Song Sparrow

Not a Care in the World

Just enough time to go out to the Bluff...got a new butterfly pic...albeit blurry!...looked up and there was Merganser....seems more than few friends hereabouts and about the web are careworn...this for them...us....

Backyard Chorus

Clip is a sound recording...the Birds were singing and I just pointed the 12x at the Moon....this at earliest Dawn...walked over to the Post Office...and back through Cook's and out to Lodgpole Point....the invasive plant crew was out and about in Cook's...saw three Deer coming over Weee Bridge....cool and sunny...still a few clouds coming through....

Trembling Butterfly

It was one of those walkabouts when work time is approaching...and I hadn't seen much...except Flicker on the ground in some grasses...got that pic...after changing batteries...then was waiting for Flicker to come into view..and a friend drove up in a utility vehicle..."What kinda lens is that?"...oh...the Bird is illusive!...with little time left I went out to the Creek and Azalea Bluff...this is just above the Great Turf...which has some new grass out of the water...which has gone down a lot...Azalea Bluff is where one day last Spring I saw a lot of different butterflies...and I thought to go there often...but delayed a week or so...and it was never the same!...so...now that the Azaleas are blooming I'll check there everyday for Butterflies...maybe get enough for a collection...The Butterflies of Azalea Bluff...oh..the Bluff is only a few feet about the Creek!...anyway...I dont know why the Tiger Swallowtail...which is bit pale...video setting cant be adjusted......I dont know why it is trembling...brb...well....after going through a lot of snips of poetry and fiction...I found this one but cant get to it with out purchase or something...

The study of butterflies
butterfly fossils from Europe and North America all bear the .... their wings trembling nervously, ready to carry them to safety at. a moment's notice. ...

http://www.springerlink.com/content/dn481654074l542m/...

maybe I'll find an explanation...my thoughts are it was cold and the Tiger is trying to stay warm...or it's laying eggs..or an egg...they might just lay one at a time...I had almost given up trying to get a clip...as first it was flying hither and thither...and I lost it and began to pick up...but caught a glimpse of it flat on the leaves...and it stayed put miraculously as I crashed about the Azalea setting up...it was one of those...'if it flies off..oh well...but if it stays put it will be spectacular!'...after this clip I did get more usual sorts of Tiger flitting from flower to flower...and with color restored!....it's still rainy and cold...but hardly a November of the Soul!....Tiger Swallowtails are of course the great prize for kids with butterfly nets...even in the Suburbs...extra credit for those willing to watch the whole clip!....could have been shortened...but somehow...that's not how it was!

Three Flowers

Another rainy day...rode over to the Post Office...then walked back through Cook's...took these flower pics by the Deer House...Iris...Azeleas...and dont know what the yellow white one is...it was right by the wall...started to rain so went back to Cabin...curled up till dinner time...over to Siberia for pizza...evening cloud show all about the Rim....hopped off bus at Lower Falls on way back just to watch...started to rain again!....but got clip of Grosbeak.

Flying Bird

Slept in from morning to afternoon!...thought to make a short 'foray'...mail...sox...laundry soap....then pedaling through Cook's I saw this Flying Bird...no sooner than I find one Bird book...I lose the other!...in a cabin this small!....anyway...it doesn't seem to be in the book!...got wet a bit out in the meadow...trying to set up....Flying Bird dove a lot on the Lilypads in Coot's Pond....(Merganser was there too but overlooked!)....kneeling in the Hummocks put me one way or the other from half way to pneumonia!....continued out on the Big Loop and at Two Top Pine Meadow I thought to see if the Ducklings were over by the Rockpile...where I got Sandpiper pics and clips....and Six were there...got another long clip...dont know if they're the same...they were bigger...but it's been a week since the other clip...Song Sparrow clip with Falls in back......almost to the Cabin...clip of Coyote....missed great pic of Coyote on log...kinda looking out....filled up the card with the Flying Bird....cool clouds moving about rain here and there a splash of sun on the Pines in the crevices of the Walls....(addenda: found the books last nite...for some reason it's not in Laws....it's a Black Tern!...Chlidonias niger)

