2017 07-11 Yolo County & Yolo Bypass
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We met up with our old pals, Ed and Jane, from San Diego. Our first stop was one of the many Yolo County burrowing owl sites, after which we surveyed Yolo Bypass. It was a very hot and sunny day with little to no breeze.
The owl habitat was previously plowed-over by the farmers, which seemed to destroy some burrows and reduce the owl population (last visit May 30). Now the same roadside strip that owl burrows were found, and was then plowed, is supporting tall weeds, wild flowers and young, green tumbleweeds. These plants further cover or reduce the effectiveness of some burrows. Consequently, today we saw only 2 owls on the main road and none around the corner where previously an under-asphalt burrow was supporting a breeding pair with 4 fledglings. Was it the farmers? Was it the intense and prolonged heat wave? …lack of food? The two owls we did photograph were very cooperative and both Ed and I were shooting with 600 mm of glass so as not to disturb.
From the owl habitat we drove a while and ended up at Yolo Bypass which we last visited on June 4th. On the first part of the drive where we found lots of ibis wading and feeding, the water is completely dried up and covered by green vegetation. There may still be water and unknown ibis’ past the reeds, near the main levee, but none of this was visible from the road. Birds seen today were great egrets, snowy egrets and great blue herons, all in abundance. There were fewer red-winged blackbirds. We did not see much else, and no raptors were seen at all until we were on the way out and two Swainson’s hawks were seen circling up a thermal and were soon little specks up high in the sky. Life was at a minimum in the Refuge.
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Read MoreWe met up with our old pals, Ed and Jane, from San Diego. Our first stop was one of the many Yolo County burrowing owl sites, after which we surveyed Yolo Bypass. It was a very hot and sunny day with little to no breeze.
The owl habitat was previously plowed-over by the farmers, which seemed to destroy some burrows and reduce the owl population (last visit May 30). Now the same roadside strip that owl burrows were found, and was then plowed, is supporting tall weeds, wild flowers and young, green tumbleweeds. These plants further cover or reduce the effectiveness of some burrows. Consequently, today we saw only 2 owls on the main road and none around the corner where previously an under-asphalt burrow was supporting a breeding pair with 4 fledglings. Was it the farmers? Was it the intense and prolonged heat wave? …lack of food? The two owls we did photograph were very cooperative and both Ed and I were shooting with 600 mm of glass so as not to disturb.
From the owl habitat we drove a while and ended up at Yolo Bypass which we last visited on June 4th. On the first part of the drive where we found lots of ibis wading and feeding, the water is completely dried up and covered by green vegetation. There may still be water and unknown ibis’ past the reeds, near the main levee, but none of this was visible from the road. Birds seen today were great egrets, snowy egrets and great blue herons, all in abundance. There were fewer red-winged blackbirds. We did not see much else, and no raptors were seen at all until we were on the way out and two Swainson’s hawks were seen circling up a thermal and were soon little specks up high in the sky. Life was at a minimum in the Refuge.
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