Morning Bear

Was out and about with the Sunrise....back to Creek's End and around to Ozone Beach...two Deer thereabout, young Buck and Doe...clip...and at the Beach, I looked for way around two tourists having a 'nature moment'...and looking out the way I thought to go, saw Bear in the Diversion Channel, doing the same, having a 'human moment'...from the Deer, I had the 20x ready, and set it to record a clip, and took some pics with the new camera....Bear disappeared in the Grasses...followed a little bit, but wanted to get to Two Top Meadow before the Sun, so lost sight....just before Swinging Bridge, happened on two Hairy Woodpeckers, chasing around the Tree Trunks...very neat clip, for sometime...at the Broken Cottonwood, clip and pic of Hummingbird...often as I see them here, it's Hummingbirds' Home...finally, out in the Meadow, heard one call from Falcon, 7am....went over to Rocky Point, and found a spot below the Snags...in the shade....and sat and set up the digi and waited...but no luck....may have seen Falcon fly by the Wall, but may have seen Bandtail Pidgeon....must have been Falcon....anyway...paddled back along Rocky Slope...quiet, same as Owl Woods earlier....put the gear up in the Cabin...had Breakfast...and to the Cabin to sleep....these kinds of mornings are an experiment in split shift sleeping!!...dont know but on the old sailing ships one only had four hours off to sleep...oh...it's still an addling sunny hot blue!!...report of Bear 6 over in Siberia...reporter (Edie) was between Bear and the Coffee Pot....report of Deer chasing Coyote...reporter recommended wearing a helmet cam...taking pics every fifteen seconds...uhhh...no.....Bear this morning has 4 something on tag...looks like Fir Bear, 46..or 49....lots of paths in the Grasses and flattened places where I suspect Bear have been sleeping and resting...Deer too...damp ground and damp grass are cool....oh...just before the Pileated Woodpecker clips the other day, I saw Mole!!....Mole scurried across the trail and burrowed into the Duff, and just disappeared...I couldn't find a burrow or anything...would really liked to have gotten a clip, but no chance....

Some ruminations on life at Sea...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080728140425AAu0MSo

http://www.bioneural.net/2007/02/12/at-sea-on-a-tall-ship/

from wiki
quote
The crew who sail a ship are called sailors or hands. They take turns to take the watch, the active managers of the ship and her performance for a period. Watches are traditionally four hours long. Some sailing ships use traditional ship's bells to tell the time and regulate the watch system, with the bell being rung once for every half hour into the watch and rung eight times at watch end (a four-hour watch).
end quote

the bilge pump is broke, and the oarsmen aren't tending!!

Blog of the Day

(there is some thought that the flower bloom in Tuolumne Meadows, is a bust this summer...too much heat for the flowers to last long...or something...'am investigating this a bit...and found this site...)
http://52hikes.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/hike-2-an-unintended-hike-july-22-2009/

Owl On Foot

Clip and pics from last time I saw Cottonwood and Aspen....a short walk today out to the Delta...and a long sit by Robins' Nest!...set up the digi and just waited...two tourists came by to looksee...and one Sparrow...it's quiet....and the Creek thereabout is all dried up...just cobbles now where the Mallards and Mergansers paddled about...keep meaning to put up the Mallard and Azaleas clip...worked tonight some more on the Mountain Bluebird pics...but couldn't get done what I wanted...which is simple enough...oh..when I figure it out I'll explain it!...sunny hot blue....Falcon prints came...quick!....print on wood still to come...pics are digitally noisy...but okay to look at...which is one of the features of blurry noisy digital prints...they have a kind of impressionists fuzziness...and from a distance...like the 12 feet across the Cabin!..look fine!....

Mountain Bluebird

Pic and clip from Monday up in Tuolumne....wanted to put up the fluttering parts, but computer decided..on its own!..to do an update, so lost everything...tried to start over, but it's kind of involved...want to glue together pics into clip....didn't get out today...slept in almost to work time...and fussed a bit in the Cabin...got the Printer situated on an end table under the art table where the desk top compter resides now...and now maybe I can print routinely without having to drag everything out from under the bunk!!...basically I live in a third world hovel ensconced in a first world palace!!...hmmph...that may seem hyperbolic, but I was thinking today on the vast number of economically impoverished people who will never see the Valley, or the Sierra, or have much opportunity to see even much Fauna and Flora locally...I mean, I didn't when I lived in the City....though at work at the MouseHome, I used to hear Hawks, look up and watch....for sometime for someone is a study of the Fauna and Flora of the Berm thereabout!!...an addled ramble....sunny still hot blue with some clouds and a tiny breeze!...hmmph...report of two Bear Cubs at Happy Isles....

Blog of the Day
http://www.mouseplanet.com/8180/Horticultural_Heritage

This blog is very extensive, with a search feature..brb...oh...the search brings up threads about the MouseHome...and this one from home!!...makes me homesick..and apparently there's a growing population of nature 'boys' and 'girls' thereabout too with the fauna flora bug!!

