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New Swainson's Hawk Nests at SLP by Robert

4/25/2021

4 Comments

 
Hello to All,

This April 13, 2021 was the first time nesting Swainson's hawk pairs have been seen and recorded at SLP since April 3, 2018. This raptor is a California Threatened species that has declined due to loss of nesting and foraging habitat.

Both nests are further downriver than we've ever seen. One nest is in a Black Locus tree, another first for me, and the other is in a Cottonwood tree, the type of tree all other Swainson's hawk pairs have used here in the past.

We are delighted to see Swainson's hawks return and wish them success!
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Good to see colorful Damselflies emerging
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This Swainson's hawk did not take a drink of water, that’s a sight I’ve never seen, but it might have be soaking something in its left talon?
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Flying off to its nest
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Maybe a dragonfly in larval stage?
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Further up river in a Cottonwood, nesting materials continue to be brought in.
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Many little fish can be seen along the rivers edge near its sandy shore. Perhaps salmon fry?
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Lady bug and Box Elder bug.
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Swainson's hawk flying in a cloud of cottonwood seeds
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Fly on and on and on!
4 Comments

Nesting Time! by Robert

4/9/2021

1 Comment

 
If you’re a bird just arriving now you’re almost late for finding or building a nest along the river banks at SLP and some species have chicks already! It’s been a warm sunny spring and many birds are fortunate to find older trees that already have nest holes, so come up and take a hike to see them and wish them well! It’s amazing to know how many insects are eaten, (especially mosquitos) by small birds such as the Tree Swallow below.
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Tree Swallow
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House Wren
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Tree swallow in nest
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Rough winged swallow
​This broad winged, short tailed Northern Rough-winged Swallow, is not so common here but we’ve seen them nest in holes in sandbanks and crevices of walls along the river. They visit us from February through mid September.
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​This Canada Goose couple already has six chicks and dad watched me closely to make sure
I was not going to interfere as mom lead then uphill to nibble on grass.
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Fluffy now but feathers will come soon.
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This Tree Swallow was busy gathering and filling their nest with a variety of grass and plant fibers.
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Owl's Clover
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It’s wonderful to see such a variety of colors, sizes and shapes.
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Tidy Tips
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You can’t miss all the colorful wildflowers that line much of the bike trail.
​Enjoy your visit!

Robert 
1 Comment

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