I live in north central California.  And this time of year we are where all
the birds that flew south for the winter are hanging out.  I know most of
the local year round and summer birds, but now I see birds almost daily that
I can't identify.

A few weeks ago I passed swans resting in flooded rice fields.  Closer to
seven hundred than to seven.  Wednesday a skein of geese flew over that
looked almost black from the ground.  Larger than Canada geese.  Today I saw
what I would imagine a collared dove to look like.  Dove shaped and size.
Grey and brown body and head, with a white band around the neck.  The only
dove I normally see here are the mourning doves.

Pheasant and quail, owls and hawks, cranes and herons are here year round.

We are having a very dry winter, so maybe that is why the birds seem to be
more around and visible.  The big dog and cat water bowl out back with the
drip has been serving extra duty as a birdbath.  Molly is across the street
stalking small furry things and Jake is napping a lot so they are pretty
safe.  There are several wildlife refuges very close by but this year there
seems to be an abundance just on the fallow farmland.

Jo