the Cherryridge property, and our beautiful Kestrel allowed some close-ups...

Male American Kestrel

Peering down from its perch

Distant shot, but I think he got a big green worm

Bemused or irritated? Eye to eye with the Kestrel

Female Downy woodpecker in the back yard

Bobcat

Hanging out in the old orchard

Our friend the Bobcat was stalking around in the old orchard past the Farm...

Hermit Thrush, on private drive near Furlong Rd

Hermit Thrush

Lots and lots of very active robins on the property right now

Male Western Bluebird, near the Farm

Dark-eye junco near the old orchard

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Brant Geese at Bodega Harbor

12/23/2014

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Brant Goose, on Bodega Bay

Larger flock gathered near the shore, Brant Geese

Red-breasted Merganser, Bodega Bay

Loon, Bodega Bay

Sanderlings and Willets along the shore, Bodega Bay

Marbled godwit, Bodega Bay

Lots of yellow-rumped warblers, very active, at Hole in the Head, Bodega

Snowy Egret, Bodega Bay

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Some sunshine after the rains...

12/22/2014

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Pygmy nuthatch at the upside down suet feeder, back yard

Song Sparrow at the Laguna

Belted Kingfisher at the Laguna

A male Belted Kingfisher, at the Laguna

Red-tailed hawk on perch, at the Laguna

Black Phoebe, the Laguna

Wet Cooper's hawk on the property

Two mute Swans, Ellis Creek Water Recycling Center, Petaluma

Canadian Geese in flight, Ellis Creek

Little fox in the back yard

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Western Meadowlark

12/14/2014

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While exploring Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma, discovered the Western Meadowlark, which seems to be in abundance there.

Western Meadowlark

Wood ducks in flight, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Yellow-rumped warblers were navigating the flooded fields from the last rains for bugs and food.

Hermit Thrush, Tolay Lake Regioinal Park

Turkey vulture

Dark-eyed juncos were also in abundance among the grasses and reeds, searching for food

White-tailed kite

Great park for raptors

Red-tailed hawk

The park does include cattle

I encountered a very personable raven

On the Cherryridge property, the Red-breasted sapsucker is busy at the Acacia trees, drilling for the sweet sap

Red-breasted sapsucker, acacia trees across from porch

Male Downy woodpecker inspects the tree branches, front porch

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Sonoma County shines again like an emerald jewel after the gift of rain....

12/6/2014

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White-crowned sparrow at the Laguna, with a background of bright green winter grass

Wet Acorn woodpecker grooming and drying out on the CherryRidge property - a season for mushrooms as the dry, dry fields finally become soggy.

Mushrooms sprouting everywhere on the property

Cooper's hawk, on the hunt, in the Laguna

Cooper's hawk in flight

Black Phoebe on a mossy fence post, the Laguna

White pelicans, a small flock circling over the Laguna de Santa Rosa wetlands

Light morph Ferruginous Hawk, circling high over the Laguna

The Black-necked Stilts leave their pond to explore the new flooded areas of the Laguna after the rain

Juvenile Great Blue Heron? At the pond in the Laguna

Finches and sparrows busy drying out and feeding between storms

Black-crowned night herons roosting in trees on both sides of the waterway, due to less human traffic with the seasonal bridge gone

Black-crowned night heron, at the Laguna waterway

Juvenile Black-crowned night heron in the trees, the Laguna

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Sparrows face the setting sun at the Laguna de Santa Rosa

Finally, a daylight owl...

The Kestrel in Winter

Brant Geese at Bodega Harbor

Some sunshine after the rains...

Western Meadowlark

Sonoma County shines again like an emerald jewel after the gift of rain....

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