Birding Northern California - Part 1: Bird Photography Oak Foothills The Valley

[@TomCooper]

We saw a California Condor in -Rocky Mountain- _Grand Canyon_ National Park in 2001, and we weren't looking for it. Nothing prepared us for it. We were on the rim when this ASTOUNDINGLY LARGE bird rose up from the canyon in front of us. I can still see the tag with it's black "9". Will never forget it.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Wow! What an experience, Tom. That is how I’d like to see my Lifer California Condor!

[@randallmarsh1187]

You sure you don't mean Grand Canyon Nat'l Park? I have not seen any documentation of them being in RMNP.

[@TomCooper]

@@randallmarsh1187 you are correct. It was at the rim of the Grand Canyon. I don't know where that brain ft came from.

[@randallmarsh1187]

@@TomCooper Hey, that happens to me......all the time now!

[@Cobbmtngirl]

We saw a pair outside Grand Canyon a few years back. Some wildlife specialists were following them & taking notes. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

[@xijiang2728]

Berryessa is beautiful. We were there in mid-May. You did a lot of driving from Berryessa to Mt. Shasta. Love Northern California.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Very cool! It showed California poppies on the sign so I’m assuming it’s known for that as well. PS I’m doing this series more by habitat so I didn’t actually hit all these places in a row. Next time will be mountains!

[@Anonymous-fk5ss]

Thank you so much for this very generous video.

[@SparkyStensaas]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@betterbirders]

Spent 3 weeks in Pinedale this year. Decent birding at the Soda lake wetlands. Sacred rim had pine grosbeaks and a great view!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Three weeks! Wow. I really enjoyed the sagebrush flats south of town since I never really explored that type of habitat…Sage Thrasher, Sagebrush Sparrow….no Sage Grouse. Very cool area in town. I got some awesome photos of Red-breasted Sapsucker and Violet-green swallow.

[@oldschoolman1444]

Ospreys, white herons, flickers, pelicans here on the southern Oregon coast. 😊 I've seen red shoulder hawks too. Oh, and horned owls.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Sounds like a beautiful place! Oregon is the only western state I haven’t been to :-)

[@RoseGrace100]

Love the Oak Titmouse. Beautiful photos/videos. I love the white headed woodpecker.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Great birds! Oak Titmouse is adorable :-)

[@MexIrishBackyardBirdwatcher]

Great video! I used to live in Petaluma and later in Mendocino County.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Very cool! It was a great trip and I really enjoyed far northern California

[@dstensland]

Before you made that comment about the white-headed woodpecker, I was thinking it! :) Loving your videos. Making my second trip to Sax Zim Bog this winter.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Great! Hope to see you in The Bog!

[@shirleyandrews1152]

U R in my country! Wish you could have seen the nesting pileated woodpeckers in my backyard in Magalia. REALLY ENJOYED YOUR TRIP. Thanks for sharing.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you, Shirley! Very lucky to have a Pileated nest in your backyard!

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

Good job getting to see a wrentit in one day. Unreal.

[@BobMacNeal]

Well done Sparky. Brilliant shot of the family of Mergansers.

[@SparkyStensaas]

That was probably my favorite photo from the segment of the trip as well Bob. Thanks for watching!

[@AngkyMac]

I was quite astonished to see your shots of Guinda in the Cache Creek area. I am very frequently in that area with my camera. Had we met there, seeing your birding camera, you would have immediately been on the other side of that locked gate and right up into very steep ground and some interesting scenes, with birds that I am not skilled at photographing. I am impressed with your catches of birds in that area--birds that I do not even know to look for!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Very cool that you live near there! Would love to get up Road 40 some day.

[@ryanmarshik8971]

Looks like the start of an awesome trip ~ Love the Rabbit ears shot

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks buddy!

[@Pedro-nf2rr]

Saludos.Un viaje interesantísimo,muchos avistamientos,especies que faltan fotografiadas ya,etc.Cada día valoro más las aves.Hay una frase qué es mi favorita, La fotografía es plasmar el momento,para en el futuro recordar el pasado.Gracias

[@SparkyStensaas]

That is a great quote Pedro! I will have to remember that.

