California's San Joaquin Valley

 

We had planned to spend Monday, September 20^th at Sequoia National Park but the wildfires had other ideas. Instead we birded the Merced NWR and San Luis NWR in California’s beautiful San Joaquin Valley. After driving past miles of almond groves, tomato, potato, and cotton fields, we arrived at Merced at 9:30. The five-mile auto loop did not disappoint. Migratory waterfowl crowded certain areas of the wetlands and fields. Sandhill Cranes croaked overhead landing in pastures among the cattle. American Coot, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, ans Black-necked Stilt crowded the wetlands. We didn’t recognize some of the birds we saw, still trying to get out western “ID” legs with these unfamiliar species so far from our home. We added several life birds to our list including the Loggerhead Shrike:

 

 

The Black Phoebe:

 

 

The Red-necked Phalarope:

 

 Eurasian-collared Dove:

 White-faced Ibis:

California Towhee:

We also enjoyed some more familiar birds some we've seen back east and some we've seen several times since we've been in the west.

Black-necked Stilt:

 

Western Bluebird (female):

 

Kildeer:

 

Least Sandpiper:

Greater Yellowlegs:

Black-crowned Night Heron:

We headed over to San Luis NWR, about 35 minutes west of Merced. There were wetlands at San Luis but not much today. We did see a few species including raptors Red-tail Hawk, Northern Harrier, and American Kestral.

A wonderful place to bird. Peaceful, sunny, breezy and warm.