A Cold, Cold Day at the Preserve

This beautiful female Finch was kind enough to pose by raising her tail slightly for the camera.

Female and Male Green Winged Teals.  The male keeps an eye out while his mate grabs a bite to eat.

A Red Shouldered Hawk and a Male Finch fluffed up to keep warm.  

Red Tailed Hawk fluffing it's feathers so they will lay just right to keep her warm. 

Cute Little Raptors!

This picture was taken just outside of the Sacramento International Airport on a very windy Friday.  Normally, this Kestrel would bow into the wind.  It decided to stand up in between wind gusts.  

This is Sophia, a Saw Whet Owl.  She was hit by a truck and deemed unable to fly and hunt for herself so she was brought to Effie Yeaw Nature Center where she is well cared for.  She is so loved by everyone - especially the children that come to visit the Center. 

Frolicking River Otters

These pictures were taken last month at a pond off the American River Bike Trail.  These River Otters just showed up and were running across the pond (that did not have a lot of water in it). 

Mama Otter at the top and two of her three offspring running and enjoying themselves!

Great Blue Heron, A Great Egret and a Rainbow

I recently drove to The Vic Fazio Wildlife Preserve.  It was my first time doing the auto tour.  Some kind strangers allowed me to look through their spotting scope to see Canvas Back Ducks and one lone Trumpeter Swan. 

Though most of the waterfowl were maintaining a distance, I was able to photo a few birds and a fun shot of a rainbow near I-80. 

Sunday's Pre-Super Moon & Sunset

Raptor's of Fall

Normally, Swainson's Hawks migrate in late August and early September south to Mexico and some fly as far as South America.  When I was at the Sacramento International Airport recently, I spotted this juvenile Swainson's Hawk flying off to a nearby field at sunset.  Maybe a few stay here for the winter? 

I know the picture of the Red Shouldered Hawk is hard to see but I love how the bird came out as it was flying from tree to tree on the American River Parkway.  Such a beautiful bird!

Hibiscus Love