A variety of shorebirds

19 degrees this morning

I've had many a cold early morning in my line of work, but the conditions here in Los Banos, CA are reaching extremes as we rise at 3:30am to 20 degree weather, breaking through ice to get to our nets in the wetlands.

D&D

I've been to Los Banos

Alright, I'm back. I've been computerless in Los Banos, CA for about two weeks now. Working for Point Blue again, I now spend my days in the wetlands of the San Joaquin Valley trapping wintering shorebirds, banding and attaching radio transmitters to them in an attempt to gain a better understanding of their habitat use and needs during this time of their life cycle.

We are specifically targeting Long-billed Dowitchers and Dunlin.

However, there are the occasional peep by-catches, this one being a Western Sandpiper, I believe, though our most common are Least.

As well as this Yellowlegs

The second team of trappers spend most of their time up in the rice fields of the Sacramento Valley, looking a little something like this.

Whereas, this is our typical morning scenery.