This was my usual visit to Coyote Hills, but this time I explored the wetland area that spreads out in front of the hills rather than the hills themselves. The wetlands also have a network of trails and cover a fairly large area.
As always, a peaceful flock of Wild Turkeys was roaming about. But if Coyotes appear here, maybe they’re actually a bit more alert than they seem.A Mallard drake, dripping with water.A female Mallard.A view of the hills from the wetlands.A vivid Yellow-rumped Warbler.A Marsh Wren singing loudly from the reed-like brush. Very lively, like an Oriental Reed Warbler.A Wrentit. I’ve started to realize lately that I’ve been encountering them quite frequently.A Song Sparrow.A Snowy Egret.Several nest boxes had been installed in the trees near the water, and Tree Swallows were gathering and nesting there.A first sighting of a Bushtit—fluffy and round.Its face from the front is also adorable.Also making its blog debut: the Cinnamon Teal. The male has a striking, metallic reddish-brown color.Near the end of the visit, I spotted a Nuttall’s Woodpecker in a roadside tree. It’s very similar to the Ladder-backed Woodpecker, but Nuttall’s is found almost exclusively in California. Especially in Northern California, it’s safe to assume it’s this species.The commonly seen Acorn Woodpecker has a solid black back and a distinct black-and-white facial pattern, almost like a panda.
