Birds of the California Delta

While-tailed Kite perched on a post with a field mouse in it's sharp talons at Pacheco Marsh in Martinez. This mostly white hawk has gray wings and back with black shoulders. It also hovers in place to spot prey on the ground.

Cinnamon Teal Duck at Pacheco Marsh in Martinez. 

A relatively small duck with sizable head and rather long bill, longer than Blue-winged Teal’s but shorter than Northern Shoveler’s.

It's great to see the goslings back at Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park. There are currently three gaggles of Canada Goslings, as well as two new broods of ducklings. It is a healthy year for both species. I'll keep you updated on their progress throughout the season.

Great Egret in flight at Pacheco Marsh. The Great Egret is a long-legged wading bird with a long S-curved neck and dagger-like bill. They are extremely patient and persistent when hunting for fish and small rodents. The wing-span of an adult is between 51.6 - 57.1 inches. 

Green Heron fishing from the docks at the Martinez Marina. This small, stocky heron has a dagger-like bill and a thick neck that is drawn into it’s body. They can easily fish from the docks, due to the ability of extending their necks while striking or looking for prey. On hot days, they cool themselves down by opening their mouth and "fluttering" their neck muscles. The term used is gulag fluttering and is the avian version of panting.

Western Grebe (pronounced "greeb") doing a little fishing at the Martinez Marina. These graceful birds are a species of the grebe family of water birds. This large, slender bird has a long neck and slender pointed bill. They dive under water to catch fish and have nicknames, such as "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe".