April 15, 2004
Putah Creek birds
This morning I decided to burn off last night's indulgence (dark chocolate toblerone fondue - yum!) by biking out to the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, south of Davis. I stopped off in the arboretum en route to check out the heronry, and in the same spot I had Wilson's Warbler a few days back was a fine Townsend's Warbler.
I parked my bike at the entrance to the picnic ground and walked west as far as the road bridge. Having somehow eluded me so far, I was pleased to add House Wren to my Yolo list - I counted 3 singing males along this stretch of the creek. Good numbers of Cliff, Tree and N Rough-winged Swallows were hawking over the creek. Amongst the many Audubon's and Myrtle Warblers was another Townsend's. It was a good day for gamebirds with both California Quail and 2 Wild Turkeys seen along the track (was nice to get the latter as a county bird, having previously seen them on the wrong side of the creek in Solano Co.).
Ash-throated flycatchers were very much in evidence - I saw at least three birds, including this fine singing male.
A pair of Western Bluebirds were also very obliging:
This Downy Woodpecker wasn't too chuffed to see me, and flew off seconds after this photo was taken.
