2018 08-01 Yolo

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While waiting for the fresh "Albion" strawberries from Watsonville to arrive at the Yolo Fruit Stand, we killed some time with a short, 1-hour drive through the northern part of Yolo ByPass Wildlife Refuge. Although we did not have high expectations given the time of year, we were (as usual) pleasantly surprised by the wildlife sightings. Throughout the driving loop, starting near the front entrance, there were pockets containing swarms of dragonflies. None were mating, but their flight paths took some to heights of 50 meters or more above the ground. Perched on a tree, not far from the entrance, was one of two white-tailed kites we'd see today. The second kite was in a small tree where the long, straight eastern road joins the northwesterly winding road back to the first parking lot. This second kite was larger and had a large mouse (or small rat) it was working on. There were lots of ibis everywhere, and there were no stilts in the shallow ponds.

We did not have time to take the much longer loop to the far south east. The long dry fields northwest of parking lot G were full of raptors (Swainson's, red-tails and harriers) a few weeks ago.

PS: After an hour we left, luckily the Yolo Fruit Stand strawberry shipment had arrived.

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White-tailed kite feeding on a rodent.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 006
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 006
White-tailed kite feeding on a rodent.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 008
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 008
White-tailed kite feeding on a rodent.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 004
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 004
White-tailed kite feeding on a rodent.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 005
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 005
White-tailed kite feeding on a rodent.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 007
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 007
White-tailed kite feeding on a rodent.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 003
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 003
White-tailed kite feeding on a rodent.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 009
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 009
A young (?) white-tailed kite keeps an eye on the camera people.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 001
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 001
A young (?) white-tailed kite.
Elanus leucurus 2018 08-01 Yolo ByPass -- 002
Elanus leucurus 2018 Yolo ByPass 002
Burrowing owl from the ag fields...not Yolo ByPass.
Athene cunicularia 2018 08-01 Yolo -- 008
Athene cunicularia 2018 Yolo 008

CONDOR EXPRESS TRIPS

Click on the gray whale above and be transported to my Condor Express trip photos

2018 08-01 Yolo