Two Sandhill Cranes
On Tuesday my friend Jill and I drove to Lodi to enjoy a mini road trip and to do some bird watching. We saw hawks all along our journey mostly on telephone poles surveying the ground below. We were heading to the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve.
Every Fall thousands of waterfowl birds migrate from Russia, Alaska, Canada into California and the Pacific Flyway. Below is a GPS map of the migration from the US Government and Western Ecological Research Center.
The birds mostly come from colder countries and over winter in California's Central Valley.
Great Egret
A Great Egret can be identified by its large size and a yellow-orange bill while the Snowy Egret is much smaller in size and has a black bill.
Two Tundra Swans
We arrived at the Reserve in the early afternoon and drove up and down West Woodbridge Road. There is shallow water on both sides of the road where the birds gather.
Several Sandhill Cranes in a field with more in the background
Tundra Swans in flight
Later in the afternoon birds began to fly overhead in great numbers.
More Tundra Swans
Greater White-Fronted Geese in the foreground and Snow Geese in the mid-section
The Greater White-Fronted Geese are named this because they have a small bit of white feathers above their bill.
Greater White-Fronted Geese blend in with the landscape
A solitary Sandhill Crane with a red head
Snow Geese landing in a nearby field
Snow Geese in flight with their distinctive features of white body and black tipped wings
Coming around again!
At this point it's getting pretty noisy as they are calling from the sky, the water and the fields
Jill had me turn the car off several times so we could take in the excited calls.
There were several Northern Pintail ducks nearby
An American Kestrel (which is one of the smallest falcons) on the wires. So colorful!
Western Grebe with long bills
What I believe is a Red-Shouldered Hawk blending in with his background
A very friendly Great Blue Heron quietly standing by the side of the road. Didn't seem bothered by the car or our cameras clicking. Guess he wanted to make sure we got his good side!
Sandhill Cranes
A different shot of the American Kestrel
A hawk in a Walnut Tree
Jill spotted this Coyote as we were leaving
Not sure why he was so thin as there are plenty of birds to eat.
A Great Egret taking off.....
And there she goes.....
A parting shot of a Sandhill Crane
After leaving the Reserve we went into Lodi and enjoyed a yummy early Thai dinner at Thai Spices that my friend Ellen had recommended! Thanks Ellen - it was so delicious!
We drove home into a beautiful sunset.
Hope to go again soon!