Pine Cones

Got up early and made the big loop counterclockwise...got a good pic of Grosbeak...clip of Robin Getting Worm...easy to do after rain!...clip of Grey Squirrels eating pine cones....tried to get the Woodpeckers...as they were home in the Burnt Branch...flying out and back to the Aspen Row....and heard Flicker make their continuous call...I thought Golden Mantles made that sound!...almost got clip...bird is just illusive!...but glad I know now who makes that sound...kindofa jungle sound!...rain clouds all about the Rim...and snow dusting the Pines high up...off tomorrow hopefully...will postpone my 'hike to the top of something on Memorial Day'...as still have cold...but feel well enough to explore the Valley...should be great day as the weather is still to be rainy.... best light for pics on broken rainy days...

Rainy Day

I slept in right to work time...trying to shake cold...so...no walkabout...but here's the Bobcat pic...a guest pic....it rained off and on and was cold....busy at Last Chance...big holiday weekend...usually I try to trundle up Half Dome on Memorial Day...see how I feel Monday...would like to get pics and clips of the Swifts...or Swallows..that inhabit the start of the Cables...it's kinda satisfying to get through a busy day at work...wonder sometime how to record the people here abouts...dont think photography or blogging can do it...but they're the biggest part of things...the 'mega' fauna as it were!

Sentinel Clouds

Stuff in the mail...rode the bus over and back to and from Post Office...arms full...then went out to the Backyard...and out to Creek's End...able to cross the Diversion Channel..visited with a tourist resting out on Crawdad Point...always kinda neat to talk about the Creek...swap critter stories...'"Two Bears"...but ''no Bobcat"...hmmph...Bobcat was in the Backyard yesterday morning!...my friend with the talent for seeing critters got pics...Bobcat under my neighbor's car!...looks like Appletree....oh...it will be consternation now everyday whether to just sit out back or walkabout!...young Bear up a tree at the foot of Four Mile...Ranger's thought to capture..but it scooted off...my talented friend's report!...it was cold today...had to bundle up at work...more broken weather ahead...which is kinda neat..I expected this kinda weather at the beginning of Spring!..Tioga opened and...immediatley got snowed on!...report of lots of snow still up there.

Falls Reflection

Came home from work and just flopped in the bunk....didn't even want to expend the effort to sit at the Desk Top!...so looked up an old pic on the Lap...Belly Top!...this from High Water May 16, 2005...I think I have that right...did get some pics and clips of the Deer House..surrounded by green now..and the wind blowing...went out to Lodgepole Point...wind blowing the Aspen Row...and three Mallards out in the Merced...and I took a clip of the little Black Oaks...the sprouts from the Acorns...there all over the Deer House grounds....and I'm wondering if being pressed into the ground by the the little bit of work truck traffic has something to do with that...if they all could grow to maturity there would be a tremendous Black Oak Grove!....it was cold today...and windy...a Whinny the Pooh and the Blustery Day...Day...that's Ayer's Cedar Stump in the pic...what I call it...as I imagine Ayer did that first drawing of the Falls from this spot!...brb...I've seen a lot of artists...of all skill levels!...try to do the Falls...dont know but that not only did Ayers do the first one...but the best one too!

Fern Deer

Slept in to try and shake the cold....but time for a short trip to the Creek...Doe was on the other side....it cooled off!......clip is the "Lost Teleconvertor"!...oh!...I still have the old one...fortunately!!

