My friend texted me earlier this week confessing a need to hit the road and do a little birding. We decided to check out the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge to see if the ponds were flooded and if any birds have arrived.
We were in luck — the White Fronted Geese had arrived but we are still waiting for the snow geese who also winter here. Some of the ponds were partially filled but the majority were still bone dry.
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The Sacramento NWR has a great auto tour route that winds through a number of artificial ponds that are flooded each fall to accommodate thousands of waterfowl that winter here from the far north.
We wasted no time hitting the trail.
The dry ponds at the entrance were devoid of any waterfowl; then we saw the Great Egret who let us know what he thought of the situation.
Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows thrived in the dry areas.
Blackbird hen sitting on the Tule Rushes
Song Sparrow sits on the bottom of a dried pond.
We finally came across a pond with some water. The White Fronted Geese have definitely arrived.
Two adult WF geese stand with 3 juveniles who have yet to develop the signature white faces.
Many more WF geese took off along with a couple of ducks
As we traveled along, standing on the banks of a water channel stood this guy in a classic pose. There was another much farther down the channel.
American Bittern — a new lifer for me.
We made it to the back corner and saw plenty of ducks at a far distance. But we also got another surprise.
Two American White Pelicans cruise on the pond water.
The American Coots were joined by ducks in the background.
Mallard, Pintail and Shovelor hens are joined by a Pied-Billed Grebe in the back.
We quickly moved along the back with the pond still dry. Caught a glimpse of a Kestrel who flew as soon as we spotted him. The Eagle trees were bare. We still saw a bird here and there.
A Mourning Dove rests on a tangle of branches.
Finally in the far corner, I saw a bit of white.
With WF Geese in the background, a Northern Harrier flies past a quartet of Egrets, 3 Greats and 1 Snowy.
Long-Billed Curlews and other wading birds forage along with the egrets.
A few Herring Gulls also favored this quiet corner.
A Killdeer can barely be seen in front of the Great and Snowy Egrets.
A Turkey Vulture flew low and slow over the dry ponds.
Finally as we passed the last of the waterways, we hit the jackpot.
A couple of hundred White Fronted and Canada Geese rest on the edge of one of the slow-filling ponds.
It looks like a mild weekend with a chance of showers in the valley but a full day of rain in the Sierras. next week looks to be a little warmer but well below the summer triple digit heat.
What’s up in your neck the woods?