2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass

-

A sudden small bit of blueness returned to the sky today and the bright sun put forth its long awaited visual spectrum. Smoke from wildfires has obscured the sky, reduced lateral visibilities and shifted the spectrum to the yellow/brown for the past several weeks. Although I attempted some Yolo ByPass photography last week (2020 09-09) with limited success, the conditions today were a big improvement. After a long wait, the main road re-opened after a wonderful bridge was constructed…things seemed more normal.

There was a lot happening today bird-wise. We saw nearly 100 Buteo flying around and soaring at various levels. This began near parking lot one and continued as we traversed the entire refuge roadway system. In addition, several hawks were also photographed perched on objects, and one was photographed feeding on prey on the ground.

Egrets (snowy and great) were all over. Again, more than 100 were around the fields and canals…often in groups. At one point we saw nice red-winged blackbird murmurations with thousands of birds.

As we headed out to the main levee, we found a wonderful belted kingfisher which got annoyed at our photography and squawked at us a few times as it flew from one perch to the next.

A partly flooded field full of ibis and egrets together was also a nice sight.

-

Ardea alba GOLDEN BACK LIGHTING in flight looking up 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-001
Ardea alba GOLDEN BACK LIGHTING flight looking 2020 Yolo ByPass 001
Corvus brachyrhnchus 2 mouths open on sign 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-008
Corvus brachyrhnchus mouths open sign 2020 Yolo ByPass 008
Buteo jamaicensis juv in flight 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-d-008
Buteo jamaicensis juv flight 2020 Yolo ByPass 008
Agelaius phoeniceus flock murmurations 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-017
Agelaius phoeniceus flock murmurations 2020 Yolo ByPass 017
Egretta thula near irrigation channel 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-006
Egretta thula near irrigation channel 2020 Yolo ByPass 006
Buteo jamaicensis juv in flight 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-d-022
Buteo jamaicensis juv flight 2020 Yolo ByPass 022
Buteo swainsoni juv in flight 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-e-008
Buteo swainsoni juv flight 2020 Yolo ByPass 008
Buteo swainsoni in flight carrying rodent 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-b-018
Buteo swainsoni flight carrying rodent 2020 Yolo ByPass 018
Agelaius phoeniceus flock murmurations 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-030
Agelaius phoeniceus flock murmurations 2020 Yolo ByPass 030
Buteo jamaicensis on ground feeding 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-023
Buteo jamaicensis ground feeding 2020 Yolo ByPass 023
Buteo jamaicensis on ground feeding 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-032
Buteo jamaicensis ground feeding 2020 Yolo ByPass 032
Buteo swainsoni in tree 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-008
Buteo swainsoni tree 2020 Yolo ByPass 008
Buteo swainsoni taking flight from tree 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-010
Buteo swainsoni taking flight from tree 2020 Yolo ByPass 010
Buteo swainsoni in flight CLOSE 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-020
Buteo swainsoni flight CLOSE 2020 Yolo ByPass 020
Buteo jamaicensis juv in tree 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-025
Buteo jamaicensis juv tree 2020 Yolo ByPass 025
Buteo jamaicensis juv in flight CLOSE 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-001
Buteo jamaicensis juv flight CLOSE 2020 Yolo ByPass 001
Buteo jamaicensis juv in flight CLOSE 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-002
Buteo jamaicensis juv flight CLOSE 2020 Yolo ByPass 002
Megaceryle alcyon Belted kingfisher 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-026
Megaceryle alcyon Belted kingfisher 2020 Yolo ByPass 026
Megaceryle alcyon Belted kingfisher 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-035
Megaceryle alcyon Belted kingfisher 2020 Yolo ByPass 035
Ardea alba on irrigation valve 2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass-002
Ardea alba irrigation valve 2020 Yolo ByPass 002

CONDOR EXPRESS TRIPS

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

2020 09-16 Yolo ByPass