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Cedar Waxwings CCCounty East                          CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE JUNE 2026               Sharing a few more Swainson hawk photographs taken recently near the California Delta in Eastern Contra Costa County. I am also sharing one of the adult swains nesting near me. It is interesting, as they move into areas shared by other raptors and birds. Almost Every evening, I watch white tailed kites and swains chase each other as their nest sites are close together. Sometimes ravens and red shoulder hawks enter the fray… More recent photographs of the wildlife in our area, including a back yard buddy, more song dogs and some other species not viewed on this site for a while. More information in the text below the photos.   Swainson hawk adult Eastern CC County Delta  Srub Jay "back yard buddy" a...
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                      CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE MAY 2026 -    ALLENS AND SWAINS    Happy May Day! Hope all is well. Updated wildlife photographs in our Bay Area. Glad to see another solid year of swainson hawks returning to Eastern Contra Costa and the Central Valley. Occasionally, some are seen in other areas like Walnut Creek, Livermore or the Camino Tassajara area of CC County South. It may happen more than I realize. Though I can say in the Central Valley and surrounding vicinity, the swains are as nearly as common as the red tail hawks. This year, in Oakley for the first time in about ten years, there is a nesting pair in an area behind our Oakley home. In my travels around our areas, the swains seem to get along reasonably well with other raptors that do not migrate. That would include red shoulder hawks, white tailed kites, and red-tailed hawks. All of them very territorial in nature, performing aerial dives a...
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                                               CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE APRIL 2026 Northern Harrier male Eastern CC County Updated springtime Bay Area photographs with recent looks. Featuring raptors and other mammals in the Bay Area. The swainson hawks are back in Eastern and Central California, and I have been waiting for them! First sighting on March 14 th 2026. Bobcats hunting in Alameda County, and a red shoulder hawk under attack by an intruder…  White bobcat on the hunt in Alameda foothills... Swainson hawks returning, this one in Eastern CC County... Another young Jack rabbit, last few years good populations in the CA Delta Eastern CC County... Male Northern Harrier, a gray ghost along the fenceline. Byron area of Eastern CC County Red tailed hawk in early morning hard light, Eastern CC County... Anna's hummingbird in Oakley CA... Golden Eagle on a corral gate...
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                                                 CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE MARCH 2026          Continuing recent looks at wildlife in our Bay Area, as I looked closely at Kestrels last month, I am dialing in on red tail hawks this time around. The color variations with the redtail hawks can be interesting. From the Delta, to Southern and Eastern Contra Costa County. More info in the text of individual photographs. Weather warming, decent rainfall, spring coming! Mostly snow geese, a few White fronted geese, Eastern CC County Delta... Western Coyote near Byron Eastern CC County... Red tailed hawk Eastern CCCounty Another portrait from a different angle of last months bobcat, N/S Los Vaqueros property near Camino Diablo... Dark morph red...
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                                                  CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE FEBRUARY 2026    California Towhee in Oakley CA               More wildlife views from Alameda County and Contra Costa County. Winter and fall have become a favorite time of year. Nothing beats a crystal-clear cold morning in a favorite wilderness area.  There is a variety of wild animals easily viewed in our incredible state. It requires one to take a cruise and get away from the city madness to a wildlife setting of your choice. It doesn’t have to be a long ride; it can be anywhere. A hiking trail along a creek, A city or regional park, A remote road away from the city, or a National Park. California is the most biodiverse state in...
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