Spontaneous Birding ~ September Bird Sightings

It was a cloudy day in the valley. A thunderstorm had blown through the night before, bringing with it some chilly temperatures to help combat the lingering September heat. Then, an impromptu decision had us hopping in the car and making our way to our local wildlife refuge. We hadn't visited in several months due to the sweltering triple-digit temperatures of summer and I was excited to see if any fall migrants had arrived in our little corner of the Pacific Flyway yet.

Savannah Sparrow

There wasn't as much water as I had hoped, but there were still plenty of bird sightings to satisfy this happy-go-lucky birder. A few Red-winged Blackbirds greeted us on the auto tour and we saw dozens of dragonflies zipping around the reeds and over the marsh grasses. In my opinion, clouds make for some of the most interesting photos and my camera eagerly clicked away, capturing the beautiful landscape of the Sacramento Valley.

And then, we spotted a group of raccoons! We've seen them before at the refuge, but this time we were treated to a rare sighting. To our astonishment, one of them was blonde! It took us a minute to realize what we were seeing and before we knew it, they quickly disappeared into the thick vegetation. We scrambled to capture some video of this unexpected sight, but their cat-like agility foiled our attempt at a viral-worthy recording. Oh, how wonderful it would have been to get a photo of that cute little golden face peeking through the greenery!

Our proof of this remarkable sighting is a lousy screenshot of its retreating backside 😞 
(Watch the full video below)

But there was lots more to see! A gaggle of Snow Geese congregated in the middle of the road, so we took the opportunity to stop and watch the Snowy Egrets forage for food in the wetlands. Several White-faced Ibis had the same idea, along with a lively group of Long-billed Dowitchers. A trio of Black-necked Stilts called out in alarm, bopping excitedly. Deciding we weren't a threat, ("It's just the bird paparazzi," I imagine them saying with a roll of their eyes) they quickly went back to searching for food, gliding through the water with their long pink legs.

I was delighted to have a Familiar Bluet damselfly pose for a photo before realizing that there were countless more in the area enjoying the foliage. A flash of orange caught my eye and I zeroed in on a new-to-me butterfly. Turns out, it's called a Fiery Skipper. A delightful name for such a spirited butterfly.

On a nearby log, a Western Pond Turtle basked in the sun, while a backdrop of blooming Common Teasel and Saltmarsh Aster filled my viewscreen. There were more plants in bloom than I expected after such a relentless summer and I was happy to see the cheerful yellows of Western Goldenrod and Water Primrose. The beauty and resilience of nature never ceases to amaze me!

After lingering at the viewing platforms, we continued through the auto tour. A Snowy Egret posed for a photo and then surprised us with what I can only describe as the precursor to regurgitating a pellet perhaps? Earlier this year, I posted a video of a Great Blue Heron doing something similar and I'm still gobsmacked that we were in the right place at the right time to witness this curious behavior twice.

Sometimes, spontaneous outings end up being the most memorable, and I can definitely say that was the case today. Every time I reconnect with nature and spend a few hours with our local birds and wildlife, my heart gets a bit happier and my soul feels pleasantly nourished. And then, when I sort through all the photos and video we took, I get to relive that joy all over again...

Let's go birding!