Coyote With Ground Squirrel

Well, I was all geared up...stepped out the Door...and Coyote was trotting by and tourists clicking away with their cameras...I set the tripod down, unzipped the camera bag, unlocked the lens on the new camera, turned it on...and clickclickclick...almost as efficent as a third basement knocking down the ball and still making the play!!...by good fortune, I had the shutter set to continous...unfortunately, Coyote being far away, and in motion, softens and blurs the pics....but I like this one very much, as I can see how the light is falling over Coyote...and can make a drawing or painting...likely minus poor Squirrel!...it's very hard to make up light, and too, backrounds and poses...Fauna and Flora has become my storehouse of such things...pic is a bit grim...but not too...I'm not sure where too grim is..one knows it when one sees it!...I've kept back some grim ones....and there's one I wanted to post up with the Symmety post....when we left Hart Park, we drove over to some hills to a place called the 'anthill'...it's a strata of fossils...marine....Bakersfield was under the ocean..well...the land there!...not so long ago...at these hills, at a wide intersection of new road, waiting for new houses and new stores!...we rolled up to the stop, and right in front of the car on the asphalt, I thought I saw an expired Hawk...hit by a car and left in the road...at my urging, we pulled over at the far side of the intersection, and I walked back to looksee...and discovered a Barn Owl lying there...I took one pic...and with an old plastic bag found nearby, wrapped up Owl and went to the nearby field, and took Owl out of the bag, and gently tossed Owl out on the golden brown grasses over a barbed wire fence...the pic is a 'telling' pic...most any pic of a road killed critter is....the pic of the Coyote is 'telling' too...I have equal affection for Coyote and Ground Squirrel...and there Ground Squirrel is in the mouth of Coyote!...I'm not sure what all is 'told'...but I described the dilemma to a friend...that somtime looking close at Nature, one finds Nature looking back...and it's daunting!...my friend nodded and agreed!...I followed Coyote through the Backyard to the Creek (that odd valve is an antique I think)...and dont know which way Coyote went...but I went right, to Creek's End...it was quiet...two tourists showed up..guy with his gal from some far country..the map open in his hands...'if you go that way, you can walk along the River as it bends back to the Rooms, but you'll have to wade a bit (the diversion channel)...the water is high'...and that's the way they went!....I went back along the Creek...Butterflies at Azalea Bluff...Grosbeak at the Twin Fallen Cedars..which are going to be problematic to walk across now...one has broken in half at the far side...and there's a gap...other is okay...I sat awhile at the Swath...and the Giant Fallen Log...almost slipped off that!....it was quiet..and Coyote illusive....at the Road I turned around and back to the Cabin...bigbig thunder clap when I got there...neat when the Thunder echoes off the Walls...and daunting!...sunny hot blue, with what's been the usual thunder shower of late in the afternoon...

Sandpiper And Owls

Out aways on the walk, I heard what I thought was a Ground Squirrel piping...thought maybe it was giving warning...thought maybe Bobcat was about!...but when I found the sound, after working through thick Woods, I found the sound maker was a little Sandpiper!....pics and clips....could only capture a little bit of Sandpiper piping, but the preening is cool too....I picked up...work time approaching...and with the tripod over my shoulder, I happened to look down...and right at my feet was fresh bird plop....I rolled my eyes up to the bill of my cap, and thought, 'it couldn't be'...but on looking up...there they were...right above me!...I angled out...and took some pics and clips....at times like this, I tend to get frozen in one place, least a lot of movement about looking for better angles, might startle Owl... Owls!... I picked up...very happy!...and was walking away, and made one backward glance...and they had both straightened up, and were looking right at me...finding a clear sighting, I took some handheld pics...but no clip...I'm starting to get the hang of manual exposure and focus on the 20x....it has a little dial around the navigation control...when I got back to the Cabin, Grey Squirrel was on the roof right above my windows...pic and clip...two tourists joined in with their 3x....then one posed in front of the Cabin with Grey in background...a fortunate walkabout!.....there was Thunder and Dark Clouds over the Falls...felt a bit exposed with the metal tripod!...it has rubber feet....but I of course set it in muddy soil!....more Bear reports...one related on the Shuttle (there was an early walkabout too, but no pics) sounded like the large Bear I saw the other evening...half sunny, half cloudy, warm....the darkest clouds moved...right over head!....a heavy rain fell later for just a little while while at work...dont know where Mama Owl was...hidden from sight maybe...more likely out hunting, I'd say!..oh!...taken me awhile, but I've thought up names for them...Mama Owl has always been Sentinel Owl...the Young Owls...from left to right...Cottonwood and Aspen...

