Gopher snakes and whitezfrontd geese.

[Carma Sue Henry]

Today was a really nice day for us.  We had our first long outing up to Basket Slough since since my surgery in April and it was great. 

The day started off with a yard full of nearly adult sized quail, red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds, Golden and White-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Juncos and Mourning Doves.  It really looked like an autumnal gathering.  

As we were putting our gear in the car for the day, Steve walked out on the porch and left the front door open.  Our storm door has a slow-close mechanism.  When he came back up on the porch he found a three foot Gopher snake had come into the front hall.  Too bad for me that he escorted it back out before I had a chance to say hi to it.  I do love snakes.

As we drove up 99W the rain let up and rainbows even showed up.  At the slough there still wasn't any standing water beyond the main ponds, but there were plenty of Red-wings, Shovelers, Mallards, a single pair of Coots, Swallows, lots of Canada Geese and probably 50 or so White-fronted Geese.  There were lots of Kestrels about and what I think was a Northern Harrier was hunting it the fields.  Red-tailed Hawks were harassing the geese and ducks at the pond, making for great photo ops.  I saw one shore-type bird, mostly white with a shortish down-turned bill; obviously couldn't id.  Just before we left, two Great White Egrets came in and flew around for a bit before settling.  Driving out on Smithfield Rd. a huge flock of what I assume were Starlings went overhead.

We came home to a bright full moon coming up behind the oaks.

All in all, it sure is nice to be able to get around again!  Happy Autumn to everyone!

Carma Henry