About my fifth visit to Coyote Hills. As always, there are plenty of birds, and I make new discoveries each time. If only this place weren’t across the bay… (wishful thinking). The park officially opens at 8 AM, but many people seem to park nearby and walk in before that.
In the morning, wild turkeys gather in the grassy fields to forage. Some of them is fanning their tails like a fan—why?A white-tailed kite bathed in the morning sun from the side.A killdeer spotted next to the unpaved parking lot.
Until now, I had mainly focused on observing the hill areas, but about half of Coyote Hills consists of wetlands. Many waterbirds and birds that inhabit reed beds gather here.
A male American wigeon.A female American wigeon. In the background, an American coot.A male cinnamon teal. The glossy, rich colors are stunning.Among the reeds, the bright yellow of a common yellowthroat stands out.A Say’s phoebe has caught a millipede-like insect.A marsh wren. It was flitting around the reed beds, calling loudly like a great reed warbler. I was surprised to learn it actually belongs to the wren family.Many swallows were flying over the wetlands. The back of a tree swallow shines with a vibrant, metallic greenish-blue.