Symmetry

Pics of Woodpeckers and Blue Heron from Hart Park in Bakersfield...I was there visiting my sister and her children and grandchildren....she saw the Woodpeckers first...and much thanks...I took a half dozen pics of the Woodpeckers...and in review, this one really stands out!...there's a Lake of sorts in the Park...which straddles the Kern River...and lots of birds...I've seen post ups on the web of all the different species found in the Park....in the heat, we were only there for an hour or so...before going off to an ac movie!... pulling into the movie's parking lot, I spied big wings on the out side of the chain fence along the top of the sloped embankment covered with the typical landscaping above the freeway...ground cover and bushy trees....I was like my dog going after a rabbit...walking along the fence with the new camera at the ready...twice Hawk moved among the Trees...then off into the sky over the parking lot...and the lamps...very cool...earlier at the Park I'd seen Hawk carrying off a frog...and several other times...but couldn't get a good pic...well, the one up is cool in its way!....Duckling clip from the Park....this morning I shuttled over to the Post Office....Sandy's very nice pic of the little Blond Bear sleeping on a Pine branch came...with arms full, I hopped off the Shuttle at Lower Falls...and out to the Two Ponderosas to check for the Owls...no luck...and the mosquitoes cut short a short walk!...several Bear reports....Mama with three cubs!...and a report of Cardinal and Woodchuck...but that from a vacationer to New Jersey!...from my family, I often get reports of the Wildlife along the Kern River going through Bakersfield...there were like six big Blue Heron nests...with Herons...in a Eucalyptus out on an island in the Lake...and a flock of Canada Geese eager for bread handed out....so it's much different from the Valley, where the critters are much harder to find...but when found have their jewel like setting...I cant be in two, or three!, places at once, but if I could, I would do Fauna Flora blogs of urban Rivers like the Kern, or the Santa Ana, or San Gabriel...or the one by Oceanside with the Mission..that I cant recall at moment...it was my intention a long time ago, to do an everyday for a year study of the Santa Ana...the Cement River...but it became a 'sometime' project...talking of this at work I heard tell that they are thinking of restoring the San Gabriel...brb...well..this search brings up a lot: san gabriel river restoration....brb...San Luis Rey...the River I couldn't remember...brb...here's one about the LA River...http://lacreekfreak.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/contest-audubon-guide-to-animals-of-the-la-river/

And this from an intrepid blogger who bike rode the section of the Santa Ana I often did...and yes it does stink...but so does the Creek...and for much the same reason!...us!...anyway...the Santa Ana would be a challenge to study, but at some ancient time it may have been the loveliest off all California Rivers for wildlife...brb...oh..link to above..http://walknrollnoc.blogspot.com/2009/02/santa-ana-river-trail.html..
now..go look for Portola...brb...
quote
The expedition followed practically the route which afterwards became the Camino Real. Its fourth jornada (day's journey) brought it to thepretty valley where later was established the mission of San Luis Rey.They called it San Juan Capistrano, but that name was afterwards transferred to a mission forty miles north of this place. The command rested here, July 19th. Resuming the march on the 20th, the sierra (San Onofre), whose base they were skirting, drew so near the sea that it seemed to threaten their advance, but by keeping close to the shore,they held their way, and on the 24th they encamped on a fine stream of water running through a mesa at the foot of a sierra, whence looking across the sea, they could descry Santa Catalina Island. This was San Juan Capistrano, and here they rested on the 25th. On the 28th they reached the Santa Ana river, near the present town of that name; a violent shock of earthquake which they experienced caused them to name the river Jesus de los Temblores[19].
http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7marc10.htm
The March of Portola...
unquote
and more...about the Earthquake..which gives one pause!...
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/4113

brb...well...it's late...what I was trying to find was the several volume diary of Portola's journey that I found once on the shelves of my hometown library...the books I dont think had ever been opened, and the shelves were in the sunlight coming through tall windows, and the books going to heck...but it's fine story, how they travel from San Diego north to San Francisco....and there was a passage about the Santa Ana River...maybe it was the earthquake that lodged in my head!

sunny blue this morning in the Valley...with an afternoon thunderstorm...not so big as the one yesterday evening when I was out on the Central Valley highway!!

wiki's take on the Santa Ana..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana_River

oh!..and here there is a guide to the Santa Ana:
http://www.amazon.com/Santa-Ana-River-Guide-Californias/dp/0899974112
and Flora
http://www.amazon.com/Flora-Santa-Ana-River-Environs/dp/1597140503/ref=pd_sim_b_1

enough..going to town made me homesick....

