Last week, we enjoyed a wonderful and warm day of birding along Santa Rosa Creek Trail. Wildflowers have popped and the trees are relieved to have begun re-leafing.
A quick peek at the creek yielded a look at a solo river otter. As it cruised past some vegetation, a Green Heron abruptly flew out squawking its protest.
Migratory birds are returning to the area to breed, and our hearts jump for joy at the sight of each old friend. This Warbling Vireo was our first sighting of the year, and we stopped to relish its song.
Listen below to the warbling tune this vireo is named for.
A hawk swooped in and landed on a nearby branch. Can you tell which hawk these fluffy white undertail coverts belong to?
They belonged to this gorgeous adult Cooper’s Hawk!
Much to our delight, we discovered its stern-looking mate perched nearby as well.
Take a look at the hawk’s nictitating membrane – you can still see the red iris underneath.
Then, we watched in amazement as the two birds came together for a few seconds to copulate. Listen below to the vocalizations emitted during the mating process.
Here’s to hoping we’ll see some juvenile Cooper’s Hawks terrorizing the trail later this summer!
This Hutton’s Vireo was also paired up, and we watched as they bopped through the oaks just feet from each other making quiet contact calls back and forth.
Swallowtail butterflies are so showy – the Anise Swallowtail does not disappoint!
As we sat and ate a snack at Delta Pond, we watched a pair of Tree Swallows bringing twigs into the nest box they had claimed.
Later, we discovered a handful of birds hanging out in a farm pond: Mallards, a couple Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, and Black-necked Stilts.
This barring on the flanks and belly of a Greater Yellowlegs develops during its transition to breeding plumage.
Suddenly, the Killdeer erupted in alarm, setting off a bevy of bird alarms all around the pond. A Cooper’s Hawk had flown into a nearby oak!
Listen below to the repetitive “kip-kip-kip” call of the Black-necked Stilt. A higher-pitched Killdeer alarm is prominent in the beginning of the recording as well.
This White-crowned Sparrow appeared to be molting its head feathers.
A jackrabbit hopped around in the grassy field adjacent to the trail. Watch out for hawks!!!
This Pacific-slope Flycatcher perched out in the late-afternoon sunshine. We’re happy these little darlings are back in town.
We like to imagine long eyelashes on this adorable guy or gal, it feels like it would really work with this look.
Ahh, there’s nothing like the soft light of the descending sun at the end of a warm spring day of birding!
Again ! This is so pleasant to be brought into your birding sessions. Great pictures and recordings as usual. Thank you so much.
André
love this post!
Wonderful post. Love the Cooper’s Hawk sequence. (Where’s the photo of the mating though?) Please say where this trail section is.
Wish every Empid photo was that good – we’d be able to ID more!
Exquisite in so many ways.
Thanks to you both.
Sounds like a grand day out!
I love your blog. You are so generous to share your adventures with us. I walk many of the same trails…hope to meet someday!
When will your “live” tours return?
Oh, my! Thank you, thank you! It is so exciting to go along on your birding outings; I gush over your photos.
What a wonderful post, thank you! BTW, down here in SoCal my local group of White-crowned sparrows seem to have gone for northern migration. But 1 or 2 stragglers have been left behind since last week. Do you think they can’t make the trip this year? They’re hanging out with a team of finches.
Thanks for your post! The only photo I would have liked to have seen would have been of the “owner/operator” of Santa Rosa Creek Trail, Brian Webb!