2020 11-04 Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
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A stop at the Maxwell Cemetery yielded no vermillion flycatcher. We moved north about 10 miles to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. When we last visited (October 13, 2020) water was just beginning to fill a few of the empty ponds. Today most, but not all, ponds had water. If they had water they also had snow geese, greater white-fronted geese, shoveler ducks, pintails and mallards. Not to mention coots of course. Conspicuously absent were egrets and herons.
The circular auto tour got a great start with a wonderful black-tailed kite in a low tree not too far from the road bed. To say it was relaxed would be an understatement, as the hawk was busy preening every inch of its feathers without shame in front of the lens. Down the road we found previously empty ponds full. Also, along this west to east leg of the drive, massive flocks of white-as-snow geese were seen taking flight here and there. Many of these flushings were rolling in nature as if a giant wave of birds was passing. Skies were blue and sunny straight up, but had haze from ag burnoff that reduced lateral visibility to 10 miles or so. Nevertheless, for our wildlife photography purposes it was a wonderful day with air temperatures in the mid 70’s.
We spent considerable time up on the viewing platform watching the geese-taking-flight spectacle. Needless to say it will take a long time complete post production.
Three small turtles were on the same log near the platform that their relatives have been using for years. I assume they were the advanced guard and more will come later.
The drive from the platform back to the entrance parking lot was pretty but mostly uneventful. Although at one point several harriers were circling around and ascending a thermal.
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Read MoreA stop at the Maxwell Cemetery yielded no vermillion flycatcher. We moved north about 10 miles to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. When we last visited (October 13, 2020) water was just beginning to fill a few of the empty ponds. Today most, but not all, ponds had water. If they had water they also had snow geese, greater white-fronted geese, shoveler ducks, pintails and mallards. Not to mention coots of course. Conspicuously absent were egrets and herons.
The circular auto tour got a great start with a wonderful black-tailed kite in a low tree not too far from the road bed. To say it was relaxed would be an understatement, as the hawk was busy preening every inch of its feathers without shame in front of the lens. Down the road we found previously empty ponds full. Also, along this west to east leg of the drive, massive flocks of white-as-snow geese were seen taking flight here and there. Many of these flushings were rolling in nature as if a giant wave of birds was passing. Skies were blue and sunny straight up, but had haze from ag burnoff that reduced lateral visibility to 10 miles or so. Nevertheless, for our wildlife photography purposes it was a wonderful day with air temperatures in the mid 70’s.
We spent considerable time up on the viewing platform watching the geese-taking-flight spectacle. Needless to say it will take a long time complete post production.
Three small turtles were on the same log near the platform that their relatives have been using for years. I assume they were the advanced guard and more will come later.
The drive from the platform back to the entrance parking lot was pretty but mostly uneventful. Although at one point several harriers were circling around and ascending a thermal.
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Suellen with binoculars Chen caerulescens masses 2020 11-04 Sac NWR-020