Owls Can Fly

Got out early, and Shuttled over to Siberia for Breakfast....then out to Happy Isles....to visit Ouzel Dome...but they were all gone..the Nest looking forlorn......continued on the Pony Path to Mirror Lake stop...North Dome was beckoning...but I had too much gear with, so hopped on the Shuttle...and once back at the Cabin...curled up!...napped until afternoon...twoish!...ate the lunch intended for a longday hike...and set to work on the boxed up dishevelment some more...dents getting bigger...but still only a dent!....didn't mind too much being inside...outside too crowded!....once out on the evening walk, I happened on Three Mallards at Ozone Beach...preening...clip and pics...Female Merganser out on the Opposite Bank Log...sleeping..pic and clip...bit further on the Use Trail, White Headed Woodpecker busy, and nicely framed, on a large Ponderosa...clip...out on the Path along Two Top, Bluebird perched on railing post...clip...hurried when footsteps approached from behind, but too slow to get good exposed pic...from the Road, framed Deer browsing in Coop's Meadow with Falls as background...clip...another by the Path and Road railing..clip...and on reaching the Chapel, I started scanning Trees by the Merced for Owl with the binocs!...all I had with were the binocs and 20x...and tripod...made the turn and at Chapel Bridge, made one last scan...with wan hope...and...and saw something white on the Burned Snag...through the binocs, I saw and thought, 'that's a white Owl!!'...and realized it must be one of the Young Owls with new feathers....sighted in the 20x...clip...and digital zoomed in 40x!!!...I was a long way aways!...took a pic while doing clip just to document...and in reviewing tonight, I discovered I captured the second Young Owl flying up from lower down on the Snag!....I used the Trees to sneak up closer...located the Young Owls in a Cottonwood...thought the one (didn't know the second was there then!) had swooped to ground...sighted in the 2ox, and while doing clips, glanced at the Snag...'oh..there's Mama Owl'...and so got clips and pics of all Three!....clips up are the avis....the hds are knockdown, but too much to process to post up...I took some pics...and wanted to take more when Blue Jays were on the attack...but the hd clip running was so animated, I dare not stop it....for sometime, I'll extract some stills from it...the Young Owls looking all about at the Blue Jays is very cool...picked up and was quiet as could be leaving...Owls saw me, but the Young just curious, and Mama's seen me many times!..made the little loop around Bobcat Meadow...Halfdome framed by a pink sunsetsky over the High Country...Deer at the Boardwalk past the Artist's Grove....sunny hot blue...with some clouds in the evening....it wasn't my usual Half Dome trek, but a fine Memorial Day walkabout!

Hummingbird

Didn't get out much!...Last Chance for Breakfast...across the Street to the Cone Stand for a hot dog....in between napped.... and dealt with the boxed up dishevelment....finally left off watching the playoffs, and went out for the evening to Two Top Pine Meadow....the Mosquitoes aren't as bad as one would think...given all the high water and ponds....Merganser pair were on the Far
Bank Log at Ozone Beach...pic and clip...at Two Top I went out to the Broken Cottonwood...and wanted to go all the way on the Loop...but too much water just before the Rock Wall....so I stayed put right there....Hummingbird, Black Headed Grosbeaks. Sandpiper, Mallards, Redwings, Violet Green Swallows, Robins, Chickadees, Male Merganser, Robins, ?Woodpecker call...and some other calls on the clips....distant clip of Grosbeaks chasing about...pretty with the Orange coloring...but too distant and low light!...found Grosbeak sitting on Nest and calling on way back...pic...wanted call on clip, but She fell silent when I set up!...but Nest is right by the Path, and will try again...Deer by the Cottonwood...clip and pics...maybe a pregnant Doe...the Slough has filled in...sunny hot and blue...Coyote was reported yesterday...and yesterday's pics and clips still for sometime!!...oh!...and welcome, and hello, to Gatto999!
Web Page of the Day
http://www.echohorizon.org/projects/9899/YosRpts/xander
(found it looking up the Kingsnake...a site that puts the Web to it's best use!...YosRpts indeed!!)

