I saw a small flock of these sweet little birds on a pistachio tree in the parking lot of Target today.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Sharing our Space with Nature
My house was built in 1901, back before they put in the freeways and strip malls that now surround the neighborhood. The animals and plants that lived where my home now stands have long moved away and my house has seen generations upon generations of visitors over these past 100+ years. Newer homes and buildings in the area have nearly eliminated all of the open space around me, so I make an extra effort to make my yard welcoming to the wildlife that has no where else to go. When I moved in, I removed the concrete covering the backyard as soon as I could and planted flowering and fruiting plants, and I put out feeders and sources of water. It's a small, but very pleasant yard and I have frequent visits from birds and squirrels. I have also many times seen an opossum in the yard, hunting for snails and rotting fruit from the backyard trees..
Most of the time, the wildlife stays out in the yard, but occasionally I get a few unexpected house guests. A couple of times in the late afternoon, when I leave the back door of the house open to let in a breeze a hummingbird has lost its way and flow into my living room, confused by the ceiling light there. They eventually were coaxed back out by shutting off the living room light and turning on and off a sequence of lights that leads them back to the door. The same trick often works with the wayward bee or moth.
Another guest that finds the kitchen especially interesting is the Virginia Opossum. They will sometimes try to sneak in if I leave the door open in the evening to feast on the cat food inside. My guess is they have done this on several occasions, but I've only caught them a couple of times when they didn't escape quickly enough.
Opossums love to eat just about everything, but they're particularly fond of cat food and sweets. Last year, when my basement door wasn't latching properly, a set of opossum triplets moved into the basement for a rainy week. I have a projector and some chairs set up down there for watching movies. One evening I was down there alone in the dark watching a movie and I saw three little figures crawl down a ledge one by one, pass right by me feet, and make their way to the open door. I later found that they had devoured a full tub of peanut butter cups that was inadvertently left down there. They are also very fond of popcorn.
In spite of the mischief these creatures may get in to, we are truly lucky that they come to stay in our neighborhoods and live with us in harmony. They are a reminder that there still exist wild and natural places and creatures all around us.
"In wildness is the preservation of the world."
--Henry David Thoreau
Most of the time, the wildlife stays out in the yard, but occasionally I get a few unexpected house guests. A couple of times in the late afternoon, when I leave the back door of the house open to let in a breeze a hummingbird has lost its way and flow into my living room, confused by the ceiling light there. They eventually were coaxed back out by shutting off the living room light and turning on and off a sequence of lights that leads them back to the door. The same trick often works with the wayward bee or moth.
Another guest that finds the kitchen especially interesting is the Virginia Opossum. They will sometimes try to sneak in if I leave the door open in the evening to feast on the cat food inside. My guess is they have done this on several occasions, but I've only caught them a couple of times when they didn't escape quickly enough.
Opossums love to eat just about everything, but they're particularly fond of cat food and sweets. Last year, when my basement door wasn't latching properly, a set of opossum triplets moved into the basement for a rainy week. I have a projector and some chairs set up down there for watching movies. One evening I was down there alone in the dark watching a movie and I saw three little figures crawl down a ledge one by one, pass right by me feet, and make their way to the open door. I later found that they had devoured a full tub of peanut butter cups that was inadvertently left down there. They are also very fond of popcorn.In spite of the mischief these creatures may get in to, we are truly lucky that they come to stay in our neighborhoods and live with us in harmony. They are a reminder that there still exist wild and natural places and creatures all around us.
"In wildness is the preservation of the world."
--Henry David Thoreau
Monday, April 05, 2010
Wildflower Weekend, Part 3
After lunch, we headed down to the road toward Carrizo Plain National Monument, where I had seen fields of coreopsis in previous years. This year was no different...blooms of the yellow and white daisy-like flowers (also known as tidy tips), mixed with fiddlenecks, goldfields, phacelia, baby blue eyes, and owl's clover covered the valley floor. There had been some concern that we might be too late in the season to see a good bloom, but as it turned out, if anything we were too early, as we could see many buds not yet opened.
