So San Joaquin NWR was a little frustrating in the wildlife department. Apparently there are two parking areas: one for a “viewing area” that overlooks wetlands that attract thousands of shore and water birds, and another for about 4 miles of trails. Because I like to hike, I visited the trails. I sort of thought maybe I’d be able to see the shorebirds from a different angle, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. I think perhaps an off-limits riparian forest separates the two areas. As I hiked alongside the forest, I heard SO MANY birds, including numerous Great Horned owls, but I had a lot of trouble SEEING most of these animals and I had no way to get into the area where they were.
This is the best shot I was able to get of one Great Horned owl, which was frustrating because he was lower in a tree than I’ve ever seen an owl, and actually ridiculously close to me, but I couldn’t get a shot of him! Although this blog is supposed to showcase my photography skills, I’m sharing it anyway because although I think this is now the 6th or 7th Great Horned owl I’ve seen in the wild, I still think glimpsing one is cause for great joy.
Almost immediately after I gave up on photographing that owl, I was walking along and startled another raptor on the ground very near the trail, and he flew up into a nearby tree. At least he posed for a few seconds before flying off out of sight. Red-tailed hawk:
I also saw some raptor food, I mean a bunny.
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