Natural History Wanderings

Today I went birding at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma. The most numerous birds were Northern Shovelers, American Avocets, American Coots, Gulls, and the small sandpipers. Birds seen included White-crowned Sparrow, Yellowlegs (probably Greater), Least Sandpiper,  Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Mute Swan, American White Pelican,  Red-shouldered Hawk, Western Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Scrub Jay, Scaup (probably Greater), Mallard, Eared Grebe, Savannah Sparrow, Ruddy Duck, Glaucous-winged Gull, Western Gull, Northern Harrier, Red-winged Blackbird (heard), White-tailed Kite, Turkey Vulture, and Canada Goose. A water mammal was spotted swimming near the reeds close to the parking area (maybe a river otter?).

Black-winged Stilts by Sandy Steinman