At the end of November Marlene and I drove from San Marcos up to Redding, California, a distance of about 650 miles. This was the half-way point for meeting up with Marlene's sister from Randle, Washington, and transferring Jean, their mother, who had been visiting us for 6 weeks.
On the return journey the next two days we took a couple of detours. One was to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows, California, about 85 miles north of the city of Sacramento and right on Interstate 5.
We first stopped at the visitor center and hiked a short bit of trails. Then we drove the 6 mile long auto tour route. You are not allowed outside of your vehicle on the auto tour. Birds are not afraid of people driving in vehicles. Thus, we spent over 2 hours driving slowly and parking to photograph waterfowl in astounding numbers at close range.
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| Sacramento NWR visitor center |
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| Turkey Vulture |
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| American Goldfinch |
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| Red-tailed Hawk |
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| Merlin |
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| American Pipit |
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| Greater White-fronted Goose |
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| Northern Shoveler |
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| Bottoms up! Northern Shoveler |
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| Western Meadowlark |
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| Mallard |
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| Flock of Snow Geese |
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| Flock of Snow Geese |
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| Snow Goose |
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| Snow Goose |
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| Greater White-fronted Goose |
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| Snow Goose |
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| Greater White-fronted Goose |
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| "Blue Goose," a color variant of Snow Goose. |
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| "Blue Goose," a color variant of Snow Goose. |
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| Northern Shoveler |
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| Eared Grebe |
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| Ross's Geese are like miniature Snow Geese with stubby little bills. |
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| Tiny Ross's Goose with Northern Pintail. |
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