I often do a drive through - yeah, still lazier than a snail on downers - at Sailor Bar Park on the American River. Normally not much going on there, but once in a bit the sun shines, and I see something off the norm. Today there were two such delights. First up, a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks, one carrying nesting twigs and such to their nest.
Trying out the nest for fit and taste.
Enjoyed watching the bird busily adding bits and bobs to its nest, taking great care in its 'nesting treatment'. Meanwhile the bird's mate kept up a frequent 'kee kee keeing' to let the world know, it and its mate had this patch of oaks and all other hawks better stay-the-hell-out of their territory. Or maybe it was berating genetic lineage of other hawks - who knows?
The noisier & grumpier looking of the pair
I watched the birds for quite a while, then went on down to the boat launch to see what watery fowl were bouncing around down there. At first I saw the usual birds, the Canada Geese, domestic ducks, Mallards galore and more coots than one would think are necessary. Then I noticed something truly interesting, Hooded Mergansers.
The lovely pair of birds swam far off shore, but still in the little bay of the boat launch. I didn't think I'd get photos of the pair together as they kept busy, alternately diving as though insisting one of them keep watch at all times.
I don't see Hoodies every year, and never saw any so close to home before,
They were fairly far off shore but still worth a look
What a treat; I don't see Hooded Mergansers every year, and I've never seen them so close to home before. And also at the pond was the little Kingfisher girlie bird that is usually up a tree. I hope she has a mate and they will nest in the nearby bluffs again this year. It was quite nice out, and it began to rain - I decided not being a duck, it was time to go. Mind, not that I begrudge California all the rain it can absorb.
Kingfisher on the far shore - can you even see it?
I'm back at home, and post-annoying-dentist-appointment, I headed west to the Fazio Wildlife preserve. Wasn't expecting much of anything there, and sure enough, as per usual, there were a b'jillion coots, huge and colorful Northern Shovelers, and the butts of Pintails, Gadwalls and Mallards in the air as they fed.
I got all the way to the rear of the massive wildlife road, and turned my mud splattered car around to leave and something caught my eye. A huge bird, no, two huge birds. They flew high up over a part of the refuge I can't access without getting my own lazy rear out of the car. Then it happened, and I mean 'it'.
The baldies flew at each other, stretched out and grabbed each others talons like teenagers, reaching out to grasp their lover's hands. Talons locked, the twin pair, their wings outstretched as they plummeted out of the sky. Like maple tree seeds, they twirled as they fell from the sky, circling, circling, falling.
I could not believe my eyes.
Not my photo - honestly, I've no clue how you get yourself together enough to photograph this kind of thing
Just as I thought they seemed sure to hit the ground, they released talons, flying off.
Wow. I've seen such flights on National Geographic and numerous nature shows, but to see it unexpected, in person, I felt like I'd had a peek into Mother Nature's boudoir.
Nothing was going to beat the Baldies so I decided to head home, I mean, really, nothing was going top love-struck Baldies. As I drove of, I got a text message from an unfortunate friend to whom I proceeded to inundate with the miracle I'd just viewed.
As I drove along the western half of the Auto drive and there was the most massive accumulation of Yellow-headed Blackbirds I've ever seen.
The cacophony of the busy birds was phenomenal
One of many isles de Blackbirds
And many little feeding spots
Where they hell did a b'jillion Yellow-headed Blackbirds come from? I have seen them at the Fazio refuge before, but their presence is by no means a usual thing. I must see them at Fazio when they just pop up, with no rhyme or reason known by meself. So my inconsequential visit to the wildlife area was one for the records. My first viewing of Bald Eagles at this site, and possibly my most spectacular viewing of Bald Eagles ever. A virtual #$%+-storm of Yellow-headed Blackbirds... and a few old friends.
All good trips must come to an end eventually, and my week long birding trip must
too. This final day I toured two World Birding Centers, starting with Estero Llano Grande State Park. I've had wonderful visits to the park in the past so was eager to bird there again. The park's walkway is cobbled and lined with trees and flowering shrubs the butterflies and birds love.
An Olive Sparrow on the cobblestones
Being the laziest birder on earth, I sometimes enjoy the birding center; sitting on the patio, watching
the parade of waterfowl and wading birds on the marsh.
