At the end of the footpath part of the Merced NWR, a small group of great horned owls were gathered for a hooting contest. For some reason this one owl stuck around longer than the others.
Great horned owl turning around on its tree branch to plan its escape, or to see where the object of his hooting had gone to. His or her superior feathering to resemble tree bark is evident.
Great horned owl, hooting - Merced National Wildlife Refuge
Further along on the auto tour, a group of killdeer hold a conference.
Killdeer, Merced NWR
Large flock of Long-billed dowitchers in one of the ponds, Merced NWR
Also quite of large group of tree swallows resting and grooming on some utility lines in the refuge.
Small cottontail bunnies near the front entrance, Merced NWR
Loggerhead shrike at the San Luis reservoir, a state park near Gustine
Great Egret in flight, San Luis Reservoir
Northern Harrier, San Luis Reservoir
Savannah sparrow in the reeds, San Luis Reservoir
Female belted kingfisher, San Luis Reservoir
Mourning dove on a fence wire, San Luis Reservoir
This handsome Clark's grebe, San Luis Reservoir