A surprise showed up near the end of Apirl: A White Wagtail. This Wagtail is normally found in Europe and South Asia but at times they wander along the coasts of North America. Sometimes you find a bird instantly but other times they become nemesis birds: this one I found right away.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) - Bodega Bay - Gaffney Pt, SON (CA)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0, with 1.4 TC, Taken: 4-25-2026 at 11:02
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO400, +1 EV, Conditions: foggy
The Acorn Woodpecker has a place in my heart since I had a family in my yard when I lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. Another bird that is more common in California is the American Bittern and the wild Band-tailed Pigeon.
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) - Ragle Ranch RP, SON (CA) - 4-24-2026 9:28
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO160, +1 EV, Conditions: overcast
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) - Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, SON (CA)
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO720, +1 EV, Conditions: overcast - 4-22-2026 7-8am
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) - Osprey Dr Area, SON (CA) - 4-26-2026 7:47
Settings: D500 70-200mm f/4 - 175mm (35mm eqv), 1/320s, f/6.7, ISO360, +1 EV, Conditions: foggy
What is nice about the California Coast you can find woodland birds like the Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bushtits, California Towhees, and a surprising number of Red-shouldered Hawks. In the marsh lands there are Yellowthroats and Marsh Wrens.
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) - Crane Creek RP, SON (CA) - 4-22-2026 9:48
Riverfront RP, SON (CA) - 4-27-2026 11:44
Bushtit, Pacific (Psaltriparus minimus [minimus Group]) - Ragle Ranch RP, SON (CA) - 4-24-2026 9:42
California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) - Osprey Dr Area, SON (CA) - 4-25-2026 7:29
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) - Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, SON (CA) - 4-22-2026 7:20
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) - Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, SON (CA) - 4-22-2026 7:57
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, SON (CA) - 4-22-2026 8:05
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, SON (CA) - 4-22-2026 7:44
Another nice find was a Ruddy Turnstone that I found foraging along the docks in Bodega Bay. There were hundreds of Semipalmated Sandpipers and a nice variety of gulls with most being Western.
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) - Bodega Bay--Porto Bodega, SON (CA) - 4-21-2026 12:28
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) - Bodega Bay-Gaffney Pt, SON (CA) - 4-26-2026 10:41
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) - Sea Ranch, SON (CA) - 4-19-2026 11:11
Western Blue Flag (Iris missouriensis) - Sea Ranch, SON (CA) - 4-19-2026 10:28
Other nice surprises were a Cattle Egret foraging in a Santa Rosa Park as well a Great-tailed Grackles. Another nice find was a pair of Yellow-breasted Chat along the Santa Rosa Creek. At the house we were staying there were Wild Turkey, a nice White-throated Sparrow, and a Bobcat the showed up a couple of times. More to come.
Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis) - A Place to Play Park, SON (CA) - 4-17-2026 7:39
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) - A Place to Play Park, SON (CA) - 4-17-2026 7:34
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
Santa Rosa Creek Trail, SON (CA) - 4-27-2026 10:34
Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Osprey Dr Area, SON (CA) - 4-17-2026 16:18
Settings: D500 70-200mm f/4 - 175mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/6.7, ISO720, +1 EV, Conditions: fog/sun
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) - Osprey Dr Area, SON (CA) - 4-25-2026 7:38
Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.