Blue Jay Bath

Took the Dragonfly pic in the early walkabout...well...afternoon...and then in the evening geared up with the big tripod and thought to devote several hours to the evening walkabout...got as far as Ozone Beach and just sat down!...happens to be a knockdown view of Half Dome where I sat!...just downstream from the beach...which is very much submerged!....Blackbirds were taking baths...and thought to take clip...then Blue Jay came along too and put on show...and a bit after this the Merganser pair came along out in midstream...got clip of female diving...but distant...tried to do a clip...pan up to Half Dome from Mergansers and back...and to do this I had to remove the teleconverter...otherwise one sees the inside of the tube...well...that's not a problem for awhile!...when I set it on the bank it rolled off into the Merced and floated away!...clip is pretty funny...as one can hear it go plunk!...but my concentration was such I thought someone threw a rock in the river to tease me...which I ignored...but then in the end of the clip one sees the bill of my baseball cap come into view...tilting this way and that as I looked puzzled for the teleconverter...it was just gone!....I'll have to put that one up in a collection of 'puzzle' clips...continued around the big loop counterclockwise...on Swinging Bridge I gazed longingly into the wide Merced...oh...where did you go my teleconverter!...maybe it sank and when the water lowers I'll find it...ha!...anyway...two White Headed Woodpeckers were at home in the burnt fallen branch (see White Headed Woodpecker clip)...and I waited and waited...but to no avail...they were curled up no doubt...but now I know they live there...swallows..or swifts...were about in same place...but light too low for pic...at dinner over in Siberia..pizza...I saw Hawk size bird floating in the Glacier Wall thermals...but couldn't identify...still very warm...hot!...and lots of lots of people...having a great time...I'd say!

Gilbert's Skink

Pedaled over to the Post Office...when almost there I saw Skink scooting across the bike path...OH!..my usual response!...and I got off the bike and followed through the Oak Leaves...very cool critter....went over to Cook's and checked Coot's Pond...lots and lots of Polliwogs....wild Iris blooming....went out to Lodgepole Point and just sat down and tried to relax awhile...really hot...over ninety...then made the big loop...and then to lunch...and then walked out to Creek's End...which I cant get to from the Creek West Side...followed the Diversion Channel to Ozone Beach..which is underwater...and where I had to take my shoes off to get back to bike path...got a good butterfly pic...nice afternoon...tonight the Moonbow...try for a pic outside the Cabin....well...I'm starting to get the hang of the night pics!...that's iso 1600 set to infinity f3.5 at 15sec and timed shutter release on the big tripod...and with no cars coming by!...wouldn't think there'd be so many...like every fifteen seconds!

Seven

Went out to Two Top Pine Meadow...and found the Ducklings...had heard they were out there....went back to Cabin....forgot back up batteries...and almost curled up...but thought to go out to Cook's...see what's cooking...water still high...almost over the Twin Trees...dragonflies and butterflies and polliwogs and a bee that beedeviled me!....out to Lodgepole Point...thought I'll take a book and a blanket along and go out early...the weather that nice.....if I get sleepy I can just curl up for a nap outside...it's an anxiety to be in the Cabin during daylight and wonder what's out there!....Merganser came by and got good little clip...but could have got a good still pic but miss anticipated...would like a good pic of that crest!...it was very warm...

A Bird

Maybe this bird is a Willow Flycatcher....slept in almost to work time...grabbed a couple chocolate croissants and then peddled out to the Deer House...Band Tail Pigeons hanging out there often...walked out to Lodgepole Point...the top of the Twin Fallen Trees was above water...but I bet tonight it's submerged again...somekinda record setting heat...saw the Mergansers fly by up the Creek...and I think I heard Hawk out in Chapel Meadow...just one call...SSCREEEeeeeeeeeee.... climber friend said they were dove on by Hawk on Chapel Wall...tomorrow I'll get up early and explore over there!...Tioga's open to the Creek...lot of baby Black Oak trees coming up from acorns.

Carpenter Bees

Quick trip to the Post Office....old friends coming back for the season...like the Carpenter Bees....it's warm....