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/archive/index.php/t-126205.html

dont know but the Mouse has made a home herebout...the incessant nibbling and scurrying is back...oh..in the thread is mention of book...I've seen the idea put forth before....

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

hereabout....http://treeinthedoorvideo.blogspot.com/2009/03/zoo-visit.html

Pileated Woodpecker

Paddled over to the Village in the afternoon...and out to the A. Rooms and further along the Bike Path after picking up a gator aid....had a good enjoyable lunch...but was thirsty, and sat awhile near the Backpacker's Camp and drank the gator aid....sometimes the sky would cloud over..and cool things off just a little...destination was the Pony Path...but just before the Road, I turned off to the Trail that goes between the Road and the Slope...and glimpsed a Woodpecker...with Big Wings....took some doing, but I located Pileated Woodpecker... Pileated very busy and preoccupied with finding grubs...which gave me time to set up the digi...couldn't quite get that knockdown pic ..but I got some I like...and some clips...it had been so quiet on the walk...and a real treat to find Pileated!...watched for a long time...and the Big Winged Woodpecker disappeared into the Forest....crossed the Road to the Pony Path...quiet all the way to Happy Isles Bridge...where I sat and packed everything away...and two Furiously Flying Mergansers came up the River, by me, and under the Bridge...very cool to see Merganser...both females it looked like...caught the Shuttle to Siberia...dinner with friends...and Shuttled to the Village, and hopped off for the late evening walk...went out through Bobcat Meadow...Mama Mallard and tiny Ducklings in the River by Chapel Bridge...clip...went out Lodgepole Point to Creek's End, thinking I couldn't cross without wet boots, but tourists have put down some branches and rocks to step across...crossed over to the Shingle, and stirred up Two Ravens at Owl Log...they hopped up on the Log...pic and clip...and I sat awhile, and Ravens sat awhile, enjoying the evening by the River...and it was quiet too...one Mallard flew by going downstream....sunny hot blue with fluff puff clouds a little dark underneath...delay on the Mountain Bluebird from yesterday postup...will take some doing to edit the pics!...

Blog of the Day (another 'widlife' photog!')

http://www.kiwifoto.com/blog/2008/07/14/white-mountains-mammoth-lakes-mono-lake-bodie-and-yosemite/

Falcon And Hawk

Mars was in the sunrise sky between North Dome and Half Dome...sat awhile in Bobcat Meadow...waiting for some sunlight...sky very clear and dark!....with some light, continued out through Chapel Meadow to Swinging Bridge...thought I heard Kingfisher...but maybe Ouzel...was almost across Two Top Pine Meadow when first sunlight touched Eagle Peak....a few birds, Ravens, Creepers, Juncos, Hairy Woodpecker, along the way..and one Buck back at CAD Beach....crossed the Meadow and Road, and at the foot of Rocky Point, thought to pursue the idea I had....Falcon had perched in a Snag the morning when I just recorded Falcon's call...and I put an idea in Sometime to go up the Slope above the Snag before Sunrise and just wait...maybe Falcon would perch there again....so, with this in mind, I scrambled up the Talus...lots and lots of loose sharp rocks!...Hummingbird along the way..clip and pic...almost a clip of Hummingbird hovering, back lit by the sunrise, looking me over...but too slow with the camera !...almost got to the very top of the Talus, and found a rock to sit and wait...tremendous view of the Valley from this vantage....but bright morning sun blocking out much of the scenic pics I took...and clip too...as Falcon arrived, almost on schedule...a little later than last times...and perched in the foreseen Snag...I was all thumbs...took a handheld clip and pics with the 20x...then pics with the new camera...but I'm way far away...I could have been closer, but got into my head to reach the top of the Talus which took me away from the Snag...but then again, being so far away, I didn't disturb Falcon....and Falcon was posing, and I had time to get the digi set up....and I used the waterproof, and forgot the way to keep it in focus, so was bedeviled with it going in and out of focus...I was all thumbs!!...I tried to adjust..and the long clip I have is a jumble...and disappointing...in a kind of panic...I set the camera to still mode...and got two pics..the one above...and realizing I had finally found the focus and composition...thought to switch to movie mode....and Falcon flew off!...oh..I was disappointed...but pleased that I had the two pics...and the blurry clips are still a treasure!....it was a remarkable place to be in the Valley in the morning...and Falcon a wonder!!...I sat a bit longer..then packed up and started down with hands free...coming up, I had the 20x on the tripod at the ready...and stumbled, using the camera to brake!...and it almost broke...snapped it back together, and it's okay!...coming down, I heard some short length piping calls, and looking up saw two Falcons skirting the Wall...got some pics with the new camera...one up is one....lost sight of them way high on the Wall...and continued down the Talus, and grateful to reach bottom, out of the sun into the shade, and off the loose rocks!...it was getting warm, and near the time for the Hiker's Bus to leave...thought was that if I had time, I'd catch the Bus to Tuolumne..and I just made it!....got donuts and orange juice at Crane Flat...no Bears..just two signs!..hmmph...napped some....I just dont fit in bus seats...and at the Meadows got a full Breakfast at the Grill...showed my Falcon pic to the cook, a friend from Last Chance...in fact, was showing everyone my Falcon pic!...anyway...very sleepy on Marmot Road out to 1915 Bridge...Marmots all in their burrows....lots of Pins about though!...at the Bridge, I heard Hawk's call back the way I came!...just too tired to pursue, I crossed over the River and found a shady spot out in the Meadow...a Bluebird of some sort was hovering in the air, and finding bugs, and then perching atop a small Lodepole, consistently!...so I set up nearby..and got some good pics and clips!...for tomorrow!...there were quite a few tourists about....and I felt a bit conspicuous surrounded by my gear!...but I relaxed, and got some pics of another new bird...for tomorrow too!...and then, as it happens in the Meadows...over head in the Magnificent Blue Sky, Hawk was just there, soaring, in wide arcing circles....and the sky had big dark underneath puff clouds...with the new camera I got some pics...one up...Redtail Hawk...and molting it looks like...Hawk flew right over head, and out of sight over by Lembert Dome...oh!...a Two Hawk Day!!, my thought!..I went back to the Bluebird, and got some pics of Bluebird hovering with the new camera shooting continuous...very neat pics!...for tomorrow too!....made it back to the store in time for the Bus...and back the way I came!...with another snooze in the impossible seat.....clambered out of the Bus at Last Chance...and to the Cabin and sleep...with a delay for lunch..hotdog, nachos, and soda....a long long on the go morning!!....light was gone from Half Dome when I woke up...but went out to Creek's End to listen...but quiet...pic of the fading light on the River...sunny hot blue...but pleasant in Tuolumne when the Clouds would roll over with their shade...even a few raindrops...but very sunny hot blue back in the Valley!!!...report of Mountain Quail..two families...on the Trail down from Sunrise...kinda cool to have friends in the High Camps to hear reports from!!....oh....a caution: Rocky Point is an active rock fall area, on a par with the Ledge Trail...and the Falcons not to be disturbed... I'm wondering how long they've been there...and if recent, if because North Side Drive was closed during Winter and Spring....

