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Daily Bucket - Farewell - Migrants are Heading North [1]
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Date: 2023-02-15
Year round residents Double Crested Cormorants and Turtles sun themselves on a log in an empty pond at Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area
Our winter birds started migrating north beginning in late January. So I headed over to Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area last week to do a little birding before they all left. The ponds still had birds but nowhere near the numbers I had seen in various NWRs earlier in the winter.
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Portion of map showing wildlife refuge (striped area) and the auto tour route which starts at #14. The other areas are hunting areas. Be aware that hunting fees pay the operating costs of this facility
There was a lot fewer birds but the ones there were actively feeding to prep themselves for the long journey north. They were also very subdued so as to not attract the attention of the local bald eagles that were flying around. I saw at least 3 during my visit.
Bald Eagle surveying the Gray Lodge ponds. His location is the red “A” on the map above.
I did get a lifer while there that I hadn’t expected to see.
Blue-Winged Teal in breeding colors
I normally visit during hunting season and pass empty ponds in the hunting areas on the way to the refuge. Hunting is over so these ponds had an equal number of waterfowl as did the ponds in the refuge.
Here are the winter visitors that are still sticking around for now:
Northern Pintails all feeding
Gadwall pair munching on the vegetation just below the surface
Northern Shovelors found a quiet spot to feed
Ruddy Duck
Ringnecked Duck and mate
Bufflehead hens
Raft of Snow Geese much smaller than what I usually see
Snow Geese family — 4 juveniles up front and Mom and Dad behind
White-Fronted Geese actively feeding
The year round residents were well represented. I saw flocks of White-Crowned Sparrows but they flew as soon as I got close enough to get a photo. I saw both Red-Winged and Brewer’s Blackbirds. Here are the locals:
Ruby Crowned Kinglet made sure I paid my visitor fees at the kiosk under this tree
With Bald Eagles flying overhead, the American Coots stayed close together
The Turkey Vultures kept cruising overhead despite the presence of multiple eagles
Snowy Egret actively hunting along the edge of a pond
Loggerhead Shrike
A Lessor Yellowlegs stands in the middle of sleeping ducks
Black-Necked Stilt wanders in the pond
Herring Gulls found a perfect spot to rest
Pied-Billed Grebe swims through the mat of marsh vegetation
Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Audubon) sits in a tree starting to bud
Great Egret
Black Phoebe
Savannah Sparrow holding still long enough for a photo
California Towhee digs for bugs in the dirt
I saved the raptors for last. I photographed 7 hawks along the auto tour route which is a 3 mile circle. The red numbers on the map denote the hawks’ locations. I only saw a Kestrel and a Harrier as I was driving in and out of the refuge and unable to get a photograph. The Harrier’s location is noted with an H and the Kestrel with a K but the Kestrel was actually further to the east on a utility wire along the road bordering the refuge.
Redtail Hawk #1
Redtail Hawk #2
Redtail Hawk #3
Redtail Hawk #4
Redtail Hawk #5
Redtail Hawk #6
Red-shouldered Hawk #7
I found it interesting that I saw so many hawks in a relatively small area. Also, the hawks were all sitting while the bald eagles were flying around. It could be that most of the prey went into hiding when the eagles showed up, so there was little hunting to be done. Or that early afternoon is a rest period before they hunt for dinner later in the afternoon.
As we left, we saw a rather scruffy-looking deer hiding in the brush across the access road from the ranger’s living quarters and admin offices.
Mule Deer looking poorly and trying to hide from us.
Valley weather — Very cold storm passed over today but it stayed dry in Sacramento. It snowed in the foothills at about 1,000 feet. Cooler temps in the 50s the rest of the week with the weekend warming back up into the 60s.
What’s up in your patch?
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