Higher Water

Was supposed to go to Giants game...but woke up with soar throat...so curled up...until noon!...made it to Post Office...came back through Cook's...Polliwogs there...wouldn't have noticed but tourists were peering into Coot's Pond...met with friends at dinner in Siberia...after another nap!....and heard about the catastrophe at Lower Falls...a giant Cedar fell over on the Bridge...after dinner we walked out there...the top of the Cedar was cleared away...two climbers were on the wall to the left of the Lower Falls..and happened along with coiled ropes still on their shoulders..."We heard a loud bang and saw the tree fall, the top broke off when it struck and flipped over the bridge!" The Falls make their own wind storm...and there was lots of mist...brb...no reports up yet...can only hope they're not grim....I imagine it was frightening to everyone....while Half Dome was doing its show I walked along Creek...wanted to see it's level...it's higher now than at any previous point...it's hard to tell as it fluctuates with different times of the day!....the Twin Fallen Trees are under water...got a clip of Mallards there romancing......very warm but cooled off after sunset...

Flight

Rode the bus over to Siberia...needed to know time for departure tomorrow to Giants game...hopped off in Village to check mail...and while waiting at stop watched the Woodpeckers doing forays...and tried to get pic for the blog!...as time before work was short...I'm going to work on these flying Woodpecker pics....I think I can get some good pics!...sunny and very warm...Bobcat and Bear reported over in Two Top Pine Meadow...and Bobcat at the A Rooms...I'll be up for the Dawn Chorus tomorrow...curious to see how high the water will be!

Female Blackheaded Grosbeak

Did some re arranging in the cabin...took up most of the day...that..and napping!...got out for late lunch and the Post Office...on way back this Grosbeak was sitting in the Superintendents Redwood....the Merganser without the crest I saw last night is the male...saw the pair flying 'furiously' over the Merced...blue warm day...little bit hazy in the evening...friends went up to Nevada...'twenty people up on Half Dome' they reported...cables are down...

High Water

I think it might have been high water today...in the evening the water in the meadow ponds was going back to the Merced....got the Merganser pic and clip in the afternoon walk...then went out in the evening and found the Sandpiper...and the Grosbeak is special...big clouds and looked to be rain clouds to the east above Half Dome..told and heard critter stories over dinner in Siberia....Mankind likely did that for a long time!..that's Owl Log the Merganser hops out on...preened and a took a nap there...later I was on the opposite bank and another Duck floated by...and may have been a Merganser too..but the crest wasn't up....one of too many clips and pics to put up in one day!

Cedar Dogwood

Slept in again...strep throat...it's going around...but managed a short ride about...bike all fixed up...sunny warm blue with some high clouds....

Spotted Sandpiper

Trying this morning to shake a cold...so slept in...but was out and about for a bit...sat by the Creek...Azalea Beach....and this Sandpiper showed up on the opposite bank....sunny and warm blue sky day.

Mallard Pair

Rode the bus over to the Post Office...and walked back through Cook's...tried to get flying Woodpecker pics...no luck!...and then out to the Creek.... across the Twin Fallen Trees and back to the Cabin...at very end startled two Flickers...I'd really like to get pics of two of them together close...clips too!...oh...and cub reporter had confirming pics!...so...Bear Cub in the backyard yesterday...and they say Owl too...but I have to see..hear Owl to believe it!...it's warm...and some kinda record being set for low rainfall in last three months...Dragonflies at Cook's Lilly Pond...along with Coot...almost everyday...and so call it...Coot's Pond!...it's just a matter of time till I tumble off the Twin Trees into the Creek....balance goes with age...I did see a strong flying beige bird larger than a pigeon out in Cook's...dont know...maybe Owl is back..or at least making a presence!

A Year and a Day...and a Finch

Here in Fauna and Flora I've passed the one year mark too...actually...I'm not sure when the Creek posts begin...I started out just in the backyard and worked my way back to the Creek...May 31 I did the butterfly pics...I was hesitant to visit the Creek because of the buildings...then there was the Bullfrog...and the thought to get a pic of each Fauna and Flora...and then began the Hawks...and Zeke...I think everything I've done in Fauna and Flora with regard to pics clips and thoughts...began with Zeke...an unforgettable day for a city kid!....

but to today!...