Granite Ouzel

Saw a lot today....too much to post up!...Ouzel clip and pic is from the time I spent at Ouzel's Nest...I set up on the opposite shore...and wanted to get pics and clips of Mama Ouzel...have one where she flies all about, and another hopping about the River Cobbles, and the best, standing on top of the Nest..all for sometime!...walk started out with a Garter Snake wrapped around the first Chapel Bridge Post (second is Bluebird's!)...Tourists were leaning over the railing, and I asked what they were seeing....pics and clip...paddled out Lodgpole Point...Phoebe I think is tending the Little House Nest....Sandpiper across the Creek by the Tiki Outlet(think I heard Owl..one hoo!)...very pretty there now with the Dogwood blooming...too bad the Thunderstorm pelted the Bract Petals into disarray!...Merganser sailed by on the way downstream above Sentinel Bridge...I was on the way upstream to Siberia...thereabouts Deer clip...and White Headed Woodpecker clip...very nice Post Tree home right by the Road...will keep checking this one...paddled out to Happy Isles..Ouzel Nest the destination...I stayed there over an hour...did a sketch...waitedwaited....a lot!...picked up finally and went back to the Snack Stand for a snack and sat awhile by the Fen..did I mention there's a gillion Tourists about?...and all having a very good time, I'd say, though they seem to think the Shuttle is some kind of amusement ride....dont understand quite why more dont just walk from one place to another...went back to the Nest..and took a HD clip from the Path...and said a tentative so long to the Ouzel Babies...as there getting big fast...and it may be a day or two before I'm back that way....continued on the Pony Path to the Indian Caves...grinding stone holes thereabout...and on Path just a bit further on, surprised by a Kingsnake going across...had the 20x on the tripod...but clip is just Kingsnake's tail!...well...that's all snakes are...but I missed Kingsnake's front!...lookedlooked in the stones but no luck...stones were supports for the Path..and looked to be Kingsnake's home, so will check now and then...very pretty snake with the colorful bands!....skipped my friends gathering of writers and poets and such in the Village...too tired....and wanted to go to Owl Woods to listen for Owl....got to the Diversion Channel when almost dark..oh..on the way Deer clip..small herd....at the Channel I didn't hear Owl...but heard a loud branch breaking sound...and Bear came out into the clearing near the Three Cedars...tried for clip, but the 20x doesn't do as well in low light as the 12x...Bear splashed across the Channel...walked about on the far side...did get one or two very noisy pics...for sometime...dont know which Bear though...tried to guess from size, as it was big!...and all dark brown...Bear came splashing back across, and out into the far end of Owl Woods...wishwish there was more light!....I took the use Path to the Cattail Pond...with a wary eye out for Bear!...but there was still plenty light to see...just not enough for the camera!...a real treat to see Bear again!..and the Kingsnake was a first...and the Ouzel pics and clips add to that collection...I have a lot of Ouzel clips and pics...not just the Nest...but from other times too...sunny hot blue with some puffy clouds...try tomorrow to put up some of today's things...dont know where the Owls are...oh!...grinding stone holes right by the A Rooms parking lot...and the deepest I've seen....

Appletree

Shuttled over to the Post Office...some wallet size prints came from Kodak...these are 2x3, and with a small border, they can be cut from the sheet to 2.5 by 3.5, which is art card size, or ACEO...these cards are traded like Baseball cards, which are this size too...the art cards are supposed to be only traded, or given away...the ACEOs I've seen for sale on ebay....small personable art is a kinda response to the commercial gallery sort of world of big prints for sale...anyway...I need to get one of those little scrap book paper cutters, and some plastic sleeves...and then, instead of scribbling...google search da da da da....on an old receipt or something, I can just say, 'Yeah, I put the pics and clip up...here's where!!'....with as many photogs as there are about the Valley...artists too..I could pursue a hobby of collecting web pages and sites!...back to the walk...came back through Bobcat Meadow...and Acorn Woodpecker flew right by to the Appletree...and while doing the clip, I heard Redwing Blackbird...and thought, 'Maybe this time I can get that pic with the Falls in back!'...Redwings often land in the Tree..and just as often Tourists come by and startle them off before I can get pic!....this time things went okay...though towards the end..the usual happened!!...the Irises are blooming by the Deerhouse...where too the Violet Green Swallows like to soar...haven't got that pic with Falls in background yet!...blurry Phoebe and Tanager pics...'keep painting'.....an encouraging comment once early on when someone looked over my shoulder...sunny hot blue...news said we had thunderstorm...did look a bit dark out at work...six days off ahead..expectant of many pics and clips!!

Morning Ouzels

Got out before sunrise...well...sunrise hereabout...Sun takes awhile to get over the Rims....hopped on the Bike, and peddled over to the Pony Path...it's a nice ride in the morning with no one about...and the Ouzels were out and about too...feeding the Baby Ouzels...I set up the digiscope by the Path...was too close when on the waterside rocks before!...took clips and pics with the 20x too....had the new camera along...but forgot the battery!!....it was too shady anyway...reallyreally like the clips....and the pic and clip of Ouzel out in the rapids is knockdown...got that just by chance after I picked up and was walking back to Happy Isles...right at the corner of the Bridge, a running Deer surprised me, and itself!...wish I was quick enough to get a clip...as I saw hikers looking at something on the Bridge....peddled back to Siberia for Breakfast...and talkabout with friend...Shuttled back to the Cabin (I often leave the Bike parked hear and there!)...and a short snooze before work....sunny blue warm....pic of Grey Squirrel eating breakfast at the Bridge...that before everything!...report, with terrific clip too, of Rattlesnake on the Four Mile Trail...at the steep sunny section past the steep stream...

