In my travels along back roads you pass small towns, old barns and if you get lucky a vintage truck or car. This beauty was on a small county road I took to travel from Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.
Tundra Swans, Greater White-fronted Geese and Snow Geese
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or traveling to overwintering sites. Millions of birds – more than 350 species - follow the Pacific Flyway. In California birds migrate south as early as August and migrate north as early as March.
The Sacramento Valley provides critical habitat for migrating and resident species of waterfowl, geese, shorebirds and waterbirds. This habitat comprises an important part of the integrated water system in Northern California. The Sacramento Valley lies on the southerly end of the Pacific Flyway migratory route and is one the most prominent wintering sites for waterfowl in the world.
The areas I like to photograph during this migration is Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and areas in Sutter, Butte and Glen counties.
NATURE’S WONDERLAND: A GROUP EXHIBITION
Nature's Wonderland show is on display at the Person Senior Wing at the Finley Center Complex in Santa Rosa. Open through January 4, 2018. On display are my wildlife portraits.
The other artist in the exhibition are Renee Morris, Libby Kirk and Diane Toso
Renee Morris’ butterflies are very distinct, colorful, delicate and quite beautiful. They bring light and joy to the heart and a yearning to fly – enjoy! Libby Kirk has been fusing glass since 1994. She teaches fused glass and shows her work at Artisan’s Co-0p in the Village of Bodega. Diane Toso’s expressionistic paintings are inspired by landscapes, either real or interior from the subconscious.
Juvenile Bald Eagles
Juvenile Bald eagles have different coloration than the adult.
First year very large, heavy-bodied raptor. Large head. Mostly dark brown overall. Heavy black bill
Second year very large and broad-winged. Thick yellow bill is black at tip. Dark brown above. Extensive white mottling on belly and underwings
Third year very large raptor with broad, plank-like wings. Large head mostly whitish with dark stripe through eye. Dark brown with white mottling on belly and underwings. Pale yellow eye and bright yellow feet
Fourth year bald eagle is large and heavy-bodied. Similar to adult but with some dark smudging on white head. Heavy yellow bill.
The first year bald eagle and fourth year was photographed at Sacramento Wildlife Refuge.
Burrowing Owls
We saw the adult owl in a den right on the shoulder of the road. Later a smaller owl was peeking up from the drainage ditch.
A burrowing owl by its den Western burrowing owls are a species of terrestrial owl found from the west coast of Canada (Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia) and US, east to the Mississippi River, and south into Central America and South America.
Much of Yolo County used to be excellent burrowing owl habitat, and hundreds of pairs of these owls lived in the area.Development in Yolo County, especially around Davis, led to declines in their population over the last several decades. There is a 76% decline in burrowing owl numbers since 2006.
A 6 card set will be for sale for $35 with 15% going to the The Burrowing Owl Preservation Society in Davis.
Burrowing Owls
A photographer friend told me about a location east of Davis that has burrowing owls. A one time there were several owl families throughout Yolo county. In the last ten years there has been a market decline. Causes are habitat loss and loss from predators such as dogs, coyotes, etc.
New Bird Rescue Photos
I donate 15% of rescue bird print sales to the Santa Rosa Bird Rescue Center. Here is a gallery of new prints available.
Sonoma Barn
The Sonoma Barn gallery is a portrait of a barn on a working sheep ranch. A barn with piles of recently sheared wool and hay. The view inside the barn of the sheep in the pasture through the large barn doors. The vintage stove where dyes are being cooked from real plants and flowers. The hale bales in the fields bundled and ready for transportation to the barn. Tools to weigh the wool bales and hand carters to prepare fibre or blend fibres or colors. The rafters with pulleys to lift the hay bales into tall stacks. The cobweb barn with skull bleached from the sunlight.
Local Wildlife Photo Exhibit @ The Jenner Inn
I am excited to have several of my photos on display at the Jenner Inn. Jenner Inn is located on Highway 1 in the town of Jenner by the Sea.
Old Barns
There is something about old barns that I like. There shape, story, relationship to the land and people. In this new black & white series on Old Barns I focused on there relationship with the land and their shapes. You can get these photos in a greeting card set on Strathmore Photo Mount Cards with Decorative Emboss. Set of 8 cards are $45 with free ground shipping. A 8x12 photo print on Metallic or Super Mat paper with archive mat is $30 plus shipping.
Graton Art Gallery Small Works Show
I am honored to have three of my photos accepted for this juried show at the Graton Art gallery in Graton, CA.
Graton Gallery: 9048 Graton Road, Graton CA 95444
A Big Thank You
Classic Projects owners Rica and Randy Van Ausdall were clients of mine in Los Angeles. Over the years we have become family. How lucky am I to get my own wall! I could not do any of this without the support and love of family, friends and clients.
