Santa Cruz Booby

I went down to see the well reported BROWN BOOBY on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. There was a lot of feeding activity to the east of the wharf. There were hundreds of BRANDT'S, DOUBLE-CRESTED, and PELAGIC CORMORANTS, WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, BROWN PELICAN, COMMON, RED-THROATED, and PACIFIC LOONS feeding just off shore as well as BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flying around the wharf.

Signs of Spring!

This Orange-crowned Warbler was singing and defending territory on Hwy 49 in Nevada County on Saturday, March 31.

No Great Gray but others make the trip worth it!

In an attempt to find the recently reported Great Gray Owl in Yuba County, Bruce Webb and I made the short drive up past Nevada City to Ridge Road. Although Don Marsh was fortunate enough to see it (albeit briefly) the rest of us dipped. Nice looks at Pileated Woodpecker and this Anna's Hummingbird made the trip worth it anyway.

Red-tailed Hawks nesting on my commute!

There is a lone cottonwood on the west side of the Scott Grade in Folsom right next to Highway 50. The nice thing is that the height of the road allows a look into the nest! A few weeks ago I saw the pair tending to building duties and about a week ago noticed the female was incubating. I was able to get a few shots with my hazards blinking...not recommended!