In fact, it was probably the best weekend for us to go, since the following weekend (Easter weekend) the weather turned cold and rainy and even dropped a little snow on the higher peaks in Los Padres.
After a trip to the Soda Lake overlook to see a profusion of the hillside daisy,
we backtracked to the 58 and then over to the 41/46 to Shell Creek Road, which had been posted online in several places as a great spot for wildflower viewing.
Along the way, we found a few additional opportunities to pull off the road and appreciate more spring blooms, including a field of shooting stars
and a field with coreopsis and bison.
Once we reached Shell Creek Road from the 46, we didn't have to go far before we saw the results of the postings: the sides of the road were filled with cars and the fields, including some private property, were being mobbed by people tramping down flowers. We carefully but quickly bypassed the crowded areas until we reached a part of the road with no people and fewer flowers but plenty of cows and vineyards. Here we also saw towering hillsides with exposed rock and soil, which added additional colors to the palette of oranges and yellows of the far away fiddlenecks and coreopsis.
Then, just a little further down and across from the vineyards, we found what was probably the most colorful hillside yet, one that reminded me of an easter egg. Here we saw many of the same wildflowers as before, with the addition of the purple bird's eye gilia, which had been absent in the plain.
We continued on Shell Creek Road until we reached a fork, then continued along some smaller countryside road that wound through a narrow canyon and past some small farms and houses. We stopped briefly to admire some horses who looked lovely against a background of bright yellow goldfields.
We continued as long as the road did, then finally had to make a U-turn and head back. Along the way , we spotted a roadrunner, a fairly uncommon bird and managed to grab a couple of shots from the car before he ran off with a group of quail.
After that, we reconnected with the 46 and found the turnoff to Bitterwater Creek road, which was purported to have additional wildflower displays. Although it was a peaceful and scenic drive, we didn't find anything really other than fields of fiddlenecks and mustard so we didn't stop until we reached a turn where a collapsed store was settling into the ground.
We continued until we connected back with 46, through Lost Hills.
We made a stop at Blackwell's Corner to pay tribute to James Dean and get some gas, then headed back to Lancaster for the evening.
In fact, it was probably the best weekend for us to go, since the following weekend (Easter weekend) the weather turned cold and rainy and even dropped a little snow on the higher peaks in Los Padres.
After a trip to the Soda Lake overlook to see a profusion of the hillside daisy,
we backtracked to the 58 and then over to the 41/46 to Shell Creek Road, which had been posted online in several places as a great spot for wildflower viewing. Along the way, we found a few additional opportunities to pull off the road and appreciate more spring blooms, including a field of shooting stars
and a field with coreopsis and bison.Once we reached Shell Creek Road from the 46, we didn't have to go far before we saw the results of the postings: the sides of the road were filled with cars and the fields, including some private property, were being mobbed by people tramping down flowers. We carefully but quickly bypassed the crowded areas until we reached a part of the road with no people and fewer flowers but plenty of cows and vineyards. Here we also saw towering hillsides with exposed rock and soil, which added additional colors to the palette of oranges and yellows of the far away fiddlenecks and coreopsis.
Then, just a little further down and across from the vineyards, we found what was probably the most colorful hillside yet, one that reminded me of an easter egg. Here we saw many of the same wildflowers as before, with the addition of the purple bird's eye gilia, which had been absent in the plain.
We continued on Shell Creek Road until we reached a fork, then continued along some smaller countryside road that wound through a narrow canyon and past some small farms and houses. We stopped briefly to admire some horses who looked lovely against a background of bright yellow goldfields.
We continued as long as the road did, then finally had to make a U-turn and head back. Along the way , we spotted a roadrunner, a fairly uncommon bird and managed to grab a couple of shots from the car before he ran off with a group of quail.
After that, we reconnected with the 46 and found the turnoff to Bitterwater Creek road, which was purported to have additional wildflower displays. Although it was a peaceful and scenic drive, we didn't find anything really other than fields of fiddlenecks and mustard so we didn't stop until we reached a turn where a collapsed store was settling into the ground.
We continued until we connected back with 46, through Lost Hills.