Blog of the Day
http://newmexicobirds.blogspot.com/2008/11/water-ouzel-ecological-indicator.html

Squirrel Bridge

Shuttled over to the Post Office...picked up Poster Print of Mama Owl and one Baby peeking out....had to crop in...and it's 'noisy'....I'll have to work out a painting or pastel or something...with both Baby Owls peeking out...clips and pics all from yesterday....with just a half hour left, I paddled back to the Creek at the Swath..and sat a bit...on the walk back, a Tanager flew by my ear with a loud whoosh!..and a flash of color...got a pic when Tanager landed in a nearby Tree...but it's blurry...the Tanagers and Grosbeaks chase one another through the Trees at breakneck speeds and maneuvers!!....tomorrow I'll try to get up early and go out to the Pony Path...was awake early this morning...but one too many drowsy blinks, and I went back to sleep!...Ouzel nest's location is often requested out at Happy Isle snack stand...learned that from friend at work, who I tried to surprise with the story!..they knew all about the nest!!..but wanted to see the pics...
Web Page of the Day
I snagged this one from the Sierra Visions site...it's a web cam by Bishop that does time lapse...looking about the site one will find some good pics too of the East Side!..note May 18, day of the thunderstorm hereabout...I can do time lapse with the 3x...will have to try it...I've thought of just tying it to a Tree where critters might visit!
http://sierraimpressions.com/WebCam/QTmovies.html

Oh!...Tree in the Door's Fauna and Flora started up May 4....two years ago!!...got sidetracked with the Owls...or would have made an announcement or something...I'm putting a link to the first post behind the Cabin pic on the Mast...kinda quaint it seems now, I'd say!!
http://treeinthedoorvideo.blogspot.com/2007/05/deer-and-dogwood-in-rain.html

Ouzel's Nest

On the way to Breakfast, clip of Tiger Swallowtail on the Azalea by Last Chance...Tourist and I were taking pics at same time...and Tiger kept flitting about!....much fun....after Breakfast, paddled over to the Post Office...picked up lunch....tuna, chips, hershys and snapple...and out and about behind the A. Rooms...clip of climbers on Arches with new digiscope...found a picnic bench at the Backpackers' Camp and ate lunch...hot and muggy...and mosquitoes....continued over to and out the Pony Path, and at the Big Boulder, saw a Grey Squirrel run across the Fallen Old Log Bridge, and then a Ground Squirrel...thought to set up for clip of this...and waitedwaited...and finally Grey Squirrel ran back across..very neat clip!....waitedwaited in hope Grey would come back...but no luck...and picked up...met a new employee who had just seen a 'three foot black snake'...we both searched the branches and rocks along the River bank...no luck...woke me up though to activate the 'dont jump out of your skin when you see a snake' mode....little further on, saw a Ranger and friend looking at a Boulder in the River...'What are you sighting?' I asked...'Ouzel Nest'...oh!...OH!!!...'Let me set up the scope!'....right on the Trail I set up and we all had a looksee....very cool to see Mama and Papa Ouzel swoop in to feed their Babies....I attached the 3x to the scope and got some clips...lot of waitingwaiting!...after the Ranger and friend left..with many thanks!...I set up on a Boulder at water's edge...clips and pics with the 20x and the digi...didn't have the new camera along...or the binocs...and I needed both!!...hmmph...I would like to travel lighter...but the last few days have been so quiet, I left the new camera behind...now I'll likely take it back to the Pony Path tomorrow...try for a sharper pic of the Ouzels...and maybe get that Squirrel coming over the Log Bridge clip!...pics and clips were tough to take...one problem was the long wait...nothing I could do to anticipate when Mama Ouzel would swoop in, so just had to let the cameras run...clip of all Three is from the tail end of a five minute clip!....mostly of the Babies just waitingwaiting!!....the Nest itself is just wonderful, the way it's attached to the Boulder..and the location in the Merced...a Magnificent Nest!....hikers came by and much talk in the soundtracks...a Gilbert's Skink was about..and I got some pics...for sometime...finally picked up...and on to Happy Isles...through the Fen..which is looking now very 'fennish'...past the many new Tents at Boy's Town...and all the way back to the Cabin with nary a pic...couple scenics in the A. Meadow...a long walkabout!...sunny hot blue with some Double A Clouds with dark undersides..but they never gathered together like yesterday...it cooled off a little towards the later afternoon...report of Bear, one by Ranger, forget were, and friend at Breakfast, forget were that one was too!...oh!...Sentinel Bridge one was I think......across from the Village store the second..right where I was yesterday morning!...hmmph...out of sync with the Bears!!