Blog of the Day

http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2009/07/yosemite-amazes-me.html

Dragonfly Web

After the Bookshelves, there was some remaining shelving to put together...after Breakfast... did that...sigh...still had an hour before work...and went out through Owl Woods to the River and Creek's End and up the Creek to a shady spot by the Twin Fallen Cedars...and sat...right next to the water....set up the digi...and waitedwaitedwaited....and listenedlistenedlistened...it's never been this quiet...not a critter was stirring...said to myself, 'first thing I see will really be an event!'......and I spotted Dragonfly...and a second...digi clips and pics...and the one is a curious clip!.. with the spider web...Dragonfly balls the thread up same way I might with sticky tape!....hadn't thought to do bugs with the digi...kindaneat...oh!...bug the other night might be a Ten Striped June Bug...of the Scarabs....which is cool...old Egyptians would be quite pleased with such a Bug...dont know but GodzillaDonkey might fit right in their menagerie too!!..sunny hothot blue...the weather...lack thereof..is addling!!...up early tomorrow and will go sit in Chapel Meadow and watch daybreak...and listen...Owls gotta be around somewhere!!

Page of the Day

(I just happened on this at break this evening reading the SF Chronicle...I know some of the story my ownself, as Tom and Theresa are good friends hereabout...and it's a cautionary tale...when hiking with others, stay together, within sight, or within earshot, preferably sight!, and when going off trail, be cautioned that nothing may be what it seems, rocks and boulders can be loose...even on trail, a rock can be loose....another caution I've noted my ownself, is large branches broken off trees that haven't fallen to the ground, yet...they hang in the canopy like swords of Damocles!...another cautionary tale is of a climber rescued the other day from a ledge on Dome mear Merced Lake...climbing alone, he got to point where he couldn't go up, or down, and called for help on a cell phone---he was just high enough for line of sight to the Repeater near Sentinel...I have this hope that someday everyone will carry an emergency beacon, that will call, and give location, when trouble 'falls'....)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/26/SPTV18TMK9.DTL

