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It’s Snowing Geese: BwBTC Trip to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and Wildhorse Golf Club
Birding time! (Larry, Jeff, Dawn, Cheryl)
I was debating whether or not to admit to it, but I am ashamed to say this was my first trip to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. I have driven by innumerable times on my way to Lake Shasta but never actually took the opportunity to stop, even for a quick auto tour. Sufficed to say, what a mistake as we encountered incredible scenery and untold numbers of birds in the sky, on the ground, nestled within the trees, hiding in the reeds, and floating uopn the waters. Yet with all the activity, some of the ponds that Larry and Geno normally find covered in feathers of white remained clear and readily awaiting avian landings. So the typical whiteout conditions are left only to my imagination and my next visit.
I had originally planned to give a play by play as we wandered about the refuge and Wildhorse Golf Club, but as I am on the late show (not surprising) Dawn, Geno and Larry have already posted a number of great summaries of the day. So, I will just share a few of the 1000 photos my wife and I took while hanging out with a great group of birders who managed to spot 60 bird species.
The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is the headquarters of the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge Complex, which encompasses six separate refuges. It includes 10,819 acres of seasonal marsh, permanent ponds, and uplands in the heart of the Sacramento Valley.
More than 300 species of birds and mammals, both resident and migratory, use the refuges. The marshes support fish, frogs, and invertebrates, which are used by grebes, white pelicans, egrets, herons, and bitterns as a food resource. Shorebirds probe the mud for insects, snails, and worms, while raptors prey on the abundant waterfowl, rodents, and small birds. Woodpeckers, marsh wrens, and finches are a few of the many songbirds which feed and nest in the refuges’ cottonwoods, willows, and wetland plants.
Approximately 44 percent of the Pacific Flyway’s waterfowl population winters in the Sacramento Valley. Three million ducks and three-quarters of a million geese migrate here.
Snow Geese
Turkey Vulture
Common Moorhen
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bufflehead male and female
Snow Geese
Black Phoebe
American Coots
Western Burrowing Owl at Wildhorse Golf Club
Thanks to all (Dawn, Jeff, Larry, Geno, Eric, Cheryl , Kathy and my wife Heather) for a great time and I am already looking forward to the next BwBTC trip.
For more great photos and details of our trip check out the following blogs. They are a must see and must read!
Larry - The Birder’s Report
Dawn (and Jeff) – Dawn’s Bloggy Blog
Cheryl – Martinez Beavers, Bay Area Wildlife Blog
Geno – Geno’s Blog
About The Author
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by journowl, Kate Martin. Kate Martin said: RT @journowl It's Snowing Geese! Photos of birding trip to Sac National Wildlife Refuge http://bit.ly/4wnEJB #birding #birds #wildlife [...]
Awesome photos Scott! Great post! It was a pleasure meeting you and Heather…what a nice couple you are! I am impressed by your conservation efforts and knowledge!
Hope to meet again.
Dawn Fine´s last blog ..BwBTC Sacramento Part 2
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by journowl: It’s Snowing Geese! Photos of birding trip to Sac National Wildlife Refuge http://bit.ly/4wnEJB #birding #birds #wildlife…
Scott,
great photos. And I love the title “It’s snowing geese”. So next BwBTC in Peru then? You host! Have your pick. February, April, June or July? Thanks for your plug in the sidebar.
Western Burrowing Owl??? Are you anticipating a split. Love splits! Hate lumps!
Thinking of starting a Facebook group called: “Bet I can find 100000 birders who love splits and hate lumps!”
Gunnar Engblom´s last blog ..Some ID nuts to crack from Nov 18
I love when the Snow Geese come back! Looks like you had a great time because your photos are amazing!
Great post Scott. It was so nice being with you and Heather on the driving tour. You got some nice shots there, my favorite, and most amazing shot of the day, is that photo of the Long-billed Dowitchers in flight! Those birds are fast! Nice job!
Cool close-ups of the TV and Burrowing Owls as well.
Larry Jordan´s last blog ..Mount Lassen View From Oak Run
@Dawn – Thanks very much and it was great meeting you and Jeff as well.
@Gunnar – I am definitely up for it and I believe my wife is too. I doubt she’d let me have that much fun/adventure alone. I’ll get back to you with/for the details.
@Carol – Thanks and was definitely a good time/learning experience. It was great having all those eyes looking out for birds.
@Larry – It was indeed a great trip. I had quite a few images of the dowitchers that did not turn out except for some blurs. Luckily I got one decent shot of those guys.
Gunnar, definitely like the Facebook idea! As far as the owls, according to the FWS there are two subspecies of Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) that occur in North America: the Western Burrowing Owl (A. c. hypugaea) and the Florida Burrowing Owl (A. c. floridana).