Web Page of the Day (found this one looking for Ouzel Nests...one on this page looks much like the one today!!)

http://home.inreach.com/rtowle/NorthFork/Wabena/Wabena.html

Morning Flicker

Pic of the Cathedrals is from the evening...after the Thunderstorm....but in the morning it looked to be another sunny hot blue day!....lots of Half Dome trekkers on the Shuttle to Happy Isles...hope they all fared okay...the walk in the morning was cool and peaceful...but the mosquitoes started in on me!(6:10am!)...especially during the second Flicker clip in the Village...first Flicker was by the Two Ponderosas...I paddled out that way to get a clip of Creek's End from the Far Bank...water has reached it's highest so far...went through Bobcat Meadow to the Village...and Shuttled from there to Siberia for Breakfast...and back to the Cabin by nine...and a nap!...up and about in the afternoon...over to the Village for lunch...it was so dark!...clouded up...and on the Shuttle back, rained heavy with hail...clip...wanted to make an afternoon walkabout...but stayed inside..watched TV...and dozed...out for short looksee at Half Dome and Clouds at Dusk....alpine glow pic....and thought to make the Big Loop...but the mosquitoes have begun in ernest!....oh...Deer over in Siberia...pic and clip...and Violet Greens by the Deer House Path in the evening...clip....fun to see the Lightning flashes and hear the Thunder!!!...and picked up supply of bug spray and lotion!...clip of Phoebe call in the morning...flew off before I could get close by Butterfly Flat (underwater)!

Rocking Log Bridge

Well... I miss the Owls...and paddled over Chapel Bridge in the old routine...but they're just off somewhere!....paddled back to Lower Falls Footbridges....shady there!!....and cool by the Creek....found a spot, and with a half hour left, did a fifteen minute sketch of the interior Footbridge...picked up...and on crossing the Bridge, realized I'd drawn the Rocking Log...there's a few of these about...the high water is stirring things ... to go with the sketch, took the Log clip!!...did take Song Sparrow clip...and later at lunch time at work, clips of Ground Squirrels chasing about the benches...I'll have to have lunch outside more often...it's more peaceful!!...it's hot sunny and blue...tomorrow I'm going to try to get out at Dawn...it's cool...and no mosquitoes...and peaceful!!

Mallards At Creek's End

Paddled out to Creek's End...clip of Grey Squirrels on the way...amongst some pine needles and pine cones...sometime....Mallards at Creek's End...clip of the Black Capped Chicadees in the Neighbor's Cabin Wall at the walk's end...for sometime...a short walk!...it's hot!...sunny and blue...water is really high...

Spring Bucks

Clip is from May 5th, Dawn Chorus Day...Raingutter Cedars from today!...collected some coffee cups....see if I can transplant a couple...the Incense Cedar is a popular Bonsai Tree...there is of course a strict rule about removing Fauna or Flora from the Valley....dont know if there's one for coffee cup Cedars in the Backyard!....Shuttled over to the Village...picked up a nice Canson sketchbook...just the right size...and the pages are perforated for removal if I want to....I'll carry it about with some charcoal pencils and pastel pencils...for sketches...and autograph collecting too!...not much time left after shopping, and shuttled back to Lower Falls...walked from there through the Backyard to the Cabin...just a pic of Ferns...and the little Cedars....it's windy tonight...and balmy...sunny hot blue....Falls are roaring...

Lady Bug

Shuttled over to the Post Office....walked back and thought to take pics of little flowers and such...Manual setting is different on the new 20x and I couldn't sort out exposures...only took a few pics and clips...a short walk!!...I have figured out how to review pics and clips in the provided Zoom browser...but I like Windows' browser...but still cant get the hd clips to play at normal speed...another thing to study out!....sunny hot and blue...I'll take the 12x with along tomorrow...there's another new 12x that's come out...it looks very nice and compact...found the mini scope...safely packed away in the camel back's second pouch!!...the Cedar Tree dropped seeds in the Cabin's Rain Gutters..they're growing really well...get some pics tomorrow....would really like to cultivate a couple...have to go look up Cedar Banzais!!

Gizmo of the Day

http://10ein.blogspot.com/2007/07/il-vous-suffit-de-poser-ngligemment-le.html

http://www.behance.net/Gallery/PhotonSynthesis/121180

now...it they can just make one the size of a Pine Tree....

Acorn Woodpecker Tree

Dogwood pic from yesterday...only clip today is the Acorn Woodpecker....lots of Tourists about...watercolor class in session by Chapel Bridge...checked for Owl...have to wait for my days off...in the evenings when I can listen for Owl...maybe figure out where they went!...report of Bears along North Side Drive...which is open now...no more north side quiet!...report of Bear up at Upper Falls Trail too...sunny warm...with some broken overcast clouds....

