Ross’s geese and northern pintails
As I’ve shared here before, I follow the migratory waterfowl and other birds—my own personal migration on winter weekends. Here are some portraits from recent trips to California’s Central Valley. These are highlights from this season’s trips to several national wildlife refuges—Colusa, Merced, Sacramento, San Luis—as well as the as well as the Llano Seco Unit of the North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area and various agricultural fields.
I feel such joy being around these birds, who bring so much life during the cold, dark months of the year. More photos to come.
Geese silhouetted against the Sutter Buttes
White-faced ibis
Gadwalls
Northern shoveler
Black-necked stilt
Another view of the black-necked stilt
Greater white-fronted geese (foreground) and snow geese
Snow geese
Greater white-fronted geese
The odd couple – western pond turtle and cinnamon teal
Northern pintail
American wigeons
Tundra swans
Great egret and mallards
Great blue heron
Woodswoman Writes 
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for sharing this great edition. You have some great photos here. I especially love the “odd couple” and the picture with thousands of geese.
Bob
I chuckled watching the teal and the turtle together. They were pretty far away so the image resolution isn’t great, but I couldn’t resist taking a photo of that scene.
Nice bird pics!
There are too many to put in a single post, so watch for more soon.
So beautiful! I wish I could transport myself to be there with you!
One of these days I need to get to Texas and you can show me the birds where you are. That would be fun.
From a nearby street corner in Indianapolis, I recently watched two flights of sandhill cranes pass N==>S overhead, and was struck by how clearly I heard them, how far away they were, and how swiftly they were moving. It *always* seems to amaze me……
Your Cali pictures here remind me so much of that, or of hanging on to a piece of schist near a Connecticut salt marsh when growing up, hearing the Canada goose flights overhead.
Amazing passages….
Great imagery. A future post will feature some photos of sandhill cranes. On one of my excursions, I came upon a flock of more than 100 of them. That was special.
Your photos are lovely! Happy New Year Beverly!
Thank you. Happy new year to you as well!
From one Woodswoman to another: What a beautiful collection of photos you’ve gathered! We are in Peru and are headed in three days to Quito and the Galapagos . . . I hope to get photos of birds, sea lions, and giant turtles while we’re there. Hope you are well.
Wow, what a wonderful adventure you’re having. I look forward to your stories and photos. I wish you the best for the new year.
So much life in these photos!
Yes, that’s the feeling when you’re there. I’m glad that comes across.
Your pictures are wonderful! That one of the geese in the air is breathtaking! Thanks for sharing.
Beth
Thanks. It’s hard to go wrong when you’re surrounded by such beautiful subjects.
Couldn’t pick a favorite this time, but I especially enjoy “White-faced ibis,” “The Odd Couple,” “Great Blue Heron,” “Geese silhouetted against the Sutter Buttes” and just about every portrait…stupendous!!
I’ve spent years trying to get a decent photo of an ibis. They are skittish and usually too far away to get a good shot. It’s gratifying that I finally did. Thanks for the compliments.