1st Time Visiting Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Arrival time: 6am
Traffic: Very light
Experience:  AWESOME

I have been wanting to visit this Refuge for sometime but one has to get up early to get to this location which is an hour and a half (or more) from my home.  Fortunately, I was headed to the airport to drop a friend off and decided to get back on I-5 from the airport to the Refuge.  I did not know what to expect once I arrived.  Fortunately, the gates to the Refuge open one hour before sunrise so just as the sun was about to come up, I drove onto the path to do the auto tour.  I was not disappointed.  Coyotes and Jack Rabbits were loping and bounding about before sunrise.  I was not able to photo them but I was able to get a shot of the sunrise, Ring Necked Pheasants, a Bald Eagle and a tiny Golden Crowned Sparrow.  I must say, the highlight of my visit was the Eagle!  So Majestic!

Cold Winter's Day @Vic Fazio Wildlife Area

This Wildlife area is for vehicles to drive through or it can be enjoyed on foot.  Because it was so cold and somewhat muddy, I decided to stay in my vehicle.  I have driven this area twice now and based on experience, it is best to drive this tour two times in one visit.  On my first go round, there really wasn't much going on.  Then, I see Sacramento from a distance with the clouds clearing.  So, I decide to add a creative filter and...

Then I saw a Kestrel stilling while looking for prey below.  I decide to follow it as it moves northward.  Then, I get distracted by Western Meadowlarks!  When I look for the Kestrel, he is gone!  Oh No!  But then, I see him on the ledge of the freeway happily ripping feathers off of it's kill.  I stay in my vehicle, watch and take pictures of this beautiful raptor eating away while vehicles are speeding by through an opening which allows rain water to flow out.  Suddenly, I see a large shadow on the concrete and the Kestrel look up.  I later find out it was a Red Tailed Hawk.  The Kestrel grabs it's meal and flies off.  Fortunately, I was in place to take the fly off:

I am so glad this shot came out as it is rare to catch this view of this colorful Kestrel.  He even has some feather's in his beak! 

Wow!

During this time of year, I like to drive out to the Preserve just to see what is out there so far as wildlife etc.  Last Friday, was foggy and cold most of the morning.  I was going to leave early but decided to be patient and wait for the sun to peek out from the clouds/fog. 

I was in my car on a side road taking pictures of Great Egrets.  A couple of them were cooperative and allowed me to get somewhat close.  One in particular was just casually looking around and then it quickly bent down and grabbed something.  I thought it was going to be bug...oh no...it's a rodent!  It was an interesting moment as I had my camera fixed on the Egret the whole time.  I could hear the squeaking and as you can see, it was really trying to get out of that beak.  Alas, the Egret flew off and eventually swallowed it's lunch. 

After that shot, I drove back to an area were newborn lambs and ewe's were located in a makeshift pen.  The fog in the morning did not provide for good pictures but after noon,  the lighting improved and so did the disposition of the lambs.