Birdlife at the Delta
Discover the Delta's Birdlife
From Great Egrets to Great Blue Herons. From Shoveler Ducks to Sandhill Cranes, the Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt, California is a great place to go for hikers, photographers and birders alike. I spent the morning exploring the Wetlands and River Walk Trails. It did not disappoint. I spotted three mule deer, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a cottontail rabbit, an American Bittern, a Greater Yellowlegs, dragonflies and a variety of small birds, including an Eastern Towhee and a White-breasted Nuthatch. I also saw a Great Egret catching a crayfish. (Note:As of early March, the Sandhill Cranes have left the area and are migrating up North) Photos by Tim Seay
The Visitor Center
A great place to start. The staff is friendly and informative and the displays on wildlife throughout the center are amazing! Check out the Sandhill Crane display in the lobby to see how big they truly are. It's also a great place to talk with other birders and hikers to keep up with the latest sightings and tips.
Birds of the California Delta
Sandhill Cranes landing on Desmond Road in late September
Great Blue Heron waiting patiently for a fish to swim by in a pond on the River Walk Trail
Golden-crowned Sparrow perched on a cattle gate on Desmond Road
Greater White-fronted Geese resting in a meadow on the Wetlands Walk Trail
Cottontail Rabbit nibbling on a stalk of dried grass... too cute to pass up :)
White-faced Ibises on the Wetlands Trail