Was going to make the big loop counterclockwise...went down to Creek's End...then over along the diversion channel which cuts me off from the Merced... to Ozone Beach...at Ozone started to set up there for pic and realized I had the wrong 12x for the big tripod...didn't have the quick connect!...so stuck... I just decided to sit rather than continue...helicopter was whirling about...climber trouble I thought...then emergency vehicle after emergency vehicle went by...sirens wailing...over on South Side...two buses collided I heard later...but injuries minor...birds were coming and going...and I wanted to get another Robin catching a worm...one of my first clips...that made me smile!...but this little Finch landed...and then flew up in the tree...couldn't get close...but it's a new one to add to my pursuit!...just a perfect day...report of Bear Cub at Creek's End...but I find it somewhat fantastic...take a pic next time!...Merced is near or at high water...and very quiet as it streams along.

The Gallery has caught the blogbug...see link...

Another Tanager

Took the Bus over to Post Office...walked back...almost got clip of two Tanagers taking a bird bath....went out and about Cook's....Mallard swimming about in the Elm's Pond grasses...sat awhile in Flicker Grove...then over to the Creek and out on the Twin Fallen Trees to sit and wait to see...a Yellow Tiger Swallowtail...and a Golden Mantle that came running atop the Cedar Log right up close towards me...stopped...and hurried..scurried!..right back to the bank!...warm day...nice day...

Tanager

In the evening I went on a photowalk with a group...picked up some good tips and ideas...while listening I kept an eye out for critters...and while at Merced by Housekeeping...the 'white winged bird that flies furiously' flew by going up stream....Oh! I said...Look!....then just a little later it came right back...Oh!....and it was commented on how difficult it would be to get pic with anything but expensive gear...well...that was a challenge..so I focused on the opposite bank and held the shutter button down halfway..which freezes the auto focus...and waited...and waited...all the while listening...oh...I let it go and turned to the gathered photogs....and just as I did''..."Oh, David, there goes your Duck!"...Oh!...I spun around and tried to get still...it was 'FLOATING by!....should have shot a clip...then I wouldn't be scratching my head as to what it is!...the pic together with my memory is saying it's a male Common Merganser...but a for sure identification will have to wait until I get better pic....earlier in the morning I went to the Creek and crossed over on the Twin Fallen Trees...and ran into two fellows coming the other way!...they had buckets and were "checking water level"...then over to the Post Office and Bus ride back...where I curled up...dont know that between being curled up and out and about...and work of course...that's about all I'm about! ....nice day...bit too warm...big clouds...and...while not attacked yet...the dread mosquitoes are appearing...I mean dread...I'll be wearing head to foot netting soon to get through Cook's!

Warbler

I thought maybe I got a pic of a new bird...but looking it up I find it likely another Yellow Rumped Warbler....big cloud day...walked out first to Twin Fallen Trees...and out on them to sit and wait for photo ops....but the batteries ran down...and went back to the Cabin...where I ran down!...and curled up for a nap....later to the Post Office and lunch...over which I heard reports of critters around the A Rooms...Mountain Lion and Rattlesnake stood out....and report of two Bobcats rushing out of an old barn at the Stables when the door was opened...so...after lunch and talk... I went to the Stables!....but didn't see much...peddled back out to Cook's and made the big loop...then went over to dinner in Siberia...and then...got off bus at Lower Falls and made the big loop again on foot!...always a nice walk in the waning light...and a time to listen to the Evening Chorus!...the late show as it were!...

