Coyote Day and Lots of Thrashers

I got to see the coyotes today. They were very far away, but my friends pointed out this family of three hunting. I think they ended up catching a large rabbit. They're pretty small in the pictures, but you may be able to make them out.

In the first picture, there are actually two, but one is very hidden:

There's two in this next photo, too, one in the middle, one off to the upper left:

There are usually only two California thrashers at the lake, but today there were at least a dozen. These two, on the fence, were chasing each other:

This one didn't care about what the other two were doing. Also in the area was a very loud Costa's hummingbird:

It poured down rain a couple days ago. It rained so hard that I don't think even the ducks liked it. Here is Miss Angel and Mr. Squeaky trying to get out of the rain:

Pouring down rain in this photo. The coots are beginning to arrive. The ruddy ducks are already at the lake as are some teal and eared grebes:

The female goose has a companion. Someone dumped that male that's in the background of this next photo. I'm betting they were from the same owner as they've been best friends since day one.

"Big Storm Coming"

I am hearing a lot from the weather people that a "big storm" will be coming with lots of rain and even hail.  It doesn't rain here often and we need all we can get, so I'm not complaining.  However, most of the mama ducks at the lake have just starting sitting on nests.  And, there are baby killdeer that need to be kept warm, too.  I hope everyone does well.  If the weather gets too cold, that may limit how many ducklings will hatch.

This duck is getting a lot of his feathers plucked out defending a female.  He's not being picked on, he just insists on protecting his girl. 

Here is the couple together.  There is another male that constantly hangs around the two.  I think the female might be Caramel or one of the "flycatcher" ducks.  When that male isn't looking, she bobs her head very vigorously at the other male:

One or two of the wild mallards was picking on these two ducks.  They comforted and head bobbed to each other after the incident.

The Canada goose that Jill likes is playing peace-maker between her and Waddle's mate.  At first, I thought maybe the Canada goose is a female and pairing up with the other gander, but I think he's just protecting his friend from Jill.  She's been a little aggressive towards him lately.  At first, the white goose was very mean to Jill, but now she's mean to the white goose.  Now, she's mad at the Canada goose.  I've noticed that Canada geese are great peace-makers and like to keep flock conflicts to a minimum.  In the meantime, Baby Goose, the small Canada goose that arrived at the lake as a juvenile, is very upset and went over to find Waddles so that he could be with her because Jill has been exceptionally mean to him, too.  (Waddles, by the way, is nesting in a secret location and is doing well).

And, finally, Fred the Yellowlegs says "Whee whee whhet!"

Quacker!

Quacker was seen today walking up to people and quacking at them like her old self.  She looked so good. It was another wet and rainy day with only a few people there at first.

This next photo is of Bigboi, the non-flying Cayuga for comparison.

Since it was raining, it was important to groom those feathers for maximum water repelling:

Here are the resident geese (Minus Louie and his Canada goose friend).  All the other geese surround and protect Waddles, the large female Embden.  The whole flock loves her, even Jill.

Later, Baba and his girlfriend went into the water and Baba wanted to mate, but she wasn't ready.  Eventually, they did mate and all the other geese cheered them on as they did so.

The happy couple

Baby Goose is all alone, the other adult Canada goose, who is also Jill's new companion, in the area has been missing for a while.  Baby Goose is old enough to fly and take care of himself, but is still much smaller than an adult Canada goose.

Baby Bob was seen out later than usual.

Here's a common gallinule.  He always makes it impossible for me to take photos of him:

My Anna's hummingbird friend sitting on his branch singing and listening to other males:

Rain today

You can see the rain in the above photo.  That's the mystery hummingbird.  Below, is another similar hummingbird that was close enough to me so that the flash illuminated her orange-ness.  So, I think they're rufous or Allen's hummingbirds.

Another sick young gull, time, a California gull.  He's more mobile then the other one, but very weak.  Didn't even want to get out of the rain.  He's also got a busted foot.  The lady that helped me last time wasn't there, so I had to leave him.  Another staff member said he would take care of him later, but I don't know if they will remember.  I don't think he'll make it much longer.  He is acting like Hop-a-long Bill was before he died.

Here's a photo of a spotted towhee:

Somebody lost some of their feathers, probably one of the raptors.  I did see Big Mama Cooper and she was fine:

Big Daddy (whom I also found out is not only called Cinnamon, but Paprika, too), still hanging in there:

Cinnamon (with Pepper trailing after her):

When I first arrived, I could not find Louie!  But, his Canada goose friend was nowhere to be seen, also, so I figured they were together.  I saw them later.

This is Louie's companion, Picked-on.  I originally thought he was the one that was stolen last year, but, nope, this is him.  He's a total nutcase.  Him and Louie fight and I don't think Louie likes him, but he likes Louie and if Louie's not around, he will keep calling for him:

I've been seeing Not Pepper around lately, but he's being a pain to photograph:

 

Pepper's been very co-operative:

Haven't taken a photo of this guy in a while, it's Stumpy (Or Stubby-tail).  He was one of the ducklings hatched two years ago in Alvarado Bay:

And, finally, I thought I'd get a photo of Ducky, another duck I haven't photographed in a while, and his mate.  Ducky still never got his colors 100% and now he's beginning to molt again:

Bossy is still missing and I saw the Northern Harrier eating a coot where he was last seen.  I sure hope that she didn't get Bossy, too.  I also didn't see Hurt Wing and Curly, either.  It's possible that Bossy is hiding out until the hawk goes away.  Also, Peaches and Caramel were seen today, too.