It's Fall Migration!! Time for Birdwatching Adventures! - September 11, 2022 @ Yolo Bypass/Vic Fazio Wildlife Area

Normally, I spend 9/11 every year with some form of memorial or remembrance of the tragic events in 2001.  However, this year since I have been struggling mentally, I really couldn't bring myself to do any of the things I would normally do other than send a prayer for the families and survivors of the tragedy.  

Personally for me, it is still something that I will always mourn and always remember.  But I will absolutely not let it change the love I have for my brothers and sisters of all nations.  But the religious fanaticism (from all forms of religion) that inspire so much hatred is a big no for me and the largest lesson of 9/11 for me as well.  

But on this September 11 in 2022, I felt I needed some time to focus on nature and healing.  Although nature often brings some dark moments, it's still much preferred to the hatred that mankind brings into the world. 

So off I went through Sacramento and into the "wilds" of the Yolo bypass to Vic Fazio Wildlife Area for some early migration birdwatching!

Flying over the causeway (I-80 freeway) high above the bypass, I almost felt like a bird myself!  And I was happy to see what looked like a ton of birds out in the rice paddies.  

But first, just coming around the first curve in the auto tour, I saw a unkindness!  Actually I think it was very kind because it was a gorgeous Raven couple chilling together at the top of a pole.  A group of Ravens is called and unkindness - probably due to some superstitious nonsense from medieval times. Nevermore!  Not to me anyway. 

The rice paddies that make up most of the wildlife area were so very lush with many shades of green amongst the different foliage.  It was absolutely gorgeous on this early morning. 

One area in particular seemed to be attracting all the birds! Maybe not all, but many of the Egrets and White-faced Ibis were hanging out together in a very plush paddy that still had water in it. 

The Ibis with there brilliant plumage and bright red eyes are always one of my favorites to find.  I wish I could reach out and touch those gorgeous feathers!

The rich, green and bronze feathers of the Ibis contrast so beautifully with the snow white Egrets.  Such an amazing sight to see probably 25+ Egrets and 40+ Ibis in this one rice paddy. 

Ibis in flight preparing to land in the rice paddy near some of the egrets. 

Dinosaurs were also prevalent in Yolo on this beautiful fall day.  I saw probably 10 Great Blue Herons in the various fields.  The next pictures are from 3 of them.  Sorry if some appear redundant, but these lovely, prehistoric-looking birds seemed like they were posing for me!

The thistles and flowers were putting on a show as well.  I just love the different thistles we have in California and how photogenic they are!

This Egret was feeling fluffy against the brisk air.  So cute!

There were of course raptors all around the area as well.  By this time, it was just before sunset.  Believe it or not, these pictures that follow were all on the auto setting of my little bridge camera and it does pretty well (except for extreme noise!).  

So these look like they were taken in daylight but it was in reality closer to sunset; the picture below was taken at 6:28 facing West.  The picture of the sunset about three pics down was taken with manual settings (to make both the sunset and the thistles visible) at 6:40 pm.  Amazing different!  This camera has a great focus capability!  I wish I could get my Nikons to focus this well and any light.  lol

It also has a pretty good capability of focusing behind things such as the Great-Horned Owl behind all these tree branches.  It's not perfect and the leaves are clearly the primary focus but it's pretty good for such a difficult photo. 

This is the Thistle Sunset I was talking about.  Now granted, I am shooting extreme West - obviously right at the sun in this pic and the very last one in the post.  The egret photos below are South West. 

And now off into the sunset I go.  Until next time.  :)

xoxo

Panasonic Lumix Fz80

Oh My!! New Lens In My Bag - Let's Test It Out at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge!

 For my birthday my wonderful daughter chipped in to help me get the lens I've been wanting!  The Sigma 150-600 Contemporary.  I couldn't WAIT to test it out - especially handheld - because we all know I'm too impatient to use a tripod.  haha  But I am really going to try. Sometimes.  :-)

It was raining in Sacramento but the farther north I got, the more the clouds concentrated around the mountains, creating some stunning landscapes. 

What a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk!  She was huge (so I'm assuming she was a she). 

Awesome Common Gallinule!  Nothing common about these cuties.

They actually lift their wings up further on their backs when they are floating, which often cause them to have a curly look to their feathers. 

Pied-billed Grebe!

I drove right past this guy.  I felt someone staring at me! So I looked to my right and our eyes met.  

I braked gently and reversed...hefted my large camera and Sigma lens to my eye - praying that the bird staring at me would remain calm and still!

Spoiler alert - he did!

More gallinules!  The tips of their beaks were actually a bright yellow; I feel like these photos don't really capture it well.  

And their cousin, a cute American Coot!

Hawk in flight with the Buttes in the background.

There was at lest 75 Coots floating on the lake.  So cool to see them bobbing around.

And another Pied-billed Grebe!

Along with the Coots and tiny Pied-billed Grebes, there were quite a few Clark's Grebes floating around.  A lot of them were settling in for a nap...

But some were beginning to pair up for courting. 

And you could see their beautiful, bright red eyes!

Cormorants, ducks, and geese snoozing on the island. 

Wow!  About 6 American White Pelicans were out there floating around too!

Check out those baby blues!

And, much to my absolute delight, there was a lone Mute Swan serenely floating around the lake. 

And there were a LOT of Snow/Ross Geese still hanging around on the beach!

Along with a pretty gigantic Red-eared Slider turtle.

Turkey Vulture flying over the Geese 

Green-winged Teal duck pair with a Cinnamon Teal duck friend. 

Awwww, babies!!  This Canada Goose had little babies but there were some teenagers hanging around just beyond mama too.

Oh my, this cormorant was soooo fast!  I saw it coming to my right, got the camera/lens hefted and into position.  But before it could focus clearly, the bird was almost out of my range!  I thought it still looked pretty cool.  

White-faced Ibis!  I think this guy is almost in breeding plumage.  But the white around his face isn't quite as distinct as it should be.  

You can really tell the difference in coloring between the breeding adult on the right and the juvenile/non-breeding Ibis on the left. 

Came around the corner and saw this Squirrel just drinking in the sights and looking for birds like the rest of us.  lol  Little cutie. 

I know I say "wow" a lot, but WOW!!  A Double-Crested Cormorant in breeding plumage, which means you can really see those crests!  And his gorgeous blue-green eyes!

These cattle egrets were sitting on a fence beside the road and were spooked by my car.  But luckily they just flew across the water.  Look at his little yellow feet!  

So beautiful.

Red-Winged Blackbirds are so hard for me to get a pic of lately.  They're pretty skittish.  But these two (yes, they are two different birds) were happy to pose!

Oh, this Mourning Dove looked so lovely in the golden and pink sunshine!

I had seen quite a few Jack Rabbits as usual, but they were all very quick to escape my eye.  Not this guy though!  He sat there for quite awhile, clearly hoping that I hadn't seen him!  lol  

xoxo

Nikon D600 Sigma 150-600 Contemporary Lens