[@garymeredith2441]

Sparky you have some great photos there , what I liked the best was the 9 baby common Merganser's they are so beautiful also your portrait of the Male Lazuli Bunting .

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks, Gary! I really appreciate you listing your favorite photos. That is very helpful! Family is my favorites. It’s a little bit of a different type of image.

[@almeadows8277]

You got some nifty species, Sparky; well done. I look forward to the rest of the series.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks Al!

[@Cobbmtngirl]

While in Cache Creek area, you should check out the many trails in the area. You have to hike in but well worth it. I live not too far away. You also should have gone to Anderson Marsh, Rodman Slough &/or Clear Lake State Park for birding. All located on Clear Lake which is the largest natural lake in California and has an abundance of bird life. Happy birding! Thanks for sharing ❤

[@Cobbmtngirl]

Also, I’ve been to all of the refuge’s in the Sacramento valley system. Colusa is by far the best.

[@SparkyStensaas]

All good tips! I’m from Minnesota, but will be visiting my aunt in San Francisco several times over the next few years.

[@SparkyStensaas]

All good tips! Hard to plan a trip when you don’t really know anybody who birds out there so I appreciate the comments. I’m from Minnesota, but will be visiting my aunt in San Francisco several times over the next few years.

[@piccadillypie]

Looking forward to the rest of the series - thanks, Sparky!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Great! Next one in about a week or so

[@ukestasz]

Ellis Creek is great! Smart choice.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you. I think I barely scratched the surface of this amazing place.

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

That was great Sparky. I recently got my lifer social flycatcher.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Jealous! Is it still down in Texas?

[@BirdBrainBrian64]

I lived in California for several years in the 80s but wasn't a birder back then 😢. Looking forward to the other videos from this trip.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you, Brian! What an amazing state. Should be at least three more episodes. Stay tuned!

[@BirdBrainBrian64]

@SparkyStensaas Sweet. I studied at UC Davis and remember Cache Creek and Lake Berryessa. I live in Arkansas now and there are some great birds here too. Have you been to Arkansas before?

[@SparkyStensaas]

I have never been to Arkansas! Not even to search for the Ivory-billed woodpecker :-)

[@BirdBrainBrian64]

@SparkyStensaas Speaking of the Ivory-billed I went birding with a guy from Arkansas who said he has seen them in Louisiana. I believe him. I think he is a credible person.

[@ronboe6325]

Sue got bonked on the head at the cabin in Pine this past weekend. Trees were shedding 'em like crazy! Only got a few birds, but tonnes of nice elk shots.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Poor Sue! We missed “El Presidente“ at the Wuda Wooch reunion!

[@DonkeyYote]

15:00 Nothing says Minnesota birder like a Sax-Zim Bog T-shirt.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Ha! Yes… I am the executive Director so I thought I should do a little cross promotion :-)

[@a.m.v.6938]

Was that you handling a fawn ?…..Why ? Never mind, I watched the video where you had to help it. Thank you for doing that.

[@frednorman1]

I live in the Central Valley of California. And I would not recommend visitor in the summertime because of the heat. Today we had a temperature 111, we’ve had a heatwave for about 12 days.. best time to visit Northern California for birding is November through April. That’s when the migration along the Pacific flyway is in full force.

[@SparkyStensaas]

All true Fred! Good tip for first time visitors. Someday, I would like to see the wintering flocks of waterfowl. On this trip though I wanted to see birds on their breeding grounds… And most of the trip I was up in the mountains or along the coast and the temps were really nice.

[@jennifercarney1762]

I was lucky enough to see the San Jacinto wetlands filled with waterfowl in January this year. Spectacular! The inland empire has some gorgeous birding.

[@Cobbmtngirl]

Think how the deer you hit’s day changed.

[@SparkyStensaas]

It sure did!