Four Mile Day

After Breakfast, geared up and paddled up the Four Mile Trail...which is 4.7 miles or so!.. up and down, and just getting to the Trail Head, the whole distance was like a Ten Mile Day...and I'm tired!...there's plenty of scenery to see...maybe the best trail for scenics...but not many critters...some little bird pics and clips...Lizards...Squirrels...Golden Mantles...but pics too blurry...did see one Deer track...had hoped for Blue Grouse...took the tripod and scopes just for that...think I may have lost the mini scope...pack zipper worked open..it was a lot of extra weight taking the tripod and scopes...but I've learned to 'be prepared'!!...last few switch backs, I was really plodding...but perked up after a late lunch at Glacier Point...and the evening hike down, while tiring too, was very enjoyable...that's how most folk do the trail...take the Bus up and hike down...didn't see anyone coming down..until I crossed Swinging Bridge, and my hiking friend was sitting near the Path by the River...and some Deer nearby in Two Top Pine Meadow..nice to be able to talkabout a Day with a friend!...the top pic...the Fir and Rock...I saw that scenic the first time up the Trail, 2003, and was taken with it...have pics from every hike of the Fir...keep meaning to get one in Winter with snow...best do that next snow fall, as the Fir now is almost taller than the Rock!!....Trail has one Snow Tongue, past the gate, that's a little hazardous...for a hiker aways behind it was a little too hazardous!...they dropped their pack, and in reaching for it took a tumble..but not far...though the far below put a scare in them and he was looking to hitch a ride back down from Glacier Point!!...this they related to me at the Point...view of Bobcat Meadow pics are from the Perch at the Twenty Fifth Switch Back...Thirty Third if coming down...there's Fifty Eight!....the Perch has 'exposure'...climber parlance for 'far below'!!..so be careful going out for a looksee...Two Top pics from the same local...several places along the Trail with this view...the Perch view is unique!...looked for Agaziz Rock, which is supposed to be at Union Point...view there is bothered by a Pine...but I cant see where the Rock is, if it's still there...Nuthatch was at the very end of the hike up...Providence's award!!...Snow Plant too at the top of the little stairs!!

Bluebird Post

Oh...I had everything ready to upload...but before, updated to the new web browser...and it wouldn't work..kept just getting the little 'beep' on everymouse click everywhere on the browser page...went into the delete programs menu...and saw an allow programs menu...and scrolled down to the browser...allowed it...and now it works...this all on the desktop...gonna keep the old one on the lap top!!...broke one of my coin save jars and been picking out the coins from the glass...did that while doing the video upload...oh!...that's another irritation!...I cannot find a program that opens and plays smoothly the hd video...these are .mov files....I can render them into avi in Premier...see clip above......mov to avi to mpeg...and I cant review pics and clips together...I'm having to open the clips one at a time...instead of the slide show with clips...hmmmph...pennies in broken glass...paddled over to check on Owl...but no luck...all Three off somewhere...was trying to take clips of Bluebird right at the foot of Chapel Bridge...ran out of batteries once...and twice had clip of the same Bluebird pose on branch...the one with the Cottonwood leaves...interrupted...second time I uttered my fiercest expletive...'geeez loueeezzz!!"...a clip for sometime!....never could finish the zoom in...met another photog with a red ring lens while looking for Owl...and they too said they had pics of Bear to email...this a reciprocal for my telling them where to take Acorn Woodpecker pics...(Woodpecker Tree, of course!)....on the way back over the Bridge, I saw a Bluebird fly into the Post Hole....one of the railing posts...I knew of this woodpecker hole from my hiking friend, who has a pic of Woodpecker at the Post...(and too, pics of Little Blond Bear from other day I must acquire!)...anyway...I set the 20x to macro..and poked the lens in the hole...and Bluebird flew out the other hole!...there's two..one on each side...Bluebird was very annoyed, and went to a nearby branch and perched..waiting for me to leave..I obliged, but not before setting the camera to video...from a distance, I watched..took some pics with the new camera...and finally she flew back in the Post...clip!!!!....I got another one on the other side..a better one as it shows the Bridge..and zooms in...but I'm worn out working with those .mov clips!!....this was the midday walk...I went to the Post Office and back...picked up another bracket that came..a kinda rail affair...and it...well...it just wont work with the new scope...good thing I've got things to work with the Barska bracket...back at the Cabin I had lunch..and a much needed nap...I woke up with the light fading, and paddled out to see..and listen for Owl...no luck...but a nice walk in Chapel Meadow..Deer clip..and Violet Green attempted clip!...they were darting in the twilight with Half Dome as backdrop....went to Last Chance for dinner...oh..on way back had nice talkabout with friend about Bear sighting at Day Use...and of the fate of the Little Blond Bear's mom...anyway..sigh..there was still light after dinner and I went down to Creek's End to listen..and the Bats were darting about...very neat..as this first time for their pics...albeit blurry in the dark!....the high water is moving things around..the Twin Fallen Cedars have separated...one was atop the other before...and Owl Log...see Bat pic...is pushed up against the Alders...hopefully another sitable log will float up on the Shingle...they keep running the same films at the Ranger evening shows...but the talkabouts before are cool...reports of Critters...someone saw a snake swimmng...'scary but cool'....

