Black-headed Grosbeaks have returned for the breeding season!
Northern California
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Female Red-winged Blackbird at Stone Lakes Blue Heron Trails

Male Red-winged Blackbird in mustard at Cosumnes River Preserve

Greater White-fronted Goose in a dried up pond at Cosumnes River Preserve

Song Sparrow that seems to have molted its tail

Some pics from our Thursday jaunt to Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and Cosumnes River Preserve (Northern California).
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A 20 second video of a Bewick's Wren dust bathing in the middle of a trail at Chanslor Ranch (between Bodega Bay and Salmon Creek - Northern California).
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Bit of a distant shot. Cormorant positioning a flatfish for the chug. Tidal flat along Bird Walk trail (Bodega Bay - Northern California).

Bit of a distant shot. Cormorant positioning a flatfish for the chug. Tidal flat along Bird Walk trail (Bodega Bay - Northern California).
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Female Anna's Hummingbird at an invasive 'Pride of Madeira' flower in a garden in Salmon Creek (Northern California).

Female Anna's Hummingbird at an invasive 'Pride of Madeira' flower in a garden in Salmon Creek (Northern California).
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Common Loon in Bodega Harbor (Northern California) with a small patch of breeding plumage.

Common Loon in Bodega Harbor (Northern California) with a small patch of breeding plumage.
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This male Surf Scoter proceeded to remove and eat the legs of this marine creature before swallowing the body (Bodega Harbor - Northern California).

This male Surf Scoter proceeded to remove and eat the legs of this marine creature before swallowing the body (Bodega Harbor - Northern California).
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Young Bald Eagle on a rock just off Wright's Beach on the Sonoma Coast (Northern California).

Young Bald Eagle on a rock just off Wright's Beach on the Sonoma Coast (Northern California).
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Scotermoot at Doran Beach (Northen California).

Scotermoot at Doran Beach (Northen California).
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Surf Scoters at Sunset (Salmon Creek Beach - Northern California).

Surf Scoters at Sunset (Salmon Creek Beach - Northern California).
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Red-shouldered Hawk in side light at Rasmussen Open Space in Cameron Park (Northern California). There is a nearby nest and this bird was hunting while its mate was in the nest.

Red-shouldered Hawk in side light at Rasmussen Open Space in Cameron Park (Northern California). There is a nearby nest and this bird was hunting while its mate was in the nest.
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American Kestrel at Rasmussen Open Space in Cameron Park (Northern California).

American Kestrel at Rasmussen Open Space in Cameron Park (Northern California).
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White-faced Ibis at SNWR.

Blue-winged Teal at SNWR.

Black-necked Stilt at SNWR.

Black-crowned Night Heron squinting in harsh late afternoon light at Colusa NWR.

A few pics from the Sacramento Audubon field trip to SNWR and Colusa NWR (1/24/2026) in Northern California.
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Burrowing Owl in a culvert at the front of a gravel driveway in southeast Sacramento county (Northern California).

Burrowing Owl in a culvert at the front of a gravel driveway in southeast Sacramento county (Northern California).
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Ferruginous Hawk seen from Michigan Bar Rd. in southeast Sacramento county (Northern California).

Ferruginous Hawk seen from Michigan Bar Rd. in southeast Sacramento county (Northern California).
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Great Blue Heron in front of the waterfall at Village Green in El Dorado Hills (Northern California).

Great Blue Heron in front of the waterfall at Village Green in El Dorado Hills (Northern California).
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The Red-shouldered Hawk sees. Along Buck's Creek in El Dorado Hills (Northern California).

The Red-shouldered Hawk sees. Along Buck's Creek in El Dorado Hills (Northern California).
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Short-eared Owl shoving the Northern Harrier off.

Short-eared Owl perched on a t-post.

Another shot of the Short-eared Owl/Northern Harrier interaction.

Short-eared Owl bearing down on the Northern Harrier (out of frame).

Went to find the Short-eared Owl on South Shingle Rd. before the intersection with Michigan Bar Rd. (Northern California).
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Short-eared Owl shoving the Northern Harrier off.

Short-eared Owl perched on a t-post.

Another shot of the Short-eared Owl/Northern Harrier interaction.

Short-eared Owl bearing down on the Northern Harrier (out of frame).

Went to find the Short-eared Owl on South Shingle Rd. before it intersects with Michigan Bar Rd. (Northern California).
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Cedar Waxwings annihilating persimmons.

Killdeer holding a conversation with another nearby killdeer.

Pied-billed Grebe

Snowy Egret and reflection. I like how you can see the yellow feet in the shallow water.

Some shots from a walk at Cameron Park Lake (Northern California) today.
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Wild Turkey foraging along Michigan Bar Rd. just north of the Cosumnes River (Northern California). Taken on November 1st in low early morning light.

Wild Turkey foraging along Michigan Bar Rd. just north of the Cosumnes River (Northern California). Taken on November 1st in low early morning light.
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Female Northern Harried in direct light against sticks.

Female Northern Harrier in side light. The facial disk gives this hawk an owl like look.

Acorn Woodpecker with acorn stogie.

Red-shouldered Hawk swiveling its head to check us out.

Holiday Harrier and friends. Some pics from an early Thanksgiving afternoon walk at Rasmussen Park and Open Space (Northern California).
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Snowy Egret hanging out on a tree branch and looking cool at Cameron Park Lake (Northern California).

Snowy Egret hanging out on a tree branch and looking cool at Cameron Park Lake (Northern California).
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13 second video of a female Northern Harrier bathing in Salmon Creek (Northern California). This is the same spot I found an Osprey bathing at in years past.
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Song Sparrow on lupine at Salt Point State Park (Northern California).

Song Sparrow on lupine at Salt Point State Park (Northern California).
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Brandt's Cormorant flying along the surf at Salmon Creek Beach (Northern California).

Brandt's Cormorant flying along the surf at Salmon Creek Beach (Northern California).
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Great Egret on the jetty rail in Bodega Harbor (Northern California).
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American Kestrel (male) in side light along the trails on Bodega Head (Northern California coast). Couldn't move to front light without flushing the bird.
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Pied-billed Grebe at Cameron Park Lake in Northern California (10/10/2025).
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Least Sandpiper (9/17/2025) at Abbotts Lagoon (Point Reyes National Seashore). Saw several of these shorebirds sitting in slight depressions in the sand.

Least Sandpiper (9/17/2025) at Abbotts Lagoon (Point Reyes National Seashore). Saw several of these shorebirds sitting in slight depressions in the sand.
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