With two or three almost rainy days here, and now the workers are in the orchards collecting apples, birding on the property has been rather limited. Have been meaning to take my camera down to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, accessible in Sebastopol, which is known for it diversity of birds, and recently got a short bird walk in -
Song sparrow
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Laguna de Santa Rosa song sparrow
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Song sparrow, Laguna de Santa Rosa
Male Wison's warbler, Laguna de Santa Rosa
There were lots of Wilson's warblers, however, just managed this one halfway decent photo (above); while I was standing under a large oak tree, a Cooper's hawk circled overhead (below):
Cooper's hawk, Laguna de Santa Rosa
Cooper's hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Male Downy woodpecker, Laguna de Santa Rosa
Red-shouldered hawk perched in tree canopy, Laguna de Santa Rosa
The park provided great cover and food for numerous goldfinches - often I would almost walk right past them, since they blended in so well among the grasses and shrubs.
Goldinch, Laguna de Santa Rosa
Goldfinch in flight
Anna's hummer, Laguna de Santa Rosa
There seemed to be quite a few Anna's hummingbirds in the park (above); as well as towhees, this could be a juvenile spotted towhee (below).
Juvenile spotted Towhee? Laguna de Santa Rosa
Male bushtit, Laguna de Santa Rosa
Female bushtit (females have pale eyes)
Backyard report - just a few photos of some of the usual suspects in the cherryridge back yard -
Chestnut-backed chickadee at the upside-down suet feeder, back yard
This chickadee photo really illustrates why this bird is called the "chestnut-backed" chickadee (above).
Pygmy nuthatches still taking sunflower seeds from the feeder, for storage in the tree branches
Juvenile pygmy nuthatch
Just saw this young pygmy nuthatch, which is mostly feeding itself by now, revert to its juvenile stance with one of the adults in the flock.
Below, one of the young nuthatches just went all around the hanging water bowl getting its tail feathers wet - might be its idea of a bath - or the water even in these small bowls is too deep for them.
Below, one of the young nuthatches just went all around the hanging water bowl getting its tail feathers wet - might be its idea of a bath - or the water even in these small bowls is too deep for them.
Pygmy nuthatch at the water bowl, back yard
Pygmy nuthatch jumping away, half wet, after the "bath"