Hidden Paths

We just made our annual visit to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and while every year is different, this year seemed more different than most. There was much less water, and many areas that usually have geese were completely dry. I think the water levels are managed to some degree, so it isn't clear to me why. We saw lots of Greater White-fronted Geese but only two Snow Geese and two Canadas, lots of ducks but nothing unusual. It was a great raptor day, though, eight species starting with half a dozen Turkey Vultures and a Red-tailed Hawk in every tree. But it got better: two Northern Harriers, a Cooper's Hawk, a Red-shouldered Hawk (yelling, and we laughed because it felt just like Tilden), a Bald Eagle in their nest tree (though not on the nest), and two falcons, an American Kestrel and a Merlin! Then as we were eating lunch in the car because it was too cold to sit outside (barely topped 40 all day), the Snow Geese appeared! thousands of them rising up out of fields west of the highway, swirling around before moving off in several directions. We opened the car windows and basked in the amazing cacophony. So we got our Snow Geese. We took the auto tour a second time hoping we could see some of them on the ground/water within the Refuge, but not that we found. However, driving the frontage road to get on the freeway there were several flooded fields full of Snow Geese, I think within the refuge but not accessible by visitors. Still, it was wonderful to see them. ( The list: )

The Visitor's Center is open again. It closed during the pandemic and rather than reopen they built a new one completed last year but not opened, or something. Now it's open, but only on Fridays and Saturdays, which sounded hopeful, except the store is only open Saturdays. So no new hat.:(

I got up there at 10(!) hoping to avoid the fog, and I mostly did. So it was sunny, the trail was tolerably dry, and I got to the north end as I did not last time. Unfortunately there were chainsaws going up on the ridge and I suspect they discourage bird activity. Perhaps not, but the only mixed flock I came upon was around the point and away from the noise. Anyway, it was not a particularly birdy morning, no Warblers, and again very few Winter visitors: a lot of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, as usual, one Hermit Thrush, but three Golden-crowned Sparrows! It's strange to be relieved to see three Golden-crowns. The mixed flock was fun and added substantially to my list. ( The list: )

The Golden-crowns were part of the delightful mixed flock I found in the big oak out at the point, probably eating bits of green as they love to do. They devastate U's newly planted garden every Spring unless she puts down netting.

Today's high tide was a little lower than yesterday's but still high enough to be interesting, so I went down to Meeker Slough about 11 am for the 11:50 high. I wanted Wilson's Snipe but someone told me they are no longer on the little island off the footbridge; I'll go looking some other time. Still no birds in the berry trees yet but I expect there will be eventually. I saw two species of duck I hadn't found at Arrowhead, a pair of Northern Pintail and a pair of Gadwall, as well as Northern Shovelers and Green-winged Teal. I had two particularly interesting sightings. There was a small flock of Savannah Sparrows in the vegetation right at the Bay's edge, looking like Song Sparrows but not quite, with different behavior, as well. But the best moment was looking out over the flooded marsh dotted with American Coots and noticing one that was tiny. Also not black. I identified it as a Sora just about the time it flew off. Gosh, it was little. ( The list: )

I hope I can go there again tomorrow, check out two other areas. We shall see.

I didn't get to the gate til 10 o'clock, but I got there. It was quiet to start but I encountered more activity up Laurel Canyon where there were sunny spots. I saw very few Winter visitors, a lot of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a few Hermit Thrushes, and one Golden-crowned Sparrow. There are two places up Laurel Canyon Road where I have regularly seen multiple sparrows, but not this year, at least not yet. At one there was a maybe fifteen Dark-eyed Juncos and a Spotted Towhee; a little further along I saw the Golden-crowned Sparrow, but that was all. It seem like the usual birds were here early and kept going south. We'll just keep looking and hoping. ( The list: )

No warblers, just locals, but no nuthatches or creepers, either. Good to be out, though.

It was just U and me this morning, she went Upper and I Lower Packrat. It was 45° to start but I was reasonably comfortable in eight, mostly thin, mostly polyester layers, which I detest otherwise for exactly the reason they're useful now. U encountered several small mixed flocks, always fun even when nothing unexpected is found. I sure didn't! But I did hear a Greater White-fronted Goose flying over, so that was my excitement for the morning. ( The list: )

High pressure, no rain for a while, just cold.