Sparrow: Feathers Fluffed

Paddled back to the Creek...and after a looksee at Creek's End...(quiet)....I sat in the shade again by the Swath....I'd seen Mama Mallard with tiny Ducklings on way out...and thought they'd show up...and be the subject for the new waterproof camera....I set the digi scope with the waterproof on the bracket...and waitedwaited....for almost an hour and a half!...I was content to just sit...it being way too hot to move about!...but the Creek was quiet....finally, Song Sparrow landed at water's edge right across from me...and I did get some clips...one posted...the waterproof works fine...somethings different...somethings the same...something I'll miss is the sound pickup...the microphone is inside the case..and sounds are muffled...a great feature of these little cameras is the stereo sound (not sure if the waterproof is stereo)...the case is a plus for aligning the lens with the scope's lens...when I zoom out I dont have that problem of the lens bumping the scope...and getting a lens error...the lens is inside a transparent cap...like a porthole..that keeps it dry...and acts as a lens hood....this is actually a phenomenally good set up for clips and pics in inclement weather...both the camera and the scope are waterproof....one problem I had today was switching from stills to clips/movie....on the 3x I just move the sliding switch...didn't take the manual with, so will have to study to see if there is a way to do it on the waterproof without going into a menu!...took a long distance clip of Grey Squirrel with mouth full of nest material, hopping about the Twin Fallen Cedars...bright light and long distance dont do well on the digi...and on the way back, happened on Buckeye in the Backyard Grasses....pic with the new camera...and pics and clips with the 3x, yet to download...the 3x lent itself to photographing Buckeye...and it's interesting how each camera I have, has some feature or other, that suits it to a circumstance over the other ones I have!...I miss using the 12xs with the teleconverter....there were times when popping off the converter, and putting it back on, lent itself to making the clip better...or helping with stills too...oh..this is hard to explain!...sunny hot blue...dont know where the Mallards went..bit of a puzzle...

Bug

King Kong is on...the third remake(version)..."Mr. Denim, Mr. Denim! Grab the tripod!"...Bug was on the outside Cabin wall....at Last Chance, Moonlight did a sketch of a local critter....she has real talent, but like so many, can't seem to get it in focus...Shuttled over to the Post Office...new waterproof 3x came...fussed with it, taking up walk time...but it's battery charged and carded and ready for tomorrow...it took the critter pic...and it is really the coolest of the cameras I've acquired, design wise...oh..they're in the canyon with the bugs...sunny hot blue...daydreamed of Pennekamp and tide pools at work...

Blog of the Day

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/the-firefalls-yosemite-national-park/13653

...curiously, firefalls are in the movie!

Morning Flicker

I liked the Purple Flowers....up and out early, before the Sun reached Two Top Pine Meadow...quiet though....Hummingbird or Kinglet at the Broken Cottonwood...missed pic...Woodpecker in the Aspens thereabout...couldn't locate....Brown Creeper....badly back lit by the sunrise...and it was hot...at six thirty!...some tropical clouds came in from the Gulf, I learn on the news tonight...which explains the humidity...crossed the Meadow...thought I heard Blue Jays scolding at Rocky Slope...paddled along with some lookbacks and listens at Rocky Point...but quiet...two Flickers chasing about high in the Ponderosas at Lower Falls...too high for pics..just sat and watched...picked up...and along the Path..right at the Crosswalk...Flicker landed...mercifully!...on one of the split rail fence posts...continuous pics!...showed them off to Edie at Breakfast cashier line...saw Edie again at Dinner at work, and heard about her heat stroke episode...think I was having a bit of one my ownself!...didn't drink enough fluids....none at all on the morning walk...will take some water with next time...after Breakfast, went back to the Cabin and slept until worktime...sunny hot blue...weather report says one o one in the Valley tomorrow....

Blog of the Day...a visitor's sketches...navigate using older and newer arrows(Post)...

http://fromnaturetome.blogspot.com/2009/07/yosemite-valley-sketches-1.html

Deer House Bear

After Breakfast, moved the bookshelves about....took an hour and a half...sigh...but, I still had an hour before work...so geared up, and went out to Creek's End...bit crowded with rafters...but checked for hoo hooos....quiet...thought to go to the Swath and sit awhile...brought a bottle of water to drink, and this month's photog magazine to read...just before the Swath, found a shady spot, and listenedlistened...Phoebes, Robins, maybe Creepers behind in the Trees...and the Creek babbling of course...maybe a couple weeks before it breaks apart into pools....magazine has good piece on the dslrs with HD video...picked up, and was mulling this over, and glimpsed Bear on the opposite bank, headed for the Deer House...wasn't sure what camera to use, but chose the new camera, and did a continuous shoot...see clip!...glued stills together...lost sight of Bear behind the House, and went to the Swath, just a bit up Creek, and set up the 20x on the tripod....waitedwaited...and was suresure that Bear would come out from behind the House...wander down to the Creek...and take a cooling off bath...but no luck...time to pick up for work was pressing...but I paddled across the Creek...wet boots again...and made a circuit of the House...I dont know where Bear went...out into Bobcat Meadow, I suspect...but I had thought tourists thereabout would have deterred Bear....oh...this was a dissappointment!....Bear's tag is six...or nine...sunny hot blue....a breeze now and then...report of Bear, last Sunday, out at the little Creek (name?) in the Backpackers' Camp...by the Bridge...Bear walked about, crossing logs, scratching back, lolling in the water...for as long as 'fifteen minutes'...reporter reported...hmmph...I have one clip of Bear in the Creek...cooling off...and one clip of Baby Bear crossing Creek's End...Mama Bear close behind (this is one of those "if I stand my ground, what a great clip!" circumstances!...I moved backback)...and that's it...well, wait...Fir Bear crossing seen through the Trees...and that's it for Bear in the Creek....oh wait...in the Delta I have some...oh...what I want is another chance for Bear bathing in the Creek!!...the one I have is way back there before I had a tripod...in fact..it hurried along the purchase of the tripod...and good thing..as that's how I did Zeke's clip!....and that's how it goes....experience of circumstances suggests the equipment to have...and no doubt soon one of those DSLR HDs I'll be toting about!...someones having trouble outside closing their car door...or Bear's at work opening it!...Bear's about... plops in the Backyard..link to Bear Bath postup clip...there's more to this...Bear scratching at the collar..for sometime...
http://treeinthedoorvideo.blogspot.com/2008/09/bear-bath.html

