This past Winter, I saw Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs, Ring-necked Pheasant, and even a Peregrine Falcon along a small road running South from Highway 24 in Gridley. The road turns into Ford St., which is also known as the Gridley/Flanagan Blacktop, if you follow it North across Highway 24, but the stretch of road I am referring to is South of 24. I basically use it as a shortcut to get to work from County Highway 29. Early this year, I noticed Waterfowl flying into a fenced in area on the East side of this road. The lagoons of water here provided an explanation as to why I had seen so many birds along this stretch of road during the Winter. I realized the gate was usually open and began checking what I realized to be the Gridley Sewage Lagoons for Waterfowl and other birds. Migrant visitors this Spring included Ross's Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Great Egret, Savannah Sparrow, and Vesper Sparrow. Also present have been Canada Goose, Mallard, Killdeer, American Robin, Red-tailed Hawk, Eurasian Collared Dove, Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow, European Starling, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, and House Finch.
On May 10, I saw Spotted Sandpipers, a Pectoral Sandpiper, and a large flock of American Golden-Plovers at this location. I did not visit it much after that until July 11th after I heard that someone had seen a Least Sandpiper in the County. I decided to check these lagoons for Least Sandpipers and found both Least and Spotted Sandpipers and Greater Yellowlegs.
I checked again on July 16th and found Least, Spotted, and Solitary Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs.
I have been checking several times a week, and the Spotted and Least Sandpipers have remained.
Yesterday, on Monday, July 25th I checked the lagoons and found to my surprise a new visitor--a Short-billed Dowitcher. I was blessed to be able to see it before I flushed it and to be able to take these pictures from my car. The Dowitcher was standing on the rocks on the Northwest bank of the middle lagoon. As you come in the entrance, there are two small lagoons on your right. As you continue to drive East, you can turn right to drive around the center lagoon or go straight to get to the largest lagoon which extends to the end of the premises. The center lagoon seems to be the best area for viewing Shorebirds and seems to attract more of them, but at times they can also be found in the other lagoons. The two lagoons closest to the road are not always completely full of water. The largest lagoon seemed to be the favorite spot for the Northern Shovelers I saw this Spring. It is best to view the birds from your car as you drive around the lagoons unless you have a scope, which I do not have.
Least and Spotted Sandpipers were still present yesterday as well.
When I photographed these two Great Blue Herons standing on the East bank of the middle lagoon, I did not realize the Short-billed Dowitcher, which I had flushed earlier, was also in many of the pictures. You will also see Killdeer in the pictures, and if you look really hard you may see a Spotted Sandpiper in a couple of the pictures.
I am curious as to what I might find at this amazing location next.