Dawn Chorus

Got up early...four a. m.!...to hear the Dawn Chorus....first I heard was Song Sparrow at four o five...then again at four twenty five...I think Song Sparrow was singing in it's sleep!....as both times it was just one...verse!....but around five o five the Grosbeaks started up...I could pick out Robins and Jays and Duck and late coming Woodpecker...maybe a Chickadee....I sat on the picnic bench in front of the Deer House for an hour and a half or so..then walked over to Chapel Bridge and out Lodgepole Point...there there's a pic to take...a Dogwood in bloom with time exposure at night...tried it at Creek's End...one of the best Dogwoods about is right over the Tiki Temple Outlet...missed a good Duck clip...in later walk...Duck floated out the Creek into the Merced and one of the Swifts? dived by...almost got a good pic of Chestnut Back Chickadee...spent a lot of time on that one!...Duck was sleeping on a stone beside the Creek when I went to the Creek after nap before work...Duck does the same as I do after getting up so early!...take a nap!!....dont know where the Ouzels are....sometimes if I dont see a critter for awhile... I forget that I should be seeing it!...Ouzels sing the best....almost forgot...it rained a bit in the evening...

Three Black Headed Grosbeaks

Well...it was a sad day...I got up early and made a determined effort to get clips and pics of the bird that sings my favorite morning tunes this time of Spring....they're most times up in the tree tops...but sometimes I see them down low...flying like crazy through the maze of tree branches...chasing and calling...and courting I imagine!...a lot of the birds now are doing the same...I got these distant clips and pics...and then this evening at work there was a report of three dead birds under the covered walkway...and I went to get them...and it was three Black Headed Grosbeaks...all with broken necks...they'd collided with the pavement to roof plate glass windows along the sides of the walkway...oh..it made me sad...and I made things worse thinking up little memorial poems while working...most going something like...

The Three Black Headed Grosbeaks

Oh, I'll go down to the rivers of Yosemite,
And sit disconsolate, remembering all your wild flights,
And the three unfortunate that broke their necks
Colliding with the plate glass that killed them instantly.

In the morning before sunrise they'd sang with the Dawn Chorus.

DolphinWords
DavidDavid
May 3, 2008

Sparrow Song

Peddled over to the Post Office...and the tripods came...unboxed them...and then peddled out by Cook's and to Lodgpole Point...submerged!...pic above...and found a shady place under the Lodgpole to sit...and set up the little tripod with the ball head...I wanted to see how it pans and a Mallard Duck Pair obliged for subjects...but then the Song Sparrow came by...it's hard to pan this one smooth too...it "breaks" loose...the heavy tripod with pan head is a different "smooth"...the little one is fun to sit on the ground with...and very light...I put up a pic of the Elm in yesterday's post..the sky was almost identical to when I did my water color...and caught my eye...a kinda slapdash job of it in Photo Elements...it's always interesting how in painting things get selected distorted left out shrunk expanded etc...but in the end somehow the painting is truer to the scene than a photo...report of Baby Bobcat over in the Village...a white patches on wings water fowl flew by past the Point to Half Stump...and I've seen it in flight before...very curious to see it on the water or land...it's pretty big and flies furiously.

Swept Wing Jet Birds

Walked over to the Post Office...no...rode the bus over!...and the Does were crossing Weee Bridge holding up everyone...walked back from the Post Office...the tripods look to be sent Teusday....so it'll be awhile likely before they arrive...went out to Cook's and sat awhile at the Lilly Pond watching Coot...and the Swifts...I think they are...overhead...they like to be right above the Deer House Woods...and I tried to get some in flight pics...and will keep trying as I was getting close to getting one in focus!....oh...and was looking at the Cook's Meadow Elm..which is brilliant green right now...reminded me of my little watercolor...brb...that was in the Free Classes at the Activity Center...instructor did airplane art if I remember right...sunny and beautiful and I shoulda got up earlier and not stayed up so late!...tomorrow another effort..sometime I think it's all a bit like that movie Ground Hog Day...and the purpose of it all is to just get one day right...somehow!