Whenever visit Sonoma County, California, I stop by Bodega Head and Doran Beach.
Most visits I’ll go there several times. The beaches there are simply spectacular!
And rarely crowded.
During my last visit, as I was driving along Westshore Road toward the town of Bodega Bay,
I spotted several marbled godwits probing the mudflats during low tide.
These shore birds are fairly common along the Pacific coast.
They are about 18 inches tall and have a long, slightly up-curved bill with a pink base.
Their feathers are brownish with black mottling.
Their breasts and bellies are of a paler brown and beige color.
They eat crustaceans, seagrass and insects.
During high tide they roost in nearby dunes.
This one looks like he’s out for a Sunday stroll!
Several dozen marbled godwits were hanging out at Doran Beach when I went for a walk there.
Whenever a someone with a dog came near them, the entire flock took to the sky.
Once the danger passed, they’d return one by one …
… until another dog came by.
🙂
These photos were taken in 2019 along Westshore Road and Doran Beach in Sonoma County.
in cahoots with muddy boots 
Fabulous fotos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cindy! 🙂
LikeLike
How fun. Great photos, Sabine!! I love their pink bills. Makes them look festive and tropical. Have a great week!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Missy! I had so much fun watching these guys do their thing. I hope your week is a good one too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! I just finished a walk and it was glorious with blue skies, some wind and 52 degrees!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am amazed at their long bills and look at them stirring up the mud to get food. They look like their bills are much longer than their entire body, so surely they would not sleep with their heads tucked under their wings – ouch! Beautiful images Sabine – you were lucky to see so many of them. (That darn dog!)
LikeLiked by 1 person