2017 12-10 Yolo By-Pass
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A sunny day with some haze greeted us at the Yolo By-Pass today. A light breeze soon gave way to glassy, smooth waters. The big news: there were very few gossamer threads and zero spiders. We drove the eastern road the exits the main parking lot near the freeway and continues south along the telephone poles. Being a weekend, there was a lot more people than we usually encounter during our mid-week tours.
Large flocks of red-winged blackbirds were feeding in the dry parcels near the freeway and would frequently take flight together and move a little bit across the field. Blackbird murmurations formed.
Along the eastern road that heads south we watched two white-tailed kites doing what they do best: kiting. This took place over the flooded fields/ponds, many of which had lots of ducks and coots. Further south where tall trees parallel the road, there were a half-dozen or more red-tailed hawks buried in the tree foliage with strong back light that prevented useful photography. A few blackbird-in-trees silhouettes were taken.
We made the turn and headed back to the main lot along the narrow, winding road with water on both sides. Lots more blackbirds were resting (and vocalizing) in the reeds found in the middle of the ponds. They were far enough away from the roadway so as to not be flushed as we drove by. Here the sun was on the subjects and photography improved.
When the winding road finally reached a parking lot we saw a familiar red-shouldered hawk. Today it was relaxing in the sun atop a telephone pole near where I saw the bird dive and catch a snake last week. Good light again made photography possible.
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Read MoreA sunny day with some haze greeted us at the Yolo By-Pass today. A light breeze soon gave way to glassy, smooth waters. The big news: there were very few gossamer threads and zero spiders. We drove the eastern road the exits the main parking lot near the freeway and continues south along the telephone poles. Being a weekend, there was a lot more people than we usually encounter during our mid-week tours.
Large flocks of red-winged blackbirds were feeding in the dry parcels near the freeway and would frequently take flight together and move a little bit across the field. Blackbird murmurations formed.
Along the eastern road that heads south we watched two white-tailed kites doing what they do best: kiting. This took place over the flooded fields/ponds, many of which had lots of ducks and coots. Further south where tall trees parallel the road, there were a half-dozen or more red-tailed hawks buried in the tree foliage with strong back light that prevented useful photography. A few blackbird-in-trees silhouettes were taken.
We made the turn and headed back to the main lot along the narrow, winding road with water on both sides. Lots more blackbirds were resting (and vocalizing) in the reeds found in the middle of the ponds. They were far enough away from the roadway so as to not be flushed as we drove by. Here the sun was on the subjects and photography improved.
When the winding road finally reached a parking lot we saw a familiar red-shouldered hawk. Today it was relaxing in the sun atop a telephone pole near where I saw the bird dive and catch a snake last week. Good light again made photography possible.
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Red-winged blackbirds
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-Winged Blackbird murmuration 2017 12-10 Yolo ByPass-010
AgelaiusphoeniceusRedWingedBlackbirdmurmuration2017YoloByPass010
Red-winged blackbirds
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-Winged Blackbirds in tree 2017 12-10 Yolo ByPass-047
Red-winged blackbirds
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-Winged Blackbird murmuration 2017 12-10 Yolo ByPass-011
AgelaiusphoeniceusRedWingedBlackbirdmurmuration2017YoloByPass011
Red-winged blackbirds
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged blackbirds in reeds 2017 12-10 Yolo ByPass-b-029
