Journeys:
California Delta
February 2011
What a wonderful place is the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta and deserving of all the protection it can get. Steeped in history both natural and human, this “sump of California” has had its ups and downs, but as these photos show, the wildlife and the people viewing this beautiful changed landscape appreciate it and its bounty. Don’t know if competing interests can compromise enough to maintain this area without further decline, but as you can see from these photos, the animals and birds are doing their best to stay.
Beautiful unseasonably good weather was the order of the day for the first trips, and sunny warm days made for good bird activity and happy birders. Huge flocks of snow geese, jumping sandhill cranes and wonderful looks at bitterns, falcons, and green herons characterized the trips from Antioch. The trips from Ryde emphasized more of the cultural aspects of the Delta (including lots of its bridges), but we had some great views of red-shouldered and red tailed hawks, herons and egrets (especially black crowned night herons), and experienced some of the small “backwater” areas of the Delta.
On each of the birding trips from Antioch we had between 70 and 80 species total counts for each of the days. We also had occasional glimpses of California sea lions, river otters and beaver.
Peregrine falcons were seen on the Rio Vista Bridge and on a day mark in the Stockton ship channel, and we had “better bittern birding” in Fisherman’s Cut and in the berm islands in False River next to Frank’s Tract. They’re way easier to see when out in the water hyacinth than when camouflaged by tules!
We saw Great horned owls most trips, including some sitting on nests. Barn owls came into view on two of the cruises, and the herons have returned to the cottonwoods and their nests in the places we usually see them. The great flocks of tundra swans, snow geese, white fronted geese, and large groups of sandhill cranes amazed onlookers as most everyone obtained good views over the levees. We applaud the landowners that manage these parcels for the benefit of the overwintering birds.
View the bird list from Feb 5 to get an idea of the species present, with no trip being identical to another.
Photographers: David Wimpfheimer