Colusa National Wildlife Refuge ~ Wetland Birds of California

Wow, what a birding adventure we had at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge in Northern California! This was the biggest concentration of White-faced Ibis, Egrets, and Herons we've ever seen all in one place! This was also the first time we've ever seen a Bald Eagle at this particular refuge.

We were entertained watching the American Coot stuck in the muck, White-faced Ibis preening their beautiful iridescent feathers, the Black-crowned Night Heron rookery, Snowy Egrets showing off their gorgeous plumage, and a Double-crested Cormorant staring us down with its pretty teal-blue eyes...

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Misty Morning Bird Sounds

What a gorgeous morning at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge! The stars of this birding adventure are the herons, egrets, ibis, and coots.

A great blue heron struck out multiple times, but a great egret got the catch of the day! 🎣

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Pine Creek Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge 👣 Walking Trail

We enjoyed seeing the Osprey and their nest during our walk through the Pine Creek Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Plus, there were so many butterflies that our visit felt magical...

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Colusa National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour

During our latest drive through the auto tour at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, we were thrilled to find the most White-faced Ibis we've ever seen in one place before!

Plus, Great Egrets in a tree, a Black-crowned Night Heron rookery, a Double-crested Cormorant showing off its resting bird face, a log that looked like a giant hamster, and much more...

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Western Meadowlarks Singing

The song of the Western Meadowlark is probably one of my all-time favorites. Then again, I say that about every bird!

Anywho, I had no idea how many meadowlarks I've filmed in the act, but once I started editing them together, I realized how many of these delightful birds have sung their beautiful song for me.

Whether they are on the ground, in a tree, or even perched on a telephone wire, I can't seem to get enough. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do...

 

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Birding in the Fog

We've never been birding in the fog before and it was actually a fun adventure. The birds didn't seem as skittish as normal and we enjoyed watching the pheasants and the jackrabbits that usually dart away at the first sign of people.

There's something peaceful and calming about a world blanketed in thick fog. I guess it's because there aren't any outside distractions such as the surrounding views (as spectacular as they are!) to draw your attention away from the birds and wildlife.

I particularly enjoyed the White-faced Ibis showing off its yoga moves for me and the magnificent display of the male Wild Turkeys. And the woodpeckers' constant movement can wear a person out! Oh, and how could I forget the fighting pheasants?!

So many wonderful delights on this unexpectedly amazing day in the fog...

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Bird Encounters in the California Countryside

Birding on the rural backroads is my favorite place to find birds! This time, we spotted a vibrant male American Kestrel, Black Phoebes, and more. I'm convinced those two Turkey Vultures are up to no good...

Plus, I never thought we'd encounter the second-largest living rodent during our birding adventure!

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Ord Bend Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge ☼ California Birding Adventures

We'd never been to this unit of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex before, so I was excited to explore this beautiful area and look for some birds.

We heard a lot of them high up in the trees, but they were so fast-moving that it was tough to get many photos or video. Warblers, Juncos, and Jays sure make you work for it!

I'd never walked a trail that was alongside an orchard before, so that was interesting. We enjoyed this walk and look forward to visiting again soon...

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Birding Adventure at Sunrise ☼ Llano Seco Unit of the North Central Valley Wildlife Area

There's something so magical about greeting the day with a trip to the wildlife refuge. Early morning birdsong, sparkling rays of sunshine off the water, the lazy preening of the waterfowl...it's all just a little bit brighter and more memorable.

Be sure to stay to the end of the video to get a peek of our fleeting coyote sighting!

Here's the video of our first coyote sighting at the Sacramento NWR from my YouTube travel channel Vaughn the Road Again:

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Sutter National Wildlife Refuge

We finally walked the trails at the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge! It's a birdwatching destination that's been on our list for years and I'm so glad we made the drive to see this beautiful refuge.

We saw lots of Double-crested Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, and many other wetland birds. There were beautiful wildflowers in bloom, a cute little Lark Sparrow that hopped along on the walking trail in front of us, and the most adorable Sierran Tree Frog nestled in a hole in the path.

Another refuge checked off the to-do list!

Hmmm...wonder where we'll end up next...

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Wetlands Walk Trail (South) ↔ Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Walking Trails

The Wetlands Walk Trail (South) at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge in Northern California departs from the Visitor Center and wanders through wetlands, vernal pools, and riparian areas. The trail is 0.80 miles and is kid-friendly.

 

Watch the Wetlands Walk Trail (North) video HERE.

🐦

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Wetlands Walk Trail (North) ↔ Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Walking Trails

The Wetlands Walk Trail (North) at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge departs from the Visitor Center and leads you through wetlands, vernal pools, and riparian areas. The north loop is a little over a mile, and is wheelchair-friendly and kid-friendly.

Next week, I'll be posting the video for the South Wetlands Walk Trail, so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Watch the Wetlands Walk Trail (South) video HERE.

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Black-chinned Hummingbird Courtship Dance

I tried to clean up this video the best I could, but it was shot through a tinted window, and there was only so much I could do. Anywho, it was too amazing not to post!

Male Black-chinned Hummingbird courtship mating dance...

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Birding on the Backroads ~ Rural Birdwatching ~ Sacramento Valley Birds ~ Northern California

We seem to see just as many birds on the rural backroads as we do at the wildlife refuge! What a wonderful adventure it is to drive around this beautiful area and look for birds...

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Logan Creek Trail

The Logan Creek Trail at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge has up to 6 miles of trails that meander through wetlands and vernal pools.

Open only from February 15 - June 30, this area is accessed from Parking Lot D, on County Road 68.

We enjoyed a lovely walk and had some fun bird sightings, including Western Meadowlarks, Black-necked Stilts, and a Great Horned Owl.

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Bird Sightings and Fun Facts ~ Birding in California

I sprinkled in a few fun bird facts along with this week's sightings. No matter how much I study and research, I'm constantly learning something new about my wild feathered friends.

Did you know that Great Egrets can fly at a cruising speed of around 25 miles per hour with just two wingbeats per second?

Yup, not only are birds beautiful, they are fascinating in every way!

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Birdwatching in Your Car

Crank up your favorite tunes and let's go on a road trip!

One of the greatest things about birding--besides the beautiful birds, wonderful birdsong, and the fact that it's one giant scavenger hunt--is that you can do it from your car! Taking a drive through the auto tour at your local wildlife refuge is fun and easy. Plus, using your vehicle as a blind means you get to see even more birds that would normally be scared away if you were on a walking trail.

Some of our best bird sightings have been on the auto tour. This time, we saw our first-ever Horned Lark! It's always exciting to add another bird to the lifelist...

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