a morning of birds on the russian river

killdeer / Russian River Sonoma County CA

killdeer / Russian River Sonoma County CA

killdeer / Russian River Sonoma County CA

Want to get better at shooting birds in flight? Try practicing on tree swallows flying over a river catching insects … in poor light. Everything else becomes much easier, let me tell you! Just to remain standing and not spun around and on my face in the sand or river was a minor success.

tree swallow / Russian River Sonoma County CA

tree swallow / Russian River Sonoma County CA

The osprey were out and about as well, with two or three pairs fishing and perched in the area. There are many nests around the river and out towards the coast in Sonoma County, always amazing to see these birds in action. They seemed as interested in me as I was in them …

osprey / Russian River Sonoma County CA

Watching it all unfold was a tree full of vultures, trying to warm up on a chilly and foggy West County morning on the river.

vulture roost / Russian River Sonoma County CA

turkey vulture / Russian River Sonoma County CA