Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Woody & Friends

The walking trails at Lema Ranch in Redding, California...
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Canada Geese on the pond...
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Enjoyed watching this Acorn Woodpecker fly from tree to tree...
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 They have the most incredible eyes, don't they?
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 And a fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar...
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Saturday, June 25, 2016

The Little Big Year

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We watched the The Big Year the other night and once again I was delighted by this wonderful movie. I love everything about it, especially how they managed to weave in a little romance, too!


When the final credits started rolling, I couldn't help but laugh at my little list of 70 birds I've compiled for my own big year. It's already June and I know my list probably won't even reach into the hundreds, but I've enjoyed every second of it nonetheless.

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Some of the birds I've seen might seem ordinary to some, but to me they are gems, each and every one. I'm particularly proud of the Bald Eagles, Osprey, and the three different woodpeckers I've seen, and I know there will be a few more to come in the last six months that are left.

I don't have the luxury of hopping on a plane and zooming across the country chasing sightings of rare (and not so rare) birds, but that's okay. I'm content to record what I see in my own backyard and to take a road trip every so often with my hubby to discover new birds for my list. Plus, our annual pass to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge doesn't expire for a while!

Even if I don't reach 100 birds, 2016 will still be a big year to me.

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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Nesting Season

You don't have to go far to see amazing things in nature, that's for sure. This Osprey nest was right next to the parking lot at the Shasta Dam Visitor Center...

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And look at what was inside!

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There's a baby on the left with his head turned...
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There he is!
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The juvenile has orange eyes and the mom has yellow eyes...
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 There were TWO babies in the nest!

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Uh-oh! They're on to us!
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They sure have quite a view up there...

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Shasta Dam

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Mt. Shasta
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I'm so happy to add another bird to the Big Year list!


Friday, June 17, 2016

Manzanita Lake

Our recent trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park for research was amazing! We saw several new birds to add to our Big Year list and the walk around Manzanita Lake was absolutely beautiful.

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Hairy Woodpecker
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Spotted Sandpiper
 Steller's Jays...
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The wind picked up and mussed up his hair-do!
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 This White-headed Woodpecker was an exciting find...
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 There were lots of Canada Geese on and around the lake...
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And even some goslings!
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Mountain Chickadee
 Red-winged Blackbirds...
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 Mallards...
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 Little baby Buffleheads...

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 So cute and fuzzy!
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American Robin
  And spotting the Bald Eagle was the cherry on top of a wonderful day...

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 He was perched up on top of the dead tree in the middle...
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Beautiful!
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