Photo Walk Pics

Pics from the Photo Walk awhile back, and the 100 to 400 mm red ring lens....one can mouse click on the Half Dome pic and see tiny people...otherwise, the 70-300 DO lens I use on the new camera is only marginally less sharp...both have near the same f stops, and cost....the next level, lens wise, begins at about 4 times the cost of the one I use....and there's likely some multiple of that to get to the next level!....the goal is the clearest pic or clip in low light....and actually, I think the digi scopes are approaching it....in bright light the air is likely to be warm...and wavering...so there's kind of limit to how long a lens can be....in cool air a long lens will work best...the why that my evening or in shade digi pics look richer than the bright sunlit ones...oh...I'm just thinking out loud and mulling things over!!...a short walk in the morning, an Owls check...quiet...and a walk in the evening through Bobcat Meadow...two Doe clips....and quiet too...slept..and put another bookcase together....tomorrow I'll try to arrange things...and put books on the shelves!!...dont know where to begin to explain how it takes nearly six years to get a bookcase...but the explanation would be plausible once explained!...sunny hot...slept through the afternoon worst of it...and blue...I think what's in the future is digi scope camera lenses...the digital camera will be the long lens...all one piece I mean...brb...well...both Swarvoski and Zeiss have something like this...all in one camera scopes...but I'm thinking like a 500 mm fixed lens with the digital camera attached...all in one....just thinking aloud!!....only time to walk is in the morning when it's cool....sigh...best time to sleep too!!....one would have a 'quiver' of lens cameras....as opposed to the photogs' present 'quiver' of lenses...and expensive dslr bodies!

Morning Deer

Paddled out early to Two Top Pine Meadow...hoping for Falcons...at Two Top Pine, I saw the Doe...think it's a Doe....out in the Grasses...started a clip..and heard Red Shoulder call...it's faint in the clip....stayed with the Doe, but when I left off, hurried over to the Scorched Pine Forest....hoping Hawk was about...but no luck...continued out to Rocky Point....and found a rock to sit on...which took some doing...as most of the rocks are fresh fallen sharp and pointy!...sat awhile....waitedwaited...listenedlistened...and one call from Falcon high up the Wall...but that was it!...so, disappointed, I made my way back along Rocky Slope...same route as last Monday...but Bobcat wasn't about...went to Breakfast....and afterwards, right across the Road, Mama Doe and Two showed up....pic and clip...went right back to Last Chance to show my distraught reporter from yesterday that Two Fawns were okay!...and then to the Cabin and sleep....woke up around one...got some nachos after a Shuttle to the Village....and mounted a major offensive on the dishevelment...moved the desk top computer from a dresser top to an art table top....put two dressers together in the middle of the...tinytiny...cabin...and they make a great work table for my drawing painting efforts...and this worked good to assemble one of the new bookshelves....and this all took a long while!...but got out for an evening walk...sat by the Merced with the last pink light gone from Half Dome...Aspen Grove on the opposite shore...and quiet....waitedwaited...listenedlistened....Buck went running...crashing...through the Grove...and crossed the River at Half Stump..dont know what spooked Buck....group of Mallards came by...and took flight....a second group came by..and glided by in the almost gone light...and I heard a heavy snort in the shore bushes....which made me pick up a bit spooked my own self!...and went to Ozone Beach where two fishermen in waders were happy to hear Trout leaping...and with hopes of catching one...sunny ridiculously hot blue....TV on while I worked cleaning and moving....and it had the neatest show...a Gibbon playing with Two Tiger Cubs...this on Nat Geo and from a French show called Wild Asia...I think....the critters inthemselves were very cool...but what was cooler, was the film maker's comments about all the critter clips going up on the WEB...on YouTub and the rest...lemesee if I can find this...brb.....here's one...search Google...gibbon tiger video....brings up a lot...but lemesee if I can find the film makers...
quote
Well..I can't lift a copy and paste here...but there's is site called The Gibbon Network....(all about Gibbons)...that has a thumbnail review of the clip, and others...French show was called Untamed Asia...and it was at a preserve....the creator of the series...who has done, and is doing, some ambitious efforts!!...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Lepage
like to find the film makers...clips all over with no credit!...hmmph..needless to say there's a lot of stuff at Nat Geo..and ads...I have better Owls...hmmph...and I dont know where they've gone!

