Trail cutting through green grass and yellow flowers with oak trees in the distance

Dawn Chorus at Santa Rosa Creek Trail

Last week, we rose extra early and headed out to enjoy the incredibly rich dawn chorus at Santa Rosa Creek Trail. We arrived at first-light and captured this dawn chorus recording at 5:40 AM – about 10 minutes before sunrise. Feast your ears on this magnificent avian symphony! Continue reading “Dawn Chorus at Santa Rosa Creek Trail”

Ruby-crowned Kinglet with black feet yellow legs perched on skinny branch with sky and ground in background

Our 10 Favorite Bird Photos From 2020

Photographing birds has never been our top priority when out birding, but we do appreciate how photographs can help enhance a memory. We’re always amazed how looking at a photo can elicit a vivid recollection of details about the observation or even the whole birding excursion itself.
 
Here are 10 of our favorite photographs from 2020, presented in chronological order. All photos were taken using a Canon EOS Rebel T2i with a 55-250mm lens. Continue reading “Our 10 Favorite Bird Photos From 2020”

Wrentit perched in branches surrounded by foliage

What’ve We Been Up To?

Long time, no talk, friends! We hope everyone is reading this while safe and healthy.
 
Fires are raging across the West Coast, and in August, the Walbridge Fire evacuated us from our house for a week. Residential areas of Guerneville and the surrounding towns were generally spared thanks to the herculean work of the incredible firefighters. Their tireless efforts also prevented damage to the Colonel Armstrong tree – the oldest tree within Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, estimated to be 1,400 years old!
 
Yesterday, along with the entire Greater Bay Area and beyond, we woke up to this surreal skyscape. Continue reading “What’ve We Been Up To?”

Bald Eagle adult perched on a thick branch against green foliage

Birdwatching on the Russian River by Kayak

Last week, we headed to Monte Rio for an early morning paddle. At 6:30 AM, a layer of morning mist still covered the glassy water while the sun began to peek above the forest line. Continue reading “Birdwatching on the Russian River by Kayak”

Our 10 Favorite Bird Photos From 2019

As we’ve said before, we don’t fancy ourselves photographers – simply birders who like to take some photos. Here are 10 of our favorite photographs from 2019, presented in chronological order. In putting together this Top 10, we enjoyed reflecting back on the stories behind each one. All photos were taken using a Canon EOS Rebel T2i with a 55-250mm lens. Continue reading “Our 10 Favorite Bird Photos From 2019”

Snowy Egret standing in pond eating at Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility in Petaluma, California

Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Monthly Bird Survey at Ellis Creek (7/23/19)

Tuesday, July 23, was the bimonthly bird survey at Ellis Creek for the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA). The fog was burning off just in time as we set out at 7 AM. Continue reading “Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Monthly Bird Survey at Ellis Creek (7/23/19)”