The patio overlooking the marsh
Today there was a volunteer with a spotting scope. He invited me to see a Wilson's Snipe (first snipe-of-the-year for me). I asked if I could take a digiscope of the bird (that is, an iPhone video shot through the eye piece of the spotting scope). The video is horrible, but at least its short.
The friendly volunteer clued me in there was an Eastern Screech Owl to be found out on the trail, and possibly a Parauque so that temptation set me off on the trails. Stupidly I'd totally forgotten the concepts of 'sunscreen' and 'hat'. DUH! Oh well, I hiked, looking for interesting birds and good photo opts. There are several ponds, one with a massive flock of Lesser Sandpipers.
Tiny scattering of the b'jillion Least Sandpipers by the boardwalk
close-up of yellow legged, Least Sandpiper
rainbow-headed Blue-winged Teal drakes & hen, plus yet-another-coot (foreground)
I got in a good hour's hiking which is rather energetic for me, but it was worth getting my bare noggin' beaten on by the strong Texas sunlight. Saw my first and only American Alligator for this trip and it was a "BIG UN" maybe 12 to 15 feet long.
Sunning Gaitor along 'Alligator Alley' at Estero Llano
I spent a good 10 or 15 minutes with other birders staring at under tree leaf litter, but none of us could spot a Parauque. The volunteer later told me that means the cryptically plumaged birds were likely becoming secretive as they began their nesting season. I was able to spot the twee little Eastern Screech Owl sitting at its doorway, in its tiny doorstep, high up on a post.
Awaiting Squirrel Nutkin no doubt...
After viewing the little owl, and the large gator, I sat on a wooden bench for a spell. I noticed I had company in the trees on the opposite shore.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
I counted about 25 Yellow-crowned Night Herons which sat amid tree branches. There were some juvenile Night Herons that wore much more drab pajamas than their elders.
snoozing Night Heron youngster
On my return to the Visitor Center I spent time at the Butterfly Garden chasing butterflies that were too fast for me to get any photos from. Then there were thrashers, Chachalacas and hummingbirds to admire at the bird feeder area behind the Visitor Center.
I then headed off to another World Birding Heritage site, in McAllen, called Quinta Mazatlan, which is as much fun to pronounce, as well as visit (HEEN-tah MOT-zat-lon).
Had my eyes open to spot a Parauque in the shrubbery on the way in, but no dice today, but I did find some interesting statuary.
Javelina sow with metallic piglets
I don't recall the statuary from my last visit to the grounds, but maybe I was totally distracted then by the birds and such. The statues were everywhere, and represented all the wildlife you could have found roaming the grounds ages ago - Insects (Leaf-cutter Ants) and reptiles (Indigo Snake), various birds, and a full sized and antlered White-tailed buck. Shown below are the Plain Chachalaca, Collared Peccaries (Javalina), and a Horned Lizard.
Plain Chachalacas and chicks
Texas Horned Lizzy
The grounds used to be a magnificent home, but now the grounds, which includes a pool, is a Visitor Center. I hit the center - to use the restroom facilities and inside the building I espied a young Hispanic bride, bedecked in lovely clothing for a photo shoot. I suspect weddings and Quinceañera celebrations bring in a pretty penny's worth of income for the grounds and facilities.
Gateway entrance to Quinta's inner sanctum
beautifully cobbled pool & garden
Took quite a long walk around the grounds. It was getting on towards evening and stubborn me, I decided to take one more crack at finding and photographing McAllen's Red-crowned Parrots. So... once more I drove off towards Dallas Street where the birds occur - no parrots - then I drove and parked at a local church where I read the parrots can be seen - again, no dice. However I was granted a booby prize by the gods of birding - 2 or 3 acre empty lot, on which marched busily, at least 25 Long-billed Curlews.
We get Long-billed Curlews on open farm lots and at wildlife refuges in my area at home, but a in a suburban lot? Not so much... lots of children were on their way home from school, and they walked with their backpacks, just feet from the foraging birds. The kids didn't look up or seem to notice the birds. Hope I never get blasee about such long legged far-from-the-sea birds.
I imagine there are wiggly and yet yummy things down in the grass
Winner of the 'stare back at 'cha' competition
Enough whinging about the kids for no good reason - I mean, they didn't notice the birds but that doesn't mean they don't occasionally enjoy them as much as I do. Tomorrow I fly back to California myself, a birdie sort of migration, don't you think?
