A Creek Saunter

I went for a sketching saunter out to Putah Creek this morning. There was a lot going on down there: the magpies were being raucous, and there was a white-tailed kite that stayed perched on the top of the bare branches of a tree for at least twenty minutes before taking off and circling in its display flight. Further away, a couple of Swainson’s hawks were soaring and calling over the field south of the creek. And a blue grosbeak was singing in the eucalyptus behind where I was sketching. Alas, the yellow starthistle is abundant and turning spiny. Not quite as noxious, though still a weed, the chicory is in bloom. At right is a quick sketch of the railroad bridge.