I have lived in the Sacramento/San Joaquin delta area all of my life. I grew up smelling peaches ripening on trees, the sickly sweet smell of the old cannery processing away, and watching the abundant wildlife. Rattlesnakes in the Sutter Buttes, Salmon migrating, and huge birds flying overhead or hanging around the fields.
I never really thought about it much as it was just here. Driving, hiking, bicycling around the Delta the smells were always there. Nothing brings awe inspiring moments like an bird with a wingspan over fifty inches flying across you windshield or listening to the honking of the geese flying overhead. Salmon over 40 pounds jumping while they swim up to spawn.
The Central California Valley sees and provides for 60% of water fowl of the Pacific flyway. One fifth (1/5) of all North American birds pay us a visit. So I am thinking ecologically this is one important place. An estuary of estuaries. A wildlife haven.
The Consumnes River Wildlife Preserve is where I go to take photos and relax. There are so many different things to look at. I can watch a tiny little bug making it’s way wherever, find bright colored mushrooms hiding in the mix of vegetation, hear river otters splashing into the water as I make my way by and patience is always rewarded.
This trip a rustle was heard in a growth of what right now to me is fairly ugly stage vegetation.
I hit the area with my lens (I use it like binoculars a lot), sat down on the walk, and slowly looked around. Ah hah – I see you!
After a few minuets I think he/she figured they were hidden well and started moving around in their little haven more.
Eventually a full view was granted.
End of the tale
What a cutie pie. Those are nice photos, Jan. It sounds like a pleasant place to go for a stroll.
Last Summer DH and I went down to Chambers Bay Golf Course to see the sunset, and he noticed several bunnies about 50 feet from the walkway. It took me awhile, but once they started moving again, I did catch a glimpse of them. What I would give for 20-20 vision!
It is a great place. One trail that they call the reclaimed something or other is wheelchair and scooter accessible.
Wish I had 20 20 also. I use the 300mm zoom lens to look around. Mostly I hear the little guys and zoom in lots of times it is just a big rat.
Awwwwwwwww…how sweet. Nice photos!
Cheers
thank you
When I visited Northern CA, I saw the immense beauty there. I laughed when I was at Lake Tahoe, and saw people skiing in shorts!
Your photos are gorgeous — I am definitely jealous of your skill!
Peace,
Muff
It was zero degrees F the other night when I checked on the Lake Tahoe weather. No shorts out then I imagine!
Skills are sad with the MS nowdays mostly patience and over coming frustration.
Good ego booster – someone jealous LOL thank you!
Those bunny photos must’ve really tested your ability to sit still, but it sure paid off! Fungi don’t spook so easy, and don’t move anywhere near as fast.
I remember stopping at Rocky Reach Dam on the Columbia River a couple of years ago. There was a big open field with lots of feral bunnies. Even though we kept the greyhounds on leash, Ernie thought he had died and gone to heaven.
I sat on the board walk propted with my back leaning against a bench.
The fungi hide well except the red/orange ones and they are 4inches diameter so that helps.
I was looking for a squirrel or something that was rustling over in that spot and there the mushroom things were. Are they fungi or mushrooms – both?
dogs not allowed at the refuge even if they were I think Annie would drag me into the water chasing the birds! She too thinks she is heaven if we stop anywhere and she sees birds. Rodents are good too but birds are the best for her.
Nice pics as usual — loved the birds. Is amazing what activity starts resuming when can make ourselves sit still for a while “out there” — especially in an estuary. Lucky to live by such an incredible place.
In regards to the other post, yeah coat AND hat stashed in the truck would be good. Where you live, there’s some great winter pics to be had.
Belated happy T-day to you!
Times sitting thinking of nothing just listening – priceless really.
Yes the delta hear is amazing. I watch it slowly get devoured bu housing tracks – urban expansion.
Places where wonderful vernal pools existed are under someones cement foundation. Very sad really.
There are a couple of places where drainage ditches are strategically place to catch the runoff between developements where the Egrets and other fowl still stop along their migration paths. I get kind of sad looking at them. I know that 20 years ago that hundreds of them landed there and now a couple stop and I wonder if their bird minds are going WTF where did or field go?
As the word gets out however that goes in the raparian life less and less of them land there.
Between the toxicity of the farmland runoff waters and the diversions south the wildlife is hurting. Amazing since the delta is the largest estuary on the western coast. Hope folks figure out the value before it is too late 🙁
I try not to leave anything in the truck.
Sigh. I’ve heard about the farmland runoff issue in that area but didn’t get the scope of the delta until reading about it a bit. Sounds like the areas of preservation are really patch-worked. And, sprawl, well what to say.