Yellow-headed Blackbird - Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

A highlight of a late spring/summer drive along Marble Hot Springs Road in the Sierra Valley (north of Truckee, CA) is the sight and sounds of the Yellow-headed Black-bird. We don't see this species often in the Bay Area, as it prefers fresh water marshes more inland, such as in the Central Valley and the Sierras. It's a "western" species that winters in Mexico and warmer areas of the southwest, then migrating north to our midwest and northwest and western Canada. 

This link to eNature  provides good summary of winter and summer ranges, along with a link to his vocalizations (one dares not call them "songs"):

Yellow-headed Blackbird migration

Here's a male on his territory, sitting on a perch of the appropriate color:

The males sounds are better heard than described. William Leon Dawson (Birds of California) gives a colorful account of what one might hear:

 "… Verily, if love affected us all in similar fashion, the world would be a merry madhouse. The Yellow-head is an extraordinary person--you are prepared for that once you catch sight of his resplendent gold-upon-black livery--but his avowal of the tender passion is a revelation of incongruity. Grasping a reed firmly in both fists, he leans forward, and, after premonitory gulps and gasps, succeeds in pressing out a wail of despairing agony which would do credit to a dying catamount. When you have recovered from the first shock, you strain the eyes in astonishment that a mere bird, and a bird in love at that, should give rise to such a cataclysmic sound. But he can do it again, and his neighbor across the way can do as well, or worse."

Taxonomy is simple, as the Yellow-headed is in a monotypic genus, and is one of about 107 icterid species. One can easily see the relationship to the orioles. I included the shots of the bird on the orange/black hazard sign to show that the deep yellow color borders on yellow-orange. When not singing they forage near the ground, like many blackbirds, and their size and aggressive nature keeps the Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds from intruding on the prime marshy areas. I estimated well over a hundred Yellow-heads were present along the road.

Bald Eagle at Sierra Valley

June 4, 2014. Just back from a 3-day birding trip to Yuba Pass and Sierra Valley. Patti and I went on our own, which provided new challenges and opportunities. We made 3 separate trips to Sierra Valley, each time driving down Marble Hot Springs road. It was windy at times, but the mild temperatures were a welcome change from the usual 90+ temps in the valley, and we didn't see a single vehicle on the road in the hours we spent there! On each trip we saw this adult Bald Eagle on a telephone pole quite near the iron bridge, and wondered a bit why he preferred this area.

On the final day, as we watched from a distance, we noted 4 Turkey Vultures feeding on something in the road ahead, just below the eagle. We drove very slowly, and the vultures reluctantly lifted off. We paused at the carcass, and were a bit surprised to see the remains of a large fish, perhaps a carp, abut 18" long. Other possible prey in the area included ducks (Mallard, Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal) and White-fronted Ibises. The area provides endless views of the comically noisy Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

Red Knot - Calidris canutus

Almost all the shorebirds that are going to breed this year have already in April, but we managed to see still heading north at Bodega Bay on our May 10 visit, including these 2 breeding plumage Red Knots, Calidris canutus. Red Knots stick close together when feeding, much like Dowitchers. They often feed in the company of the larger shorebirds like the Marbled Godwit.

We watched these birds on a windy day at low tide, as they picked small food items from the exposed rocks and algae. Often they probe rapidly in the mud like other shorebirds, but that day they seemed to find good pickings on the surface matter, reminding me of turnstones.

The first shot shows some of the colors that we see all too briefly, as the few Knots that winter here wear plain gray outfits and are easily overlooked. The salmon color of the back feathers and coverts, along with the fringed patterns, make for a visual treat. These 2 had a fair amount of rufous on the head and underparts, and likely will get even redder.

Second shot give us an idea of their size, which at 10.5" is large in comparison to our "peeps", but considerably smaller that the nearby Marbled Godwit.

Last shot shows one of the knots in an "alert" posture, perhaps on the lookout for a Peregrine.