Pin

Pic and clip from last trip to Tuolumne...seventh....just a short walk this afternoon..looksee for the hoo hooos....sunny hot blue....report Last Chance Mama Doe lost a Fawn...maybe...reporter distraught...tomorrow have to lookabout...and be hopeful...

Duck Harbor: Two Mallards

Shuttled over to the Post Office and back...hoped maybe the new camera came...but no...so, hopped off at Lower Falls...had sandals on, and crossed the Creek behind the Deer House....at Creek's End found Mama Mallard with her almost grown up Ducklings...pics and clips...sat a long while under the Leaning Cedars...then thought maybe the Ducks were at Duck Harbor...picked up, and sat there a long while....picked up...work time...and two of the Young Mallards finally paddled up...clips...one up just a short part....I have lots of clips of Ducks at Duck Harbor!...and it's a special place insomuch the Ducks thereabout were really the first critters I saw at the Creek....sunny still hot blue with a breeze and a few clouds...rafters pic is at Creek's End...from under the Leaning Cedars!...in the pic one can see Lodgepole Point, Half Stump, Owl Log, Heron Pines, the Diversion Channel...water has gone down a lot...and the little half buried log is still in the sand...the one I'm sitting on sighting the camera in the Blog Link mast pic...it's nearly completely covered now with sand and gravel....

Pohono Trail Bear

Well, I stirred up Bear sleeping under the Three Cedars at Creek's End...and tried to follow for pic...had just the new camera with...but Bear disappeared in the Tall Grasses...but I have the Bear clips and pic from the Pohono Trail Hike...and they'll do for the post up...otherwise, I have no pics from today, except a long distant one of Mama Mallard with Tiny Ducklings at Creek's End...when I came up on the Creek, I saw a Bird running across the shingle, and floating right into the water...oh, Duckling!, I thought....and by the time I got there, Ducks were all intermingled with the rafters... one generous group shared their doritos....would like to have taken that pic, but I pretty much leave the tourists out....sunny..hotter!...blue....added a little bit from the Falcon clips....really wish I'd taken the big scope on the hike!!

Page of the Day
http://www.susanbarry.us/HTMLS/W-Pohono.html

I dont hang out with the artists much the last couple summers, but when I did, I would somtimes takes Susan's class....she's very nice, and her Muir watercolor knockdown! Be sure to lookabout her site!

Pohono Trail Bird

Pic and clip from the Pohono Trail Hike....thought the Bird was a Black Phoebe...but in reviewing the pics from the hike...some for sometime!...I could see it isn't, and have tried to find name...and I think it's an Olive Sided Flycatcher...which is the first one I've seen!...very cool...

short walkabout this afternoon before work, after a Shuttle to and fro to the Village...expectant of a new camera arriving...underwater camera!...a point and shoot 3x...hopefully it will become the main digi camera....paddled out to the Woods...quiet...and found a shady spot next to the Merced...with a view of the icons and the Glacier Wall...wishing I could see Falcons there!...and wondering why I never do....Falcons seem to prefer the West Valley Walls....sunny, really hot, and blue....takes all my energy away...and I just dozed a bit by the River...rafters drifting by...and one Mallard....clip for sometime...

Sandpiper Cobbles

Went out back to the Creek...sat awhile at the Swath....Sandpipers about...one walking along the opposite shore...took some continuous pics with the new camera...hard to pick out one!...and I like how Sandpiper's coloring mimics the Creek Cobbles...there's a lot of Sandpipers about...by the Creek, from the Delta to. the River...and out in Two Top Pine Meadow.... the Aspen Grove...the Pony Path...up in Tuolumne!...everywhere!!...clip is from yesterday evening..Aspen in the Ponderosa..Cottonwood in the dramatic lighting!!...I have like eight minutes of that pose...but most of it blurry...thought the low light was causing the blur...but reached over and adjusted the focus...and cleared it up some...sunny hot blue...report of Mama Doe and Two about Last Chance...and lots of flowers at Wawona Meadow...