Owl Overhead

After Breakfast, paddled over Chapel Bridge to check on Owl...and no one about in the Meadow...no Owls either on the Cottonwood!...a bit concerned, I went over to the Two Ponderosas...checked all the branches with the binocs...finallyfinally on the far side of one, glimpsed Owl about halfway up...four minute clip!...and pics...forgot to download the ones with the new camera...mostly just Owl's back from where I was...and taking them the reason for the long clip...I set the new 2ox to record while I worked around the other side of the Pine...Owl seemed unconcerned...and I think I could have stood there a long time looking up!!...couldn't locate the Young Owls..thought maybe they too were in the Ponderosas...did find feathers on the ground...which I learned later from the Park Orinthologist...who was with a group looking through binocs at the Cottonwood from the Path...were the feathers of Bandtail Pigeon...thought that..and hoped as much!..I found a bunch the other day in the Village too...picked up from under the Pines and walked towards the Cottonwood...looking all over..and then I went out in the Meadow aways...and finallyfinally spotted one Young Owl!...pic and clip...I looked and looked for the second...but it wasn't until I had given up a bit, and looked through the new scope...oh!...I forgot to tell why the new scope was on the tripod!...while I was looking at the Cottonwood, Mama Owl had moved to another branch, and I could see her silhouetted...so set up the didgi...but just as I was ready, she flew to the other side of the Pine...then I dropped the whole caboodle...bracket slipped off..but no harm done...but I just kind of left off everything...work time coming...and no time to re gather my composure!!...but on the Path I had the scope on the tripod..and studied the Tree...and finallyfinally found the second Young Owl...took pics of both...above...up the Path was the group with the binocs...and I went over, set up, and offered looks through the scope...and had a fine talkabout about Owls with the Park Orinthologist!!..I'm not sure how she knew the Owls were there...forgot to ask...but she knew where all the others are in the Valley!...and I was glad to hear there are more...sunny hot and blue...just a slight breeze..report of Big Blond Bear walking across Swinging Bridge..and the tourists making way...once across, Bear took a swim in the Merced...a few days ago, report of the Little Blond Bear in Flicker Grove...I reported that...but tonight, the photog, Sandy, who awhile back I showed where Owl was on condition of an email of the pics, has her website up..and a pic of the Little Blond Bear sleeping up in a Pine...which is knockdown...and coincidentally a bit like Owl pic above!...

Today's Web Site

link:http://www.sandyfollett.com/

at the site.. Little Blond Bear is in the Wildlife set...

Blog of the Day

http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/ornithologist-film.htm

I'll put this one on the mast too!!

Cottonwood Owls

There was a wedding in progress just downstream from the Cottonwood...so I went to the Road view spot...and could see one Fledgling...wait...first I saw the Fledgling from the Path...pics and clips with the minididgi...then I went to the Road!...wanted to find the second Fledgling!...and from there I thought I saw the Two next to one another...but really too far away for the minididgi!...but I took some pics and clips..and then went back to the Path...and took some more clips...of just one Fledgling, I thought...but reviewing these clips tonight, I see I had all Three Owls in view...but with leaves and distance..very hard to see!...I waited and waited for the Wedding to end...and most everyone finally came back to the Path...except the Bride and Groom and the photog!...and they were right near the Cottonwood...I thought and thought...and paddled out to the Knolls..trying not to disturb them..and the Owls!!...and when I looked up I was delighted to see all three..Mama Owl with the Two Young Owls..perched in a row....the wedding pair and photog were going out further into the Meadow...and talking loud!...so I went over and counsled them that the Meadow was wet...and I was photographing the Owls...and offered my congratulations too!...they went a little bit further away...and I went a little bit nearer the Cottonwood....and was doing a minididgi clip...and another photog walked by...and set up out in the Meadow and was taking pics of the Chapel...then he starts calling out his congratulations!...so I showed him the Owls too...and asked again for quiet on the set!!!...the close up clip of Mama Owl is knockdown...some things one cannot 'pre visualize'!!!!...the clip of the Fledgling with the siren on the sound was taken from the Path earlier...the other photog got some good pics...and was well acquainted with the Valley, I learned...which explains his self assuredness in walking out to the photo spot in the Meadow!...I bumped up against work time again..got what clips and pics I could...one would have liked to get the one with all three 'smiling for the camera'!....did take a pan clip which is charming...pan up and zoom in to the Owls..and zoom back out and down and around past the Chapel...and the photog...and the couple embracing..and the wedding photog...and back past them again...180 up to the Falls...and zoom in...and in hd!...I dont know what to do with the clips and pics that show the general area...if Owl wants to make the Cottonwood home for a long time...like years!...best not to make too much to do about it!!...but the Magnificent Perch IS in a Magnificent setting!!...dont know but tomorrow I'll go down to the River with my paints...and just sit...an excuse to observe the Owls!!...sunny warm blue...with the breeze in the Cottonwood leaves!!!!

Blog of the Day (the moonbow craze is afoot!)

http://michaelfryephotography.blogspot.com/2009/05/lunar-rainbows.html