CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE APRIL 2025

Black tail doe relaxing in the morning sun Alameda foothills

           Happy Spring! After three solid rain years it is a blessing. Green grass, full streams, the sound of frogs, and snow in the mountains. Thank goodness wildlife finds a way to survive through the challenges. 

    This month photos from are from hikes in the Alameda County and Western Diablo foothills, and travels again along the California Delta in Eastern CC County. Out in the grasslands where Eastern Contra Costa meets Alameda County, I found an active burrowing owl den in an area with a history of many burrowing owl communities in the past. Burrowing owls have become rare in this location. And I still don’t know why. I have asked many people in the field including knowledgeable friends, (Some professional) “Why this was occurring over the last several years? Also factoring, there has been a significant drought for much of this time period. Years ago, there were many communities of Burrowing owls in many areas. From flood control basins in Oakley and Brentwood, to agricultural field edges, railroad property, remote grasslands and foothills in Alameda and Contra Costa County. The number of burrowing owls mysteriously plummeted, regardless of heavily developed areas VS open remote areas. This may be a good sign for the future of this area.

  Including other interesting species from our bay area along the way, through hikes in the foothills and rides along my favorite levee areas. Additional stories in the individual photo text, have a wonderful spring! All photos recent and in our area…

Burrowing owl in Eastern CC County grasslands

'White song dog' Western Coyote near Los Vaqueros N/S 

Snow geese on the move, most days I saw hundreds, thousands even at times. The sound of these beauties is amazing. Taking photographs of them seems to me doesn't give justice to the beauty. Has to be witnessed in real time... CA Delta system Pacific flyway

Female Northern Harrier circling in the sun CA Delta Eastern CC County

Another Mink photograph, and I can't say it is not the same animal I photographed last month though this was taken a mile or more down river. CA Delta 


Coopers Hawk in Knightsen area 

Another angle and of the female Northern Harrier taken last month in the Delta lowlands. 

Female Quail from Alameda foothills near Del Valle reservoir. Alameda county around Mines rd and Del Valle has more quail than anywhere else I have seen...

Swainson Hawk out near the Delta, they seem a bit late this year, but seem to be coming in fast. May be the cold weather through March. I have seen Ferruginous and Swainsons on the same days overlapping briefly in their migrations, not unusual.

California Towhee out in the open. Western side of Diablo near Finley Rd. 

Red Tail hawk, had to get one in. CA Delta Thanks for the interest.

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