Sacramento NWR, Colusa NWR, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
The Sacramento NWR mostly had puddle ducks, with a few Raptors and herons. They have not flooded the fields, yet it looks like the preparations (grading and the weeding) have been done.
Birds seen there were Great Blue Heron, Common Yellowthroat, Western Meadowlark, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Great Egret, Red-Tailed Hawk, Common Pheasant, Black Phoebe, Black-Necked Stilt, Bewick’s Wren, Killdeer, Greater White-Fronted Geese, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, White-Faced Ibis.
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge has very little standing water and very few birds, though at the entrance there appears to be some large fields of corn waiting to be bumped for the geese and cranes.
At Gray Lodge Wildlife Area on the other hand, a state run facility, there were thousands of ducks (predominantly Northern Pintails).
Birds seen here were Mallard, European Starlings, American Coot, Gadwall, White-Faced Ibis, Black-Necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Double-Crested Cormorant, Black Phoebe, Gadwall, House Wren, Belted Kingfisher, Pied-Billed Grebe, Killdeer, Northern Shoveler, Brewer’s Blackbird, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail (many thousands), Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Greater White-Fronted Geese, Western Scrub-Jay, Eurasian Collared Dove, Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, California Quail, Spotted Towhee (heard), Red-Shouldered Hawk, Red-Tailed Hawk, Bewick’s Wren, House Wren.
It was a whirlwind tour of three good winter birding destinations. I also noticed a different hosting philosophy between state-run and fed-run facilities. While the state-run site (Gray Lodge) had a fully prepared bed-and-breakfast for the tired and hungry avian guests, the feds seemed content to wait until after the guests arrived to set the table. The results were dramatically different. Where Sacramento and Colusa (federal) were virtually barren and absent of waterfowl over most of their acreages, Gray Lodge was flush.
Once the flooding at the NWR’s begins, I expect thing will pick up at those sites. [If you flood it, will they come?]
Seems I’m always playing catch up. Here it is two days later and I have a ton to process about my stay on the coast near San Simeon <sigh>.

House Wren(Troglodytes aedon) |
Description: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 16:36 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: HouseWren_D5X2976-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
Description: These birds may breed at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. It is a state run reserve near Gridley (California) in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:00 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D5X2550-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
Description: These birds may breed at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. It is a state run reserve near Gridley (California) in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:59 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D5X2506-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
Description: These birds may breed at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. It is a state run reserve near Gridley (California) in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:59 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D5X2498-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Red-Tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis) |
Description: The "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 10:16 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: RedTailedHawk_D5X2018-SacramentoNWR |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis) |
Description: Seen from the "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 10:16 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: RedTailedHawk_D5X2016-SacramentoNWR |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Red-Tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis) |
Description: The "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 10:16 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: RedTailedHawk_D5X2012-SacramentoNWR |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Pied-Billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps) |
Description: These grebes are likely resident at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:13 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: PiedBilledGrebe_D5X2147-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:13 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2620-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:08 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2588-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:57 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2420-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:55 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2383-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:45 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2305-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:23 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2181-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: Can you spot the two Cinnamon Teal? The "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 10:30 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2076-SacramentoNWR |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Bewick's Wren(Thryomanes bewickii) |
Description: This bird is well-supplied with attitude. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 16:29 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BewicksWren_D5X2928-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca) |
Description: Shorebirds such as these yellowlegs are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:24 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: GreaterYellowlegs_D5X2710-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca) |
Description: Shorebirds such as these yellowlegs are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:19 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: GreaterYellowlegs_D5X2670-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca) |
Description: Shorebirds such as these yellowlegs are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:24 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: GreaterYellowlegs_D5X2208-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater White-Fronted Goose(Anser albifrons) |
Description: These long distace migrants love spending winters in the Central Valley at places like Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:40 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreaterWhiteFrontedGoose_D5X2852-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater White-Fronted Goose(Anser albifrons) |
Description: These long distace migrants love spending winters in the Central Valley at places like Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:38 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: GreaterWhiteFrontedGoose_D5X2836-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater White-Fronted Goose(Anser albifrons) |
Description: The "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 11:03 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreaterWhiteFrontedGoose_D5X2113-SacramentoNWR |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater White-Fronted Goose(Anser albifrons) |
Description: The "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 11:03 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreaterWhiteFrontedGoose_D5X2104-SacramentoNWR |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Greater White-Fronted Goose(Anser albifrons) |
Description: The "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 11:02 |
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreaterWhiteFrontedGoose_D5X2095-SacramentoNWR |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
Description: Flooded fields and shallow ponds attract waders to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:30 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X2747-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
Description: Flooded fields and shallow ponds attract waders to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:30 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X2745-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus) |
Description: Shorebirds such as these stilts are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:17 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackNeckedStilt_D5X2650-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus) |
Description: Shorebirds such as these stilts are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:42 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackNeckedStilt_D5X2298-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Bewick's Wren(Thryomanes bewickii) |
Description: This bird is well-supplied with attitude. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 16:29 |
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BewicksWren_D5X2938-GrayLodge-WLA |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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