The Burrowing owls of Contra Costa County
Springtime update on the Burrowing owls of Contra Costa County. This is already a tough fire season for our area. Early rains then good weather and strong winds has led to high dry grass and the need to disc and clear areas for fire protection. The small owl will be challenged again as their habitat has already been altered by new construction and agriculture. The owls in many cases end up on the edge of properties where the ground is not disturbed as much. Many times this leaves them in areas where debris is dumped, municipalities spay road shoulders or abate the ground squirrel populations. Others seek access roads or drain basins or along creeks. Rail property is a popular area as well as they can hang with the occasional train passing, and the disruptions of earth are minimal. I have already seen areas that have been disked this year where owls have been active. Fish and Wildlife does the best it can to protect the species now listed as "species of special interest". The Burrowing owls live life much like their allies the ground squirrels usually living in communities  returning to the same general areas to breed each year. Thought I would send out pictures of Burrowing owls in different areas (All Contra Costa County) at different stages in life. (Some young / Some adult) Went back a few years in my library to gather some of these. Also a couple of photos of adversaries and allies of Burrowing owl who live within their country. Rattler, golden in flight and ground squirrel colony. Interesting to note the ground squirrel is one of the most important  species in our area. Thought of as an absolute nuisance by many, but there is no doubt that there would clearly would not be the myriad of birds of prey we are blessed with or other predators if not for the ground squirrels.

Special thumbs up for the organization R.A.T.S (Raptors are the solution) who is working hard to end the use of anticoagulant rodenticides

https://www.facebook.com/RaptorsAreTheSolution

Thanks, Dave

Springtime at full tilt and I am out there attempting to gather photos of wild animals in Contra Costa and Alameda County areas. Plenty of golden eagles seen this year and all of them doing well keeping at a distance. I will get a decent picture one of these days just not quite yet. Our Brentwood / Byron Swainson hawks have returned and it seems they are in decent numbers. The burrowing owls are out there as well but disking of fields is already occurring.  I am trying to watch out for owl communities though it is tough as it requires much time. Sending out  recent photos taken within the last few weeks. Exception is Brentwood burrowing owls (though they are in the same area currently breeding) and the swainson hawk flight photo taken last year.
Dave

 photo #1 (Brentwood burrowing owls) They took over a graded city owned lot many years ago and show up every year since. Once the Brentwood corn festival was using the area as parking lot during breeding season until fish and game was called and the whole area was caution taped off. Yes, they are here this year. Photo #2 loaded bumble bee at Los Vaqueros reservoir. photo #3 White Pelican Los Vaqueros reservoir. #4 song dog same area. #5 cotton tail rabbit Brentwood area. #6 red tail in Byron and mocking bird. The redtail had been relegated to eating road kill. I noticed the bird had a broken leg after about 20 minutes of shooting. I could tell the bird had lived like this awhile as it used the worthless talon to hold down the squirrel at times. I flagged traffic through this engagement as I did not want the bird to get hit by vehicle. The redtail had no problem flying to safely when finished. The relentless pair of mocking birds literally bounced off the birds back several and never gave up swarming the redtail. #7 Young anna's hummingbird in Oakley. #8 A rock wren (not 100% on this one- someone may straighten me out) #9 swainson hawk in flight over Brentwood. #10 Dove family in my yard in Oakley.
Thanks, Dave  

"Here comes the Bloom"
Springtime here finally and our wildlife is going crazy. Sending out local wildlife pictures taken in the bay area mostly Alameda and Contra Costa County. The Badger from the last round has taken a mate though I have yet to get a credible photo. Saw my first swainson hawk of this year on Friday 03-22-13. Yesterday watched two swains chase a redtail trying to get the mouse out of its talons. Very interesting, couldn't get a photo. But there back and the world is a better place with the swains in the sky. I have spent some time at the delta and back inland to Del Valle and Los Vaqueros reservoir. They claim there was 5 golden eagles fledged last year at Los Vaqueros. Visiting the other day I noticed more wildlife than ever,  while noticing the construction period is over and water level was raised significantly. I saw Bald Eagles, Goldens, Ospreys and white pelicans all within a few minutes. While the construction was going on a few months prior I was worried most of the animals would leave the area. Los Vaqueros reservoir is an excellent area to observe wildlife right now especially prior to the hot days of summer. Watch out for occasional rattle snake explosions as I have heard stories of people seeing several during the spring. Next month I plan to start watching out for burrowing owl communities. Oakley, Brentwood and Byron have several and many areas get disced by plows or roto-tilled  clearing areas of weeds and for fire protection. By identifying the nesting sites and talking to property owners its possible to save the burrowing owl communities. They are protected by fish and game during the breeding season. If anyone is interested in helping report breeding areas please let me know.   Dave