We made a stop at Blackwell's Corner to pay tribute to James Dean and get some gas, then headed back to Lancaster for the evening.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Wildflower Weekend, Part 2
Taking advantage of a promised rain-free weekend, we took a trip to some of the reported best places to view wildflowers. Having visited the Carrizo Plain a few years ago, I had a good feeling about the area and anticipated exploring it further. The heavy rains of the season offered hope of abundant blooms, and the postings on Flickr from some of my contacts motivated to grab up all of my camera gear and pack the family into the SUV for a road trip.
We first visited Wild Wolves Preserve (first time for me) off the 166 on the way to Carrizo. Then we continued along 166 to the 33 and through Taft on the way to highway 58. Along the way, we stopped to appreciate the numerous fields of fiddlenecks and coreopsis in the otherwise empty fields. The road was quiet and the weather was beautiful.
When we turned onto the 58, we started seeing a few other wildflower fans. In fact, every turnout on the mountainous part of this road had at least one car containing people and cameras. Fortunately, there was plenty of room to pull off the road and enjoy the scenery.
Now, fields of brilliant orange California Poppies and yellow Goldfields joined the ever-present orange fiddlenecks and yellow coreopsis.
We also saw bunches of the pale yellow Cream Cups on the high side of the road.
After the abundance of oranges, golds and yellows, it was a nice change to see the phacelia again. We found a spill of the purple-blue flowers on a sunny hillside.
We continued down the hill, oohing and aahing at the brilliant splashes of color and pulled off the road next to an abandoned cottage to have a picnic lunch before heading down to the Carrizo Plain.
We first visited Wild Wolves Preserve (first time for me) off the 166 on the way to Carrizo. Then we continued along 166 to the 33 and through Taft on the way to highway 58. Along the way, we stopped to appreciate the numerous fields of fiddlenecks and coreopsis in the otherwise empty fields. The road was quiet and the weather was beautiful.
When we turned onto the 58, we started seeing a few other wildflower fans. In fact, every turnout on the mountainous part of this road had at least one car containing people and cameras. Fortunately, there was plenty of room to pull off the road and enjoy the scenery.
Now, fields of brilliant orange California Poppies and yellow Goldfields joined the ever-present orange fiddlenecks and yellow coreopsis.
We also saw bunches of the pale yellow Cream Cups on the high side of the road.
After the abundance of oranges, golds and yellows, it was a nice change to see the phacelia again. We found a spill of the purple-blue flowers on a sunny hillside.
We continued down the hill, oohing and aahing at the brilliant splashes of color and pulled off the road next to an abandoned cottage to have a picnic lunch before heading down to the Carrizo Plain.
Wildflower Weekend, Part 1
Since we had a good amount of rainfall this past winter, I hoped that the wildflowers would make a better-than-average display. We planned to head out on the one weekend this early spring that seemed to not have any sign of rain.
Our trip took us first to Wind Wolves Preserve, which is an area west of I5 and Bakersfield. We took highway 166 west and arrived by late morning to be greeted by hillsides covered with lupine and owl's clover.
The preserve is very peaceful and open, with many hiking trails along grassy hillsides. We were not equipped for hiking, but did take a short stroll along a small creek and along a path that led to a hillside covered with fiddlenecks and phacelia.
The wildflower display at Wind Wolves was not what I'd call spectacular, but it had several satisfying displays that could be viewed from the car and it was a pleasant stop after 2 hrs on the freeway.
After Wind Wolves, we continued west on 166 then took the 33 toward Taft, a town built around oil. Not the most pleasant drive, although the road leading to Taft is flanked on both sides with citrus trees that smell wonderful when they are blossoming later in the year. Taft was a forest of oil pumps and strange pipes running along the ground. We were glad when we started climbing the hills on the other side of Taft, where the first signs of what would be endless fields of fiddlenecks began to make an appearance.
Our trip took us first to Wind Wolves Preserve, which is an area west of I5 and Bakersfield. We took highway 166 west and arrived by late morning to be greeted by hillsides covered with lupine and owl's clover.
The preserve is very peaceful and open, with many hiking trails along grassy hillsides. We were not equipped for hiking, but did take a short stroll along a small creek and along a path that led to a hillside covered with fiddlenecks and phacelia.
