Hi all,

 

Sorry for the late post.

 

Finally having a rain-free Monday, headed out to Mix Canyon Road.  Within the first .7 mi of road, we picked up WESTERN KINGBIRD, 2 BULLOCK’S ORIOLES, HOODED ORIOLES, WILSON’S & ORANGE-CROWNED (and one beautiful YELLOW-RUMPED) WARBLERS, & BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS.  As we continued up the road we could hear other OC Warblers and more BH Grosbeaks – though really hard to hear much with the amazing amount of water rushing down the creek.  Up on Blue Ridge Road, WRENTITS were singing everywhere, and we saw at least 8 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS.  (One had a beak full of nesting material.)  At mm 7 to 7.2 had at least 2 CALIFORNIA THRASHERS (and heard one or 2 others while driving.)  Looked and listened for Bell’s Sparrow, but did not find any.

 

Lunch at Lake Solano, where all the wintering ducks have cleared out.  Did see a pair of WOOD DUCKS, and 2 PHAINOPEPLA.  We’ll have to admit that the best birds at the park were the established peafowl – the males were doing their elaborate dancing and when filming one, happened to get it shaking its tail feathers producing a low frequency sound- almost like a rattlesnake!  Can check here to read about it, if interested:  http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2016-04-28/physics-of-how-peacocks-shake-their-tail-feathers-to-woo-a-mate/7367164   It was really impressive.

 

Backyard in Napa:  remaining GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS & fewer WHITE-CROWNS, several RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS have been hanging out at our feeders this past stormy days.  HOODED ORIOLES also coming to feeders.

 

Happy birding,

Denise & David Hamilton

Napa