![Bald Eagle](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5496418304_cc1a75c282_z.jpg)
Over the past two weekends, I've spent some time in two of my favorite places in California's Central Valley. Both the Colusa unit of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area are publicly owned, managed primarily for water fowl but with benefits for lots of other wildlife - and for people who like to spend time outdoors looking at birds and such.
I had my camera along so I thought I'd share some photos from both places just for the fun of it, starting with the gorgeous creature at the top of this diary. This Bald Eagle was perched in a tree adjacent to the auto tour route road at Gray Lodge, close enough for decent photos. That doesn't happen very often with large birds of prey, so we felt lucky to be able to watch him/her for a fairly extended period of time.
As I mentioned above, both areas are managed primarily for water fowl and we did see lots of ducks and geese. Not in the huge numbers that are here in December-January-early February, but a nice variety of species. Greater-white Fronted Geese were still around, as were some Snow Geese. These are Greater-white Fronts - you can see why they are nicknamed "speckle bellies" by local hunters.
![Greater White-fronted Geese](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5495830587_520e1b5825.jpg)
This male Gadwall was chattering away with several females. Don't you love his psychedelic plumage?
![Gadwall](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5496421914_20268d3d35.jpg)
But there's a lot more that ducks and geese to be enjoyed. This Pied-billed Grebe is ready for love! The black ring on its bill is a breeding season feature - plus there's that little bouquet on its butt, all ready to share with a potential sweetie.
![Pied-billed Grebe](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5496421582_6cd910305b.jpg)
Another sign of spring is seeing Marsh Wrens perching out in the open to belt out their song to attract a mate and to define their territory. Most of the year, they stay tucked down in the reeds so you can catch only a quick glimpse before they are out of sight.
![Marsh Wren](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5496417838_8268dd0545.jpg)
I've been trying to get a decent photo of a Black Phoebe for a long time - they are very common birds in this part of the world but they don't sit still for very long and, as lineatus would say, they have trust issues. You just can't get very close. I finally lucked out with this little guy, who was very focused on the bugs in the mud. What a cutie, eh?
![Black Phoebe](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5495827141_0551d32d65.jpg)
We saw some big birds, too. Of course, there's the Bald Eagle at the top of the diary. I also had a brief sighting of a Golden Eagle at Colusa NWR. Only got very crappy photos that I won't post here but it was a very exciting 30 seconds or so!
Another big bird, much more common around here than Eagles, is the Turkey Vulture. They are gorgeous birds to watch in flight and their "avian hoover" ways help keep the great outdoors tidy. This bird seemed to really have its eye on me. He swooped over my head several times. Maybe I looked close to my expiration date that day...
![Turkey Vulture](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5495826499_b6f7fd427d.jpg)
Another bird of prey, very common around here, is the Red-tailed Hawk. We wathced this one pursuing a rabbit. When the rabbit dodged into a thicket, the bird perched on a branch just above it, to wait for another opportunity at breakfast. My guess is that the rabbit was too smart to show its head again while the hawk was there.
![Red-tailed Hawk](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5496417948_38810e1f4a.jpg)
Birds aren't the only attraction to these place, of course. We saw a couple of river otters at Colusa but they were too fast for a photo. The otters were in the same areas as these otters from a couple of years ago. Maybe they are related?
![River Otters - Sac NWR](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2260397349_24b2f2de7d.jpg)
We almost always see a few deer at either place, or an occasional coyote. There's also beautiful scenery to look at. The Central Valley is very flat but you can often catch glimpses of the Sierra Nevada Mountains (below) or the Coast Ranges. There's still quite a bit of snow in the Sierras this spring.
![Sierras](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5496419022_8151a37dd8.jpg)
Gray Lodge is located just north of Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world. The Buttes are a remnant volcanic complex poking up through the sediment in the Central Valley. They provide a lovely backdrop for a day at Gray Lodge.
![Sutter Buttes](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5499853714_3d6708dbc1.jpg)
And, occasionally, the birds and the scenery come together for a moment or two.
![Double-crested Cormorant Roost](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5499854222_5e20909d58.jpg)
Nothing political or particularly deep to share today but my personal conviction that preserving places is a common good that we can all share. I hope these photos evoke the beauty of Colusa NWR and Gray Lodge WA for you to enjoy.