#1 Sleepy burrowing owl in Oakley. #2 Checker spot butterflies near Crockett CA. #3 Turkey Vulture love at Del Valle reservoir. #4 Nutall's woodpecker (Pros-please correct me if I am wrong on this one) #5 Red breasted sap sucker. #6 "The white dog" A coyote at marsh creek dam. #7 No clue, some kind of blond bumble bee in Oakley. #8 Violet green swallow at Black diamond mines regional park. #9 Swainson hawk in Byron CA. #10 Tri colored black bird, another protected species in our area. Taken west of Byron CA.
Thanks, Dave Harper

              More photos of local wildlife during a winter that looks a lot like spring. Grass is green enough and cattle pools and streams are doing okay. It sure would not hurt to get a few more inches of rain to avoid a late season drought. These photos as always taken right here in our back yard and most of these are very recent. On a hot tip I finally photographed a badger near Vasco Rd. in the Los Vaqueros watershed area. I have seen many badgers hit by vehicles over the years on Vasco but this one is alive and well. I blinded out for 2 hours outside its den hoping the badger would come out in the sun. During the waiting time I looked up American badger on my I phone and there was a Idaho study that followed one female badger who came out of her burrow one time in 72 days during winter. This was not pumping up my confidence a whole lot. A large Raven landed near the burrow and spoke very vehemently about something,  and after watching it fly away I turned to see the badger had emerged and stared at me for some time while I was perhaps 60 feet away. I am sure this bird woke up the badger. Never came out enough for a whole body shot, and as long as I stayed there it never seemed aggressive or threatening.
    Thought I would send out some photos of similar looking birds of prey. Hopefully the biologists and pros will point out any possible mistakes or corrections, and I have gone back and corrected most of my earlier miss fires...
      For Don and Trudy there are looks at the red shouldered hawk vs. the Sharp shinned. And a recent photo of a merlin taken at Jersey Island. Though it appears not to resemble the kestral so much up close, they are about the same size when first spotting them. Fools me each time until I get a bit closer. Interestingly, the kestral is usually tougher  to get close too.
         Special thanks to Carole up there atop of Morgan Territory. Thanks so much for letting me photograph the Barn owls in the cave (seen early in the blogs) for so long. You and husband Mike were so nice to share your stories and I really appreciate meeting both of you. Hope to see you again soon.   Dave

(#1 red winged black bird) (#2 American bittern first time capture for me, look close to see mosquito fish snatched) (#3 American badger) (#4 Red shouldered hawk older picture) (#5 Sharp shinned hawk about a year ago at Del Valle reservoir) (#6 recent kestral) (#7 recent merlin) (#8 northern flicker) (#9 recent red shoulder at Bollinger Canyon Las trampas area) and #10 one of the first photos I ever took with decent equipment. I was on Vasco Rd. with tri pod waiting for golden eagles when this song dog ran right up to me almost jumped in my car.

                  Continuing winter time wildlife pictures from the Bay area: My luck of recent times has taken a hit as I have seen many intriguing animals, however hadn't had great opportunities at close range. Good news though includes several sightings of Golden Eagles all over the place, on Mines Rd. in Livermore I spotted four all at high altitudes. Contrary to my earlier statements of fewer ferruginous hawks I have seen several lately all over east Contra Costa County. This group of photos includes a mixture of older pictures and newer shots taken during the winter months. Leading off is a bad quality older golden eagle photo which does reflect some of the magic these monsters have including talons the size of bear claws. Second photo was a Trumpeter Swan at Grizzly reserve up north. Number three a great horned owl behind my home in Oakley. Including a flight shot of a younger ferruginous  hawk in Byron as number four. Five is a coyote I followed on foot as it hunted gophers in Morgan Territory reserve. I took repetitive photos from behind a tree of this dog and humorously each time the canon sounded off he stared at me "really?" why are you watching me? Like many song dogs I find in the wild very little concern of a walking person in their land.

Number six is a night heron I believe, was sound asleep when I rudely woke the bird up. But this large bird refused to acknowledge it was in fact awake, using the defense of do not admit you are awake and maybe he will go away. Bird kept one eye on me till I left the area. A Wilsons Warbler at San Pablo dam reservoir is number seven. Eight is a Mines Rd. Livermore cat about a year old. I have made several recent runs out to Mines lately with no luck finding cats. They are there, just a bit more stealth than the clumsy song dogs. The perched red tail a recent photo taken at Jersey Island Rd. And, lastly in the spirit of football a osprey is taking one to the house. Little did it realize the sea hawks are out of the play offs.

Special thanks to Marilyn in Livermore and Dick in Cupertino, I appreciate the help of bird identification with the smaller birds which I am still trying to learn on the fly. Thanks for taking the time to educate me.

And thanks to Saundra for sending cool links of photos and the Hawk Owl.

Dave