Winter Moon Over The Delta, California

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Here are 16 photos that I took of wildlife at the Staten Island Preserve in the Sacramento River Delta Region, California. I took some on December 27 when the winter moon was approaching fullness. The rest I took on December 29 when the winter moon was full. For me, I always mentally engaged when I’m photographing wild birds in the Preserve. It’s fun for me. Happy New Year 2021!

Geese Egrets Sandhill Cranes in The Delta, California

Here are nine photos that I took of wild birds in Staten Island Preserve and Woodbridge Ecological Reserve in California. Geese and sandhill cranes have recently arrived in the Delta here. These wildlife refuges are part of the Pacific Flyway.

Close Encounters on The Delta

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Here are some more pictures that I took recently with the Panasonic G9 of wildlife and sunsets in the Staten Island Preserve. Staten Island Preserve is surrounded on three sides by levees. It’s located in the Sacramento River Delta Region. The nearest town is Walnut Grove, California. The distant mountain in the background is Mount Diablo. It’s another beautiful day in The Delta.

Woodbridge Ecological Reserve

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Here are six pictures that I took while joining the OLLI Bird Safari Outing to Woodbridge Ecological Reserve near Lodi, California. We saw many different kinds of wild migratory birds there like blue herons, sandhill cranes, and more. The birds were backlighted by the sun so they were mostly in silhouette. David Yu was our instructor who gave us lots of information about the migratory birds found in the Reserve.

Migratory Birds in The Delta

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Here are six pictures that I took on a short trip to The San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta Region in California. I took pictures of a Blue Heron, egrets, and swans. It was a beautiful day with the sky and wetlands crowded with  wildlife birds. I used a Nikon D600 FX camera and a Nikon 80 to 400 mm telephoto lens. I also saw a lot of bird watchers too.

 

Sandhill Cranes in The Delta

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As a friend and myself followed the Sandhill Cranes and Egrets around The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, I took some pictures of them and the sunset. I used a Nikon D600 FX with a Nikkor Telephoto 80 to 400 mm lens and a Nikkor Wide angle 20 mm lens. Always a joy and a pleasure to follow the cranes in The Delta Region in Northern California.

Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, CA

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On a recent visit to Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, California, I took a picture of the new sign erected by the California Department of Fish and Game. Fish and Game flood the reserve for the Sandhill Cranes to roost at night. I understand that the cranes tend to roost in water to avoid their predators like foxes and coyotes. During the day the cranes gleam the harvested corn fields in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Spinners were added to the power lines to help the cranes to see the lines. I always delight in the return in the fall of these beautiful migratory birds. The reserve is located west of I-5 and the nearest town is Lodi, California.

Central Florida Atlantic Coast

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Here are more pictures that I took on a recent trip to the Atlantic Coast of Central Florida. The locations include Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station, Hontoon Island State Park (Island Getaway along the St. John’s River), Tosohatchee State Reserve, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Best of the Season

I created a composite of three different pictures I took of The Delta: Sunset over flooded corn fields, Lunar Eclipse, and Swans in flight. There are Sandhill Cranes and Mont Diablo in the background. Happy Solstice, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2013!

Wildlife on The Delta

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The first two pictures are ones that I took recently of sandhill cranes flying over fields in The Delta near Lodi, California. The next four are some pictures I took today of tundra swans and a moonrise over Staten Island in the San Joaquin Delta Region near Walnut Grove, California. On Staten Island the fields are flooded during winter months creating a wildlife habitat. I used a Nikon D300s with a Nikon Telephoto 80-400 mm lens. I also used a gimbal ballhead on a tripod for support and to be able to tract the birds in flight.