The wildflower display at Wind Wolves was not what I'd call spectacular, but it had several satisfying displays that could be viewed from the car and it was a pleasant stop after 2 hrs on the freeway.
After Wind Wolves, we continued west on 166 then took the 33 toward Taft, a town built around oil. Not the most pleasant drive, although the road leading to Taft is flanked on both sides with citrus trees that smell wonderful when they are blossoming later in the year. Taft was a forest of oil pumps and strange pipes running along the ground. We were glad when we started climbing the hills on the other side of Taft, where the first signs of what would be endless fields of fiddlenecks began to make an appearance.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Snow Geese at Sherman Island
Even though it was getting pretty late in the season, I had hopes that we would get a chance to see some of the last flocks of snow geese and white-fronted geese before they made their journey back north. After having lunch in Berkeley,
we headed up Highway 4 toward Antioch, then over the bridge and left on the first road after the bridge, which is Sherman Island road. I have traveled over this bridge many times on the way to see cranes and geese and the scenery is great, but the traffic moves quickly so there is little opportunity to observe wildlife. This time I decided to pull off at the first opportunity, which happened to be this little road. It winds back toward the bridge before running up next to the levy, where it follows for several miles before joining back with the 160.
The spot where we found geese last week was only occupied by ducks this time, so we continued along the levy and encountered again the goats munching on the tall grass.
Since it was late in the afternoon, I was hoping to see a "fly-out" or "fly-in", a phenomenon where a flock of hundreds of geese take to the air all at once and head in to the water or out to the fields.
This usually occurs at sunrise or sunset, so I hoped we'd catch one last look as the flocks flew overhead. We drove along the levy, watching the fields below the levy and spotted a few small flocks of snows off in the distance. The road is pretty narrow and offers little opportunity to pull off, but finally after passing through a marina, we found a small pull off and got out of the car. Luck was with us that day, since moments after we got out of the car, streams of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese cross over the levy and directly over us.
They flew in so low over us that it was hard for my camera to lock focus on a small group as they were passing overhead so quickly in linked "V's". It lasted for a couple of minutes at least, then it was over. It was still an hour before sunset but that was all we would get for a fly-in, it seemed. Good enough. In fact, it's wonderful to stand under a flock as it flys overhead and hear nothing but the gentle beat of wings in the air and the soft honking of hundreds or thousands of geese. It's the reason I drive for 2-3 hours on winter weekends, getting up sometimes at 4AM and standing outside in the freezing mist to take the chance that I've picked the right spot and the right time. It really is a spiritual experience.
After the flock passed, we headed a little further down the road to investigate an abandoned barn.
I had learned from a fellow wildlife photographer that barns meant barn owls, so I quietly stepped over to the entrance to have a peek. I did see streaks of white inside on the worn walls so I started to get excited. When I got to the entrance and looked up and directly across I spotted just what I was looking for: a sweet little barn owl!
Unfortunately the little guy or gal was not interested in visitors and I was only able to fire off one quick shot before it flew off right toward me and exited the barn via the loft window right over my head. I had time to look out the barn door and see the owl fly off toward a bush by the levee, noting the beautiful in-flight shots I was missing. Oh well. I decided it was time to leave the owl along and got back in the car, heading back down the levee.
We came back to the marina, watching for wildlife in the levee but there was little to see except a pied-billed grebe on the lookout.
I stopped at the marina having spotted a kitty out hunting. I called to her and she ran right up and into the open car door. She came in purring and accepting pets before thoroughly exploring the interior of the car.
When she finally said goodbye, we continued along the road, stopping to listen to a pheasant squawk and to watch blackbirds balancing on the power lines.
