Day off of work, family all busy, and lots of sunshine after a rainy day.Perfect day for nature. My Bio class had a Trip up to the mixed Coniferous forest near Paradise Lake. It was cold, misty, and awesome. I saw new birds like a Chestnut Backed Chickadee and Warbling Viero. We also saw some Swallows, Northern Flicker, Wild Turkey, California Quail, and I got bonus points for spotting the Osprey we were looking for! After class I drove out Sac Valley NWR and saw a lot of "Hawk Food", California Ground Squirrels and Black Tailed Jack Rabbits. I laso saw a dozen Snowy Egrets, DC Cormorants, Cinnamon Teal, Mallard, Greater White Fronted Geese, Ruddy Ducks, and Great Blue Heron.
On the way home I went to my new favorite spot, Howard Slough. Today I saw 16 White Pelicans, D.C Cormorants, Coots, Hermit Thrush, YR Warbler, Solitary Sandpiper, Black Phoebe, RW black bird, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harrier, 4 Swainson's Hawks, Red Tailed Hawks, White Tailed Kite, GB HEron, Great Egret, lots of Waterfowl, Short Billed Dowitcher, California Towhee, Sparrows, Swallows ( 3 kinds) and my first American Bittern ( i startled it when I started my truck after the hike, it was 5 feet away in some reeds!) So many birds.
I drove the Sac River route home and saw two more new birds at various stops. A pair of beautiful Forster's Terns and a Yellow Breasted Chat. Also some GC Sparrows, Scrub Jays, Black phoebes, Nuttals + Acorn Woodpeckers, Robin, California Towhee, Red Tailed Hawks and I saw a Red Shouldered Hawk take a mouse just off the road! Great Day and some new birds!!!!!!!!!!
