Morning in the Delta
Birdlife of the California Delta
I love my morning photo walks at Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park. Located just off the Carquinez Strait, it is a hidden gem in the vast system of waterways in the California Delta. So many birds. So many stories to share with my camera... enjoy!
Birds at Radke Park
Osprey doing a flyby at the Martinez Pier with it's early morning catch
Juvenile Osprey perched on the Martinez Pier patiently waiting for mama and papa
Mallards on the Carquinez Shoreline with the wings of an angel
Song Sparrow singing to the world on the Pickleweed Trail
Our resident Red-tailed Hawk with her morning kill on the Carquinez Shoreline. She keeps the pigeon population in check.
Bushtits foraging for insects on Thistle Plume on the Carquinez Shoreline
Mallard Duck resting by the Bill Nichols Pond. Beautiful colors...
Double-crested Cormorants resting on pylons next to the Carquinez Shoreline
Great Blue Heron hunting for gophers on the grassy field
Cliff Swallows packing their beaks with mud to reinforce their nests at the Martinez Marina
Canada Geese with brand new goslings by the Martinez Pier Trail
Mallard duckling venturing out on it's own... mama was always close by
Great Egret in flight at Radke Park. The wingspan for an adult is 4.3-5.6 feet. Amazing!
Killdeer incubating her three eggs on the pond's edge after a night of pouring rain
Song Sparrow perched on a branch at Granger's Wharf
First gosling of the year :) The only one of the litter
Snowy Egret in search of fish on the Carquinez Strait
Canada Geese greeting one another with their elaborate head rolling by the male and honking noises between the pair
Song Sparrow fluffing it's feathers on the tall reeds in the morning sun
American White Pelicans scooping for fish at the Bill Nichols Pond
Canada Goose flaps its wings at the Bill Nichols Pond. Spring is right around the corner
Red-tailed Hawk taking an early morning dip in a puddle on the freshly watered grass
A horse, of course... this beauty got away from the stables and started running along the trails
Mama and gosling looking very comfortable in the morning sun
Ok, so I'm not a bird... but I'm so darn cute
The first ducklings of the year, with Mama Mallard :)
Canada gosling resting up on the shore after a morning of exploring
A committee of Turkey Vultures perched in a tree. There were over 30 of them in the area that day.
Song Sparrow balancing on a bouncing blade of tall grass
Song Sparrow singing to a great big world
Great Egret doing a little fishin' next to the Schooner Forrester on the Carquinez Shoreline
Oh, deer... Mule Deer on the Pickleweed Trail. Always a nice surprise
Great Blue Heron perched atop an old oak tree by the Bill Nichols Pond. Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Turkey Vultures love this tree.
Osprey in flight on the Carquinez Strait
Mallard Duck at Bill Nichols Pond at Radke Martinez Regional Park
Brown Pelicans on the hunt for fish at the Martinez Marina
Caspian Tern looking for fish down below
Marsh Wren in the cottontails on Duck Pond Trail
Great Egret in flight at Radke Park
Osprey perched on driftwood with an early morning catch on the Carquinez Strait
Song Sparrow puffing up it's feathers on the Pickleweed Trail
Red-Tailed Hawk with a small blackbird in it's talons.
Coast range fence lizard soaking up the sun at the arch bridge in Radke Park
Osprey perched on a pylon next to the Carquinez Regional Shoreline in Martinez
Belted Kingfisher doing a little fishin' from the pylons
at Martinez Marina
Great Blue Heron doing a little fishing
Canada Goose doing some pylon-hopping at the Martinez Pier
Osprey switching from one pylon to another with its early morning catch
Canada Geese taking off from the duck pond
Red-Tailed Hawk in the morning sun
Mallard Duck showing off his full colors in search of a mate
Turkey Vultures spreading their wings in the morning sun
Song Sparrow on a rail, basking in a whisper of sunlight on a cold and cloudy day