When we got back near the bridge, we stopped by a damp area where white-fronted geese and snow geese were gathering as the sun set. Seems like they were settling in for the evening so there would be no shots of geese against the setting sun this time. No matter. It had been great to see the geese one last time. It will be a long wait for me as I anticipate their return in the fall.
we headed up Highway 4 toward Antioch, then over the bridge and left on the first road after the bridge, which is Sherman Island road. I have traveled over this bridge many times on the way to see cranes and geese and the scenery is great, but the traffic moves quickly so there is little opportunity to observe wildlife. This time I decided to pull off at the first opportunity, which happened to be this little road. It winds back toward the bridge before running up next to the levy, where it follows for several miles before joining back with the 160. The spot where we found geese last week was only occupied by ducks this time, so we continued along the levy and encountered again the goats munching on the tall grass.
Since it was late in the afternoon, I was hoping to see a "fly-out" or "fly-in", a phenomenon where a flock of hundreds of geese take to the air all at once and head in to the water or out to the fields.
This usually occurs at sunrise or sunset, so I hoped we'd catch one last look as the flocks flew overhead. We drove along the levy, watching the fields below the levy and spotted a few small flocks of snows off in the distance. The road is pretty narrow and offers little opportunity to pull off, but finally after passing through a marina, we found a small pull off and got out of the car. Luck was with us that day, since moments after we got out of the car, streams of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese cross over the levy and directly over us.
They flew in so low over us that it was hard for my camera to lock focus on a small group as they were passing overhead so quickly in linked "V's". It lasted for a couple of minutes at least, then it was over. It was still an hour before sunset but that was all we would get for a fly-in, it seemed. Good enough. In fact, it's wonderful to stand under a flock as it flys overhead and hear nothing but the gentle beat of wings in the air and the soft honking of hundreds or thousands of geese. It's the reason I drive for 2-3 hours on winter weekends, getting up sometimes at 4AM and standing outside in the freezing mist to take the chance that I've picked the right spot and the right time. It really is a spiritual experience.
After the flock passed, we headed a little further down the road to investigate an abandoned barn.
I had learned from a fellow wildlife photographer that barns meant barn owls, so I quietly stepped over to the entrance to have a peek. I did see streaks of white inside on the worn walls so I started to get excited. When I got to the entrance and looked up and directly across I spotted just what I was looking for: a sweet little barn owl!
Unfortunately the little guy or gal was not interested in visitors and I was only able to fire off one quick shot before it flew off right toward me and exited the barn via the loft window right over my head. I had time to look out the barn door and see the owl fly off toward a bush by the levee, noting the beautiful in-flight shots I was missing. Oh well. I decided it was time to leave the owl along and got back in the car, heading back down the levee.
We came back to the marina, watching for wildlife in the levee but there was little to see except a pied-billed grebe on the lookout.
I stopped at the marina having spotted a kitty out hunting. I called to her and she ran right up and into the open car door. She came in purring and accepting pets before thoroughly exploring the interior of the car.
When she finally said goodbye, we continued along the road, stopping to listen to a pheasant squawk and to watch blackbirds balancing on the power lines.
When we got back near the bridge, we stopped by a damp area where white-fronted geese and snow geese were gathering as the sun set. Seems like they were settling in for the evening so there would be no shots of geese against the setting sun this time. No matter. It had been great to see the geese one last time. It will be a long wait for me as I anticipate their return in the fall.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
More Baby Ducks
Although it seems pretty late in the season to me, I was happy to see there are some new baby ducks in the pond along Radio Road in Redwood Shores by the San Francisco Bay. One mama mallard had ten little fuzzy babies following her. Over on the far end of the pond, two parents were closely watching their one little duckling.
The baby geese have long grown up and are doing their share to tear up the lawn along the roadside, but the ducks are still busy it seems.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Just the Kids
Just the Kids
It's Egret baby season again! Starting in April, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets and Black-Crowned Night Heron begin building nests in the Baylands wildlife sanctuary on San Francisco Bay. What few palm trees and eucalyptus are available become crowded like a New York City apartment building as birds pack in their nests near one of the prime fishing spots in the area.
Eggs are laid and young birds begin to emerge: first, the Night Herons, followed in a few weeks by the first round of Snowy Egrets. The babies continue to hatch into the summer months and the earlier-born fledglings test their wings for the first flight.
As summer winds down, the birds quietly disappear from the area, seeking out better hunting grounds and possibly a little peace and quiet, but they are guaranteed to return again next spring.
Just the kids on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
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