Tag Archives: san joaqun

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Geese, Dawn Sky, Fog

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Geese, Dawn Sky, Fog
Tens of thousands of Ross’ geese take to the dawn sky above San Joaquin Valley wetlands

Geese, Dawn Sky, Fog. San Joaquin Valley, California. February 26, 2016. © Copyright 2016 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Tens of thousands of Ross’ geese take to the dawn sky above San Joaquin Valley wetlands

We always hope for fog on our winter visits to these places where the Pacific Flyway migratory birds are found out in California’s Central Valley. Despite the attractions of clear and sunny mornings — especially when it comes to driving — the fog lends mystery to the landscape and works wonders with the early morning light. We were not disappointed on this morning, and the fog was very thick when we arrived. For a short time it was thick enough to make driving difficult, but as dawn approached the atmosphere cleared enough to let us see clouds above the airborne geese.

At this point in the season, the time when the geese depart for points (far) north is very close, and it seems like the geese must know. They seem to be much more active and they congregate in larger numbers, frequently taking to the air in astonishing clouds of thousands or tens of thousands of birds. Within minutes of our arrival on this morning, huge groups of them took to the air all over the surrounding landscape, starting out in tightly packed flocks that gradually expanded to fill the sky.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books and Amazon.
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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Flight, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Wildlife

Migratory Birds – November 24, 2013

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In late November I had the opportunity to make another trip to California’s Great Central Valley in search of migratory birds. This valley is an important stopping place for many of these birds in the late fall through early spring season, and a great variety of them may be found at the many wildlife refuges up and down the state.

This time I had a single morning to photograph. I arrived just before sunrise to find that ground fog was muting the light and the colors. As I continued shooting through the morning the fog gradually cleared, leaving blue sky and a soft light above the marshland. I saw (and heard!) many birds, including the white-faced ibises, black-necked stilts, redwing blackbirds, and Ross’s an snow geese included in this small collection.

White-faced Ibis
White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis. San Joaquin Valley, California. November 24, 2013. © Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

White-faced ibises feeding in a California Central Valley marsh

Black-necked Stilt Taking Flight
Black-necked Stilt Taking Flight

Black-necked Stilt Taking Flight. San Joaquin Valley, California. November 24, 2013. © Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A black-necked Stilt takes off from a California Central Valley pond

Female Red-winged Blackbird
Female Red-winged Blackbird

Female Red Winged Blackbird. San Joaquin Valley, California. November 24, 2013. © Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Female red-winged blackbird perched above a California Central Valley pond

Ross's Geese in Flight
Snow Geese in Flight

Snow Geese in Flight. San Joaquin Valley, California. November 24, 2013. © Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A flock of snow geese in flight about a San Joaquin Valley wildlife refuge

Four Ross's Geese in Flight
Four Snow Geese in Flight

Four Snow Geese in Flight. San Joaquin Valley, California. November 24, 2013. © Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Four snow geese bank steeply through a turn above a California Central Valley marsh

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.