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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Red-winged Blackbirds Singing

Red-winged Blackbirds have so much personality! And when they sing, they put their whole heart, soul, and red shoulder pads into each and every song.

Over the years, we've been delighted to find them in the grasslands, marshes, and even in the mountains, singing their lively songs and adding a flash of brilliant color across the landscape.

Isn't it interesting how each of them customize their own call?

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Bird Viewing Platforms

The viewing platforms on the auto tour at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge in Northern California are the perfect place to--you guessed it!--view all of the wonderful birds and wildlife of these beautiful wetlands.

Depending on the season, the view is always changing. Migration brings geese and ducks through this area of the Pacific Flyway, creating a birders delight.

So, take a deep breath of fresh air, open your ears to the lively birdsong, and enjoy the rolling hills surrounding the valley and the ripples in the water as ducks and grebes paddle their way across the pond...

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Snowy Egret Plumes

Pic of the day!

Some birds don't even have to try to sparkle for the camera, it just comes naturally...

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Horned Lark

I couldn't pick a favorite photo, so I'm posting them all!

We've had a Horned Lark on our wishlist forever and it's so wonderful to finally see (and hear!) one.

Our first sighting was a few weeks ago, but all we managed to get was some shaky video that wasn't fit to post. This time, this little guy really put on a show for us!

Maybe, fingers crossed, we'll start seeing them all the time now :)

I'll be posting the video of this male singing on my YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss his lovely, sweet song...

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