Chestnut-backed Chickadee

We have a pair of chickadees at our feeders in front of the store. This one was photographed by Manager Dave at his home in Pleasanton.

American and Lawrence's Goldfinches, by L. English

American Goldfinches are regular winter visitors to valley thistle feeders. They turn bright yellow in spring after a winter in drab brown feathers.

There are small colonies of Lawrence's Goldfinches around the valley, but these, at a feeder in San Ramon are really unusual.

Anna's Hummingbird, by L English

By far, the most commonly seen hummingbird at Tri-Valley feeders, the Anna's male is the only hummingbird with an iridescent head and chin.The female looks much like females of other green backed hummingbird species.

BarnSwallows on the roof, by L English

Barn Swallows build mud nests under bridges and eaves, so they are found not far from muddy streams or ponds. In return for your providing nesting surface, they catch mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects to feed the young. Barn Swallows are found on every continent.

Black-headed Grosbeak, by L. English

Black Headed Grosbeaks are summer residents in wooded areas around the Bay Area. This is a male, with bright feathers. The female has less color, suitable to being inconspicuous while sitting on the nest.

Band-tailed Pigeon, by Bill Rose

It looks like a parking lot pigeon, but the Band-tailed Pigeons are all the same color scheme

California Quail by L. English

During nesting season, the male California Quail finds a high perch from which to stand guard. When the chicks fledge, the family forages together. The adults venture into new territory and then call the chicks to follow, which they of ten do in an orderly line.

Dark-eyed Junco by Laurie English

The juncos visit in the winter, when the seeds in their high altitude nesting habitat are covered with snow. There is a resident population in the Berkeley, Hayward and Fremont hills, where there are conifers to provide shade and retain moisture.

Great Blue Heron, by Laurie English

This heron has caught a rodent that looks like a roof rat. Most herons, including the Great Blue, seem to prefer seafood, but the larger ones will accept small mammals as well. You sometimes see a Great Blue Heron or Great Egret in a field far from water. This picture demonstrates why they might be there.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

This small relative of the Great Blue Heron is usually found around wet places. They have nested in suburban Pleasanton, however. This one was photographed by Chris Cochems in Union City.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Rick Baker, Hayward

This eastern species is rarely seen in central California. This beautiful male dropped into Mr Baker's yard in 2001. At least one female was in Hayward in previous years.The Rose-breasted shares the preferences and diet of our much more common Black-headed Grosbeak.

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Squirrels like peanuts, among other things, and are willing to do acrobatics to get them. The Eastern Fox Squirrel is not native, but is probably the most commonly seen squirrel in our area.

Western Bluebird by L English

The Western Bluebird is a summer resident of local fields and hills. They prefer open grassland in which they can see grasshoppers and other bugs to feed their young. Bluebirds nest on Pleasanton Ridge and in Sycamore Grove in Livermore.

White-crowned Sparrow, by Dave Stillson

This winter visitor charms us with his bright head stripes and complex song. He enjoys millet and most other seeds in addition to suet. But he can't hang from a vertical suet feeder, he requires it be flat.

Finches on feeders, by Dave Stillson

This mob of goldfinches and House Finches demonstrates that they will enjoy both thistle and sunflower chips.