2020 03-13 Sac NWR
Hazy sun prevailed throughout the wildlife refuge along with a touch of smoke from agricultural burning nearby. It was moderately breezy. We spent 2 hours on the driving loop and found some great photo ops. Geese are rare now, mostly having left for their summer grounds. Ducks and coots are abundant in the ponds, as are a few shorebirds (black-necked stilts, greater yellow legs, Dunlin). Great blue herons and great egrets were seen here and there. Turtles soaked sun on driftwood logs. Jack rabbits and ground squirrels were also abundant.
Raptors included a few soaring harriers, a couple of red-tailed hawks, one adult bald eagle and one large juvenile bald eagle. The same great horned owl we always see was present and obscured by foliage and branches as usual.
The wetlands panorama views were spectacular.
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A fearless juvenile bald eagle looks down upon us from its perch in the trees that overhang the road.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus JUV in tree 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--060
A young adult bald eagle.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus young ADULT 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--123
A pair of young adult bald eagles in the same tree.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus 2 in tree 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--009
A pair of young adult bald eagles
Haliaeetus leucocephalus 2 young adults 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--003
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus young ADULT 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--038
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus ADULT 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--084
Grooming time for a bald eagle.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus young ADULT preening 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--096
More grooming - bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus young ADULT preening 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--102
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus young ADULT 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--125
Juvenile bald eagle.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus JUV in tree 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--027
Close look at a Juvenile bald eagle.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus JUV in tree 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--057
Juvenile bald eagle grooming.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus JUV in tree 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--121
Close look at a Juvenile bald eagle grooming.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus JUV in tree 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--159
Savannah sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis Savannah sparrow 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--005
Western fence lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis Western fence lizard 2020 03-13 Sac NWR--006
