KRP was off a couple of days this week so she took me out hunting birds. We made it to the Colusa Refuge – lots of ducks, a few Egrets, but otherwise most of the big birds have not arrived yet. Everything is about 2 weeks behinds schedule here. Even the rice, corn, and squash fields have not been plowed or harvested yet. So it was rater a bust finding any Sandhill Crane birds.
I really enjoy sitting outside away from the noise of the city and the blah blah blah of all the silly people in this neighborhood – the birds of a different feather. I just drive out to the refuge and sit there for hours. I listen to the different birds singing out their songs and I even hear there wing beats if it is quit enough. The frogs croaking, the bees and (unfortunately) wasps buzzing it is quite the symphony. If something interest me I try and snap a picture. Sometimes the birds and sometimes?
In one section of the refuge the staff flooded two fields. Seriously, there were over a hundred cranes – putting the birds just about an eighth of a mile out of the range of my longest lens. ha! I waited on the other side of the refuge hoping a few birds would fly over and land – a few did the other night – but nope no cranes. So I started waiting out the little sparrows that hide up in the weeds along the edges of the trails and pond. Eventually a few little immature White Crowned Sparrows (the strips on their heads are kind of a chestnut rust color and no white more gray on the heads so fairly sure of identification) started hopping in and out of the brush. It is hard to locate them and take a picture of them when they come out – an I tell you those little birds are quick!
I am starting to wonder about myself. I am sitting forever watching birds? Field guide at my side? a have a vision of my grandparents in mind here . ..
Lovely photos of the birds and wildlife, but I’m partial to the sunset, myself. It looks like a lovely place to sit and listen to the (not so) quiet.
The sunsets are enjoyable across the marsh. Never the same and always interesting. Most folks have left the refuge by sundown and the small birds are quieter so mostly hear the large birds headed over to the other area. The cranes are real noisy!
I like these the best
http://kmilyun.com/2007/01/16/birds-at-sunset/
great shots! I like the little sparrow… i sit in my “yard” and watch the sparrows…the way they play, eat, interact… i’ve never been a “bird watcher” before either… i think it’s a product of slowing down… being forced to slow down, which means we see better… see all the things around us that have been there all along and maybe didn’t notice before… i don’t know… might be a bunch of gibberish ha!
your pictures are great… and the tractor is neat… that hulking beast of metal set against the softness of the grassy land…
I am trying to catch some of the not so abundant species but they are fun to photograph anyways. Great way to figure out what settings work with what lens in which situation.
I have always watched wildlife in general. We would mountain bike to no where land and just sit and watch and listen. Nature . …
Oh, great shots! Love the birds in flight. Maybe our grandparents knew something we don’t…I remember thinking that birdwatching was an old people sport, well I guess now I am an old people, ’cause I like watching birds!
Yes they knew how to enjoy natures music. I love watching the birds, the occasional otter, and the squirrels and rabbits. Most of the bugs are cool but the wasp’s are just down right freaky mean this year.
Sitting in a wildlife preserve, watching birds and flipping through a field guide, sounds like a perfectly fine way to spend time. If your grandparents did it, maybe they were onto something! if it’s crazy, there are worse ways to go!
the watching birds ok, the field manual – old fart-ish LOL seriously I have a great time. We camped and hiked a lot when I was younger. My Grandfather was always taking pictures and my Grandmother loved the ocean beaches. My brother is one to hike and place supplies in the trees so when the snow melts they are there while hiking. The again kayaks those big class whatevers LOL
I’m glad you live relatively close to such a place as this. Sounds good for the soul.
The butterfly photos were beautiful, however, I was really drawn to the sparrow pics. Especially the first one where the little guy is looking rather regal as if no one told him that he’s a humble sparrow. Quite nice.
I too have been rather resistant to surrender to official “bird-watching” as my dad is a hardcore birder. Of course, as a teenager I thought that nothing was worse — partially because regular hiking doesn’t necessarily jive with serious birding. Anyway, he’s the type who has a “life list”, he and his buddies go to obscure places wandering around looking for obscure birds and when he was a park service ranger, he was known as the bird specialist.
However, I started getting into birds a wee bit when I myself was a park ranger and folks would ask me about the birds on our monument — had to learn at least the more common ones. I think you’re smarter about letting go of your resistance — you bring the field manual along. I still try to “remember” (ha!) a bird and go home to look it up!
Relative is well, relevant. Ha, no more gas for adventures unless KRP gets home early enough.
I never really paid much attention to identifying the fauna and flora I just enjoyed them. Now it is down right bordering on embarrassing when out taking pictures at the refuges. Folks assume (silly them) that because I am photography them I know what they are LOL!
I might make a list of all the common birds found at Consumnes and work on getting a pic of each one – that should occupy the rest of my life! I am one ahead as I did get the immature cormorant and those are harder to find out there.
So, I will send you all unidentified birds so you or your dad can tell me what they are?? Just saying that would work well for me hahahah….
Neither of my folks are outdoorsy types so our camping and fishing trips were under the that is what parents are suppose to do clause.
Like the Borg eh – resistance is futile.
Well, here’s the bird list of Consumnes:
http://www.cosumnes.org/flora_fauna/Birds%20of%20the%20Cosumnes%20River%20Preserve.pdf
Have fun! And, if you have a handful of unidentified birds pics that have you pondering and awake at night, send them. We can see if the old guy can figure it out!
I supposei deserve that 🙂 they have great pics also.
If totally stumped I go to refuge station and ask the field person or the park service folks. Asking in person depending on who is there can be embarrasing about the third bird..
The bird watchers are great mostly.
If all else fails I will have you pick his mind for me bet he has lots of lb id`s in his memory bank.