2021 04-25 NorCal
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Skies were mostly overcast with a late season storm approaching. Part of our agenda was sky and storm cloud photography. After Ikeda’s we did not find a single burrowing owl on the old owl grounds. Our first “target photo destination” was in Yolo County on Co Rd 105 south of Co Rd 29. A large Swainson’s hawk aggregation was reported on the Central Valley bird list and it was still very active today. There were three of four hotspots with birds on the ground and in the air, some stratospheric. Another birder on the scene claimed there were also ferruginous hawks in the mix…to be confirmed after I examine my images. Most of the hawks took flight and soared high, but on occasion an individual would take off from a nearby tree or telephone pole and pass close enough for a decent shot. There were easily 100 or more hawks in the area.
Our second target photo objective was sky photography as storm clouds and light rain moved into the area. We took County Line Road off Hwy 5, and turned on White’s Road in Colusa County. White’s road is always interesting and the last ½ mile or so is a wetlands and tule preserve. We found curious domestic sheep poking their heads through their fence, and lots of yellow-billed magpies all over this road. The view from the bridge was not so spectacular today, but as we continued east to Poundstone, then north through the ag fields to our old Swainson’s hotspot from last year, the clouds got darker and more interesting. Light rain fell intermittently.
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Read MoreSkies were mostly overcast with a late season storm approaching. Part of our agenda was sky and storm cloud photography. After Ikeda’s we did not find a single burrowing owl on the old owl grounds. Our first “target photo destination” was in Yolo County on Co Rd 105 south of Co Rd 29. A large Swainson’s hawk aggregation was reported on the Central Valley bird list and it was still very active today. There were three of four hotspots with birds on the ground and in the air, some stratospheric. Another birder on the scene claimed there were also ferruginous hawks in the mix…to be confirmed after I examine my images. Most of the hawks took flight and soared high, but on occasion an individual would take off from a nearby tree or telephone pole and pass close enough for a decent shot. There were easily 100 or more hawks in the area.
Our second target photo objective was sky photography as storm clouds and light rain moved into the area. We took County Line Road off Hwy 5, and turned on White’s Road in Colusa County. White’s road is always interesting and the last ½ mile or so is a wetlands and tule preserve. We found curious domestic sheep poking their heads through their fence, and lots of yellow-billed magpies all over this road. The view from the bridge was not so spectacular today, but as we continued east to Poundstone, then north through the ag fields to our old Swainson’s hotspot from last year, the clouds got darker and more interesting. Light rain fell intermittently.
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