Falcons

Pic and clips from yesterday....except Cottonwood...that clip is from this evening's walk...didn't go far...just to the Woods where I sat for a long while watching Cottonwood...and this after following Aspen from Tree to Tree....some very cool clips...for sometime...made a short walk earlier along the Creek after going to the Village for errands...this in midday heat...quiet...slept most of the rest of the day!....oh!....heard Hawk again across the Creek while at the Swath..same place as before...and just one loud call in the fading light...unusual to hear Hawk so late...call like Red Shoulder's....but no luck locating...will have to study the Deer House Oaks...sunny hot blue....about the Falcons: we saw them from four of the Points...Dewey, Taft, one I forget(Stanford)..and lastly, Gilbert(Crocker)....at all, they were airborne, except the last, where we located the calls and spotted one Falcon on the Snag....I took pics and clips with the 20x, but way distant.... Falcon looked content to pose, so I unpacked the mini scope digi, and the backpacking tripod, and set it up...was able to get some clips and pics...we were standing almost at the end of the Point, and the Snag Tree, across a gap...it could be seen from a closer vantage back from the Point....I didn't want to disturb Falcon..we thought it might be a Fledgling waiting for Mama Falcon, so I asked my friend to stay behind while I tried to get closer (been my experience that more than two footsteps, makes more than too much noise!)...I was able to get closer, and got the pic...and almost the clips...I say almost, as I was slow to sight in the digi...and the first Falcon flew off...got that somewhat!...but was disappointed...then I looked up from the camera view screen, and saw the second Falcon further out on the limb...it had landed out of range of the view screen...I often have a kinda tunnel vision doing the clips...looking only at the screen!...anyway, I tried to sight again...and got the second Falcon's lift off too!!...somewhat!....the tripod has a small ball head...and it works okay, but I'm not used to it yet...sighting the digi, and any camera really, takes time and practice, so that ones hands and fingers know what to do...like playing a new song on the piano....and it's not easy!.....wish I had taken the big scope, but that would have required the big tripod..and a big weight on a long day's hike!...but, now I have in mind to take the Bus up to Glacier...hike to the Points...and come down in the late evening on the Four Mile Trail...maybe find a Grey!... I dont know how many Falcons there are...like I posted...over the course of the day, I saw myself six, and my friend saw a seventh, but there may well be only two...two was all we ever saw together....dont have to think long for a name for Falcon....Horus.

About Egyptian birds:
http://www.biomapegypt.org/biodiversity/WildLife/Birds_12.html

and this one too...though a bit hyperbolic!
http://www.hummingbirdworld.com/chiricahua/peregrine.htm

Morning Falcon

Out and about early...wanted to get to Two Top Pine Meadow before the morning sunlight...but soon as I started along the Path, heard Hawk calling at Creek's End...went to check...but just the one call...I did see Big Wings in the Deer House Oaks yesterday...got my boots and socks wet wading the Creek to go looksee...this was just after Owls view...kept along the Merced, and did make it to Two Top, and stood out in the Meadow near Beaver Bend...waiting for the Falcons' calls...but quiet....took some Flower and Grasses and scenic pics...light is great in the morning...photogs ask me where to go for Sunrise in the Valley....tell them now, Two Top, not to see the Sun, but to see the Light!...anyway...I crossed the Road disconsolate, and started back along the Rocky Slope....and then behind me, heard the calls...back I went to Falcon Point and set up at the base of the Talus Slope...and waitedwaited....before long the Two Falcons came, way up high on the Rim...clip...and when the 20x unfocused, I took pics with the new camera....tiny blurry...but Falcons!....happy to see Falcon, I picked up, their calls fading down the Valley, and was on the Trail aside the Rocky Slope...and heard the familiar scolding of Blue Jay...and caught the tiniest glimpse of Bobcat...then a longer one...and finally got ahead and situated for just a short clip...but kinda neat!...Bobcat has a predictable route along the Slope...question is when!?...that's sorta true of all the Critters...almost saw Bobcat some more, but continued on the Trail, and in kind of a hurry for a seven thirty appointment to go up to Glacier and hike the Pohono Trail... was an hour late, and after Breakfast, my gracious neighbors, one, my hiking friend, to hike the Trail with me too, used two cars to arrange the hike....way this works: park one car at Tunnel View, and the second for Transport to Glacier Point...or some arrangement like this!...we actually stepped off at Sentinel Parking lot...so it was like an eleven mile hike...saw lots of Flowers, best time of year we think for Flowers on this Trail...two Bears..clips... heard a third...Butterflies, Ants (special request for the ant clip...put it up tomorrow)...lots of scenics, as the Trail jogs out to each of the Points along the way...and between us, we saw seven Falcons!....didn't do to well getting pics and clips of Falcon...for tomorrow, what I have...didn't help that I sat on the 3x, and discombobulated it a bit...it was in my back pocket...convenient for the Flower pics...sigh...oh...and a Frog in one the Creeks, but too slow for pic....it was very hot, and I was very tired!...all week the sleep debt has been huge....but I made it okay without any nausea...my usual worry on hot uphill hikes..but there wasn't much uphill...but there is some!!...and I wouldn't do this Trail the opposite way...Trail ends up at Tunnel View, where, what with the traffic noises, makes for a jarring contrast to the quiet air over the Valley as experienced from the Rims....well, almost quiet...the twowheelers were potatopotatoing....the Falcons were a real treat, and much thanks to my hiking friend for locating one perched in an old snag...pics are blurry, pics are tiny, but they're Falcons!...and for tomorrow!...sunny hot blue...a fine day of two Walkabouts!...highest highlight was seeing two of the Falcons go into their dives...I was too slow for pics...oh...the mosquitoesmosquitoeing....

