Amazing Birds at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge - Including a "Lifer" for Me!!

If I was a bird I would see the world. 

In a new light...

A new perspective.

All the millions of problems and arguments would mean nothing to me.

I would be free of the greedy, the selfish, and the liars.

I would have the whole world to explore,

...to myself.

 If I was a bird.

~~ Robert Ibarra

xoxo

Olympus E-M1 Mark 11 M.Zuiko 300mm lens

Wow! So Many Different Birds, Raptors and Ducks at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge! Part 3 Birdwatching at SNWR.

Be sure to check out my previous posts from this wonderful day of birdwatching at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge!  

Bunnies, Raptors, Ducks, and Pheasants!

Snow Geese, White-fronted Geese, Pelicans, Hawks, and Bald Eagles!

I saw so many birds that I don't normally see out here!  Including flocks of Ring-necked Ducks!

I don't know why they are called Ring-necked when it's the bill that actually has the ring on it.  The males are black/grey and the females are brown. 

#Namjooning  #ILoveTrees #Landscape

White-fronted Geese

Snow and/or Ross Geese

American Coot looking very artistic.

Elegant Gadwall Couple

Ring-necked Duck

Snow/Ross Goose and American Widgeon couple (?).  

Snow/Ross Geese, Ring-necked Duck, American Widgeon couple

Ring-necked Ducks

White-fronted Geese

Such a beautiful, slightly misty morning filled with wonderful vistas and amazing birds!

More amazing birds to come!  Including another Bald Eagle, a Pacific Downy Woodpecker, and a Peregrine Falcon!

xoxo

Olympus E-M1 Mark 11 M.Zuiko 300mm lens 

Birdwatching at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Part 2

PREVIOUS POST BIRDS AND BUNNIES

Greater White-fronted Geese

I am really not good at hawk/raptor identification.  :0  I'm trying to learn though. 

A line of Snow/Ross Geese heading for the water in the canal. 

Ross/Snow Geese looking pretty in pink as the sun started to set.

Pelicans in the background surrounded by ducks!

And wow!  Coming up to this tree from a distance down the road, I wondered what kind of big hawk this was.  But it's not a hawk, it's a Bald Eagle!

Whenever I'm approaching a hawk, pheasant or unusual bird, I take a photo every few feet as I creep forward just in case the target of my lens decides he doesn't like it!

This guy didn't care about me one whit.  I even got photos from the other side of the tree but you couldn't see him as well.  I sat and watched him chill for about 20 minutes.  

Then he startled me by deciding he wanted to cause a little bit of mayhem in the local duck population.  I was lucky enough to catch a fairly decent photo of him winging his way leisurely and, if you look closely in the lower right corner, you can see he startled the ducks as well!

 What an amazing sight!  I always feel so lucky and blessed to see all of these magnificent creatures on my outings, but seeing eagles makes me feel extra special! 

And, believe it not, this wasn't my last eagle of the day!  Stay tuned!

xoxo

Olympus E-M1 Mark 11 M.Zuiko 300mm lens