The GBBC overlapped our FORB fungi event. We'll have a report here soon on how that great event went. Meanwhile, here's a list of the ebird count made on the same day. A couple of avian highlights then were a female Northern harrier flying low over the former landfill mound. Perhaps the species will nest there again this year? A Prairie falcon was also seen up close foraging over the mound with lots of meadowlarks hiding in the tall green grass there too.
Earlier in February, Robert Sewell had some great sea lion observations to share below too.
US-CA-Sacramento-American River Parkway - 38.5891x-121.4579
Feb 13, 2016 Sally & Dale
11:44 AM
Traveling
2.00 miles
120 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.1.5 Build 44
10 Canada Goose
6 Common Goldeneye -- Male/female
10 Common Merganser
4 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Turkey Vulture
1 Northern Harrier -- Female
2 Red-shouldered Hawk
2 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2 Anna's Hummingbird -- 1 male displaying
1 Prairie Falcon
1 Black Phoebe
2 American Crow
12 Tree Swallow
1 Oak Titmouse -- Calling/singing
3 Bushtit
3 European Starling
6 American Pipit
2 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Spotted Towhee
50 Western Meadowlark
2 House Finch
Number of Taxa: 22
Ca. Sea Lion feeding at SLP 2/6/16
Friends of the river,
When I arrived at Sutters Landing Park last Sat. Feb. 6th just before sunset, expecting to enjoy the last rays of the day, I saw a whirling flock of gulls diving in the same general area, next a noticed large ripples of water coming toward the rive banks. I thought this must be a Ca. Sea Lion who has made a catch!
As my steps quickened, it didn't take long to confirm my guess was right. There it was, just up river towards the north bank, churning the normally tranquil surface, as it tore large chunks of flesh from what must have been a large fish. From the time I arrived, it continued to feed for over a half hour! All the time the gulls where making off with every morsel they could grab. I imagine as much, if not more action was happening below the surface, with all sizes of fish grabbing whatever they could!
Don’t we enjoy the camaraderie and connectedness felt between strangers, at nature moments like this?
Another story for another day.
Robert
Earlier in February, Robert Sewell had some great sea lion observations to share below too.
US-CA-Sacramento-American River Parkway - 38.5891x-121.4579
Feb 13, 2016 Sally & Dale
11:44 AM
Traveling
2.00 miles
120 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.1.5 Build 44
10 Canada Goose
6 Common Goldeneye -- Male/female
10 Common Merganser
4 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Turkey Vulture
1 Northern Harrier -- Female
2 Red-shouldered Hawk
2 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2 Anna's Hummingbird -- 1 male displaying
1 Prairie Falcon
1 Black Phoebe
2 American Crow
12 Tree Swallow
1 Oak Titmouse -- Calling/singing
3 Bushtit
3 European Starling
6 American Pipit
2 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Spotted Towhee
50 Western Meadowlark
2 House Finch
Number of Taxa: 22
Ca. Sea Lion feeding at SLP 2/6/16
Friends of the river,
When I arrived at Sutters Landing Park last Sat. Feb. 6th just before sunset, expecting to enjoy the last rays of the day, I saw a whirling flock of gulls diving in the same general area, next a noticed large ripples of water coming toward the rive banks. I thought this must be a Ca. Sea Lion who has made a catch!
As my steps quickened, it didn't take long to confirm my guess was right. There it was, just up river towards the north bank, churning the normally tranquil surface, as it tore large chunks of flesh from what must have been a large fish. From the time I arrived, it continued to feed for over a half hour! All the time the gulls where making off with every morsel they could grab. I imagine as much, if not more action was happening below the surface, with all sizes of fish grabbing whatever they could!
Don’t we enjoy the camaraderie and connectedness felt between strangers, at nature moments like this?
Another story for another day.
Robert
Down the hatch!
When I enlarge this one, it looks like it had cleaned off all the flesh from it's back
The gulls where relentless! One is almost submerged!
One last big mouth full before it slowly and with a full belly, swam off down river, into the sunset
RSS Feed
