Spring is quite different in what is visible. All we found were the year-round residents and wild flowers. Still a great drive!
There were so many jack rabbits, we thought we were back in the desert. They are almost fearless and VERY curious!
The pheasants were almost as numerous, but much more wary.
The reserve is the combination of several reserves. It covers 35,000 acres and supplies food and rest to a full half of the migratory bird in the Pacific flight path. In the fall these lakes are covered with snow geese and other water fowl.
It is an idyllic setting with the mountains in the distance.
There were numerous hawks. This one captured our interest because of his unwillingness to leave this tree. He sat let us take pictures. He would get uncomfortable enough to take flight, only to return to the same tree. It was a great thing to watch. THEN we found the reason for his reluctance to leave. As we kept the hawk distracted, a large jack rabbit made a break for the open field! We had come between the hawk and his intended lunch! After the rabbit escaped, the hawk deserted us with a disdainful glare. 
There were egrets everywhere. They are a common resident in the Sacramento area due to the numerous rice paddies, and Sacramento River wetlands.
It is an "stay in the automobile" tour and you only get to see a small section, but SO fun to drive through if you take your time. We were the only visitors there that day and could stop and watch wherever we wanted. We saw turtles sunning themselves, but couldn't get any pics. Most of the encounters were "ah ha" moments and I wasn't quick enough with the camera. We saw way more pheasants than we could get photos of and more jack rabbits than we WANTED pictures of!
The smiles on our faces weren't only from the wildlife...
We knew where we were eating lunch! Last chance In & Out Burgers in Redding, CA.
1 comment:
We eat at that same In & out when we passed through. We just had two stop it was Bobs second In & Out burger EVER...deprived childhood.
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