R: Common Checkered-Skipper.
Today we decided to check out an AllTrails route that’s been on my list for a while, since we started out the day in Eastbaysia. The whole area West of Vallejo, which has a variety of Wildlife Refuge and Wildlife Area and tons of marshy spots, has always intrigued me. And given the warm temps, it seemed like a nice spot to keep cool by the bay.
So after a perfectly indulgent brunch at Saul’s, we ventured out to see what the Napa River and Bay Trail route was all about at Wetlands Edge Park.
It was one of Those Days. When the sun is SO DANG BRIGHT and INTENSE that, while everything looks absolutely stunning in the gorgeous sunshine light, pretty much all of my photos turned out to be meh. Washed out by the sun. Boo.
It’s also a pretty late hour, so I’m just going to say that there was so much that we saw. And so little of it was I able to capture. Because the birds were too far away. The butterflies so rarely stopped. And the sun made it so flippin’ difficult to find the thing I spotted once behind the tiny viewfinder of my wee digital camera.
I wasn’t able to capture the Black-tailed Jackrabbit that casually hopped up a hillside and out of sight while we watched three shorebirds dance above the water together. But I want to remember that.
Also wasn’t able to capture the Common Yellowthroats we saw. Not surprising. I so rarely see them for more than an instant. But I want to remember how spectacular that YELLOW on them was today.
The highlight of the day was actually when we started out. Where a Western Bluebird was hunting and continuously bringing back food to presumed babies inside a bird box right on the path. We watched it hunt and catch repeatedly. And marvelled at how adept what must’ve been a female Bluebird was in this endeavor.
There are MANY Bluebird boxes at the park. And we even got to watch a juvenile Bluebird (which I don’t think I’ve really seen before??) hunt quite well in its own right, too.
Wish I could relay more of what all we saw, but it’s LATE. I will say it’s a fantastic place to see many different birds, among other things. And that bay breeze saved us from otherwise melting on such a warm day. I aim to return to these lush marshes when it’s Spring Time next time!