Creek Owls

Rafters were at Creek's End, looking up into the Trees....on the opposite shore, I tried to be low key, and they spoke first..'Did you see the Owls!'...they'd seen them both, and pointed to the Trees where they saw them fly to...I imagine they startled them...I thanked them...and looked about...finding one, then the other, which took some doing!!...both Young Owls snoozing, one on each side of the Creek by the Great Turf and the Tiki Temple....one gave me a momentary look...and I had the new camera in manual mode, with a low exposure....and pic came out okay!....Owls' backs are to me in all the rest....and the clips, for sometime, very restful!...the Trees swaying, and the Leaves twirling...later at work, during my lunch break, I found Mama Doe and her Two Fawns....pic...and clips for sometime...all with the 3x...souvenirs....sunny hot blue....Mama Doe was about in the Little Forest where she gave birth..and dont know but she looks like the Doe that was Bear watching...which would explain that, if the Fawns were in the heavy grasses thereabout!

Walkabout

A day without a walkabout...is a day without a walkabout!....paddled out to the Woods after Breakfast...sat awhile in a shady spot...thought to relocate...and spotted Aspen and Cottonwood...actually they saw me first...I woke them up...took a quick longdistance pic ...and retreated the way I came, to let them return to sleep....rafters at Creek's End...so went upstream to the Swath...Tanager about...pics....but pics all pretty soft...Tanager is proving tough to get a good sharp photo !!...sat awhile on the RipRap...and finally picked up and back to the Cabin...and work...sunny hot blue with high herring bone clouds...kinda like confectioners sugar....pics up from yesterday, Bear, Flickers and Sandpiper...had Bear's walkabout to upload..but it's too long...for sometime a short section or two...was very happy to see the two....ear tuft feathers are coming in...

Backyard Bear

I went down to the River's edge near Half Stump...lots of Brush...to see what the Ravens were making a ruckus about on the opposite shore...and found the Kayak Paddles...what to do??...I gathered them up and took them along!...Owl Woods was quiet...and so was Two Top Pine Meadow when I got there...but I thought to sit and watch the sun rise spread light on the Rims, and down to the Meadow...maybe I might hear Hawk....a Young Buck came to the Path...I was holding the Paddles and tried to get the 2ox out...and the Buck was really startled and scared by Paddles waving about...the Deer seldom look startled!...something to think on, I thought, and put the Deer's reaction to the Paddles in a ThoughtHobby...which I have a few!...then I thought to take a self portrait with the Paddles...Two Top for background...and it came out pretty neat!...and just as I finished the pic, I heard Hawk...way on the other side of the Meadow again...I dropped the Paddles to the ground beside Path...someone with a Kayak is welcome to them!...and off I went at a kinda slow trot...fast as I could without losing gear!....and Hawk's call towed me all the way to Beaver Bend again...Sandpiper clip and pic in the early sun on the way..for sometime...Hawk's call was deep in the Forest on the opposite bank...I think Hawk may roost there by Sentinel Beach...and I slowed and was stumped...but then I heard the call up on Rocky Point...oh!...I got a neat call clip there., and nearly a pic..for sometime...and I thought that would be the post up tonight....just a glimpse of Hawk flying...paddled back through Camp 4...and thereabout, got clips and pics of Two Flickers together...very neat...and I thought that would be the post up!..but for sometime...continued on, and as I reached the Grinding Stone near Lower Falls, I heard wood breaking..that sound Bear makes looking for termites...and I got the camera out just in case...and Bear appeared!...and walked out into the Mini Meadow...clip for sometime...Japanese tourists got all excited...I almost got clip of Bear crossing the Road at Creek Bridge...right by the Speed Kills Bears sign...which would have been cool...but I lost sight...I gave my attention to trying to stop the Tourists from crowding around Bear...but didn't need to..the Tour Guide was bellowing loudly something in Japanese, and they all pulled back!...I'm half asleep through all this, by the way...having gone out at five thirty!...I crossed the Road to the Cabin...and thought to go back to the Creek on just the chance Bear would be there...and before going very far...in fact right behind the Neighborhood, I found Bear...clips and pics...and lots of them, as Bear meandered about right behind the Rooms for a good while...and for sometime, is an observation of Bear that has to do with the Paddles and the Deer....but let me get to the clip up!...up aways on the Path, I tried to stay ahead of Bear, and happened on Deer watching Bear...Deer do this when Bear is about...they watch just like tourists!...and this one left off...and then turned around, went back, and watched some more!...anyway, just that I find charming and the stuff of a post!...the rest of the clip is routine Bear in Appletree!...a few tourists from the Rooms gathered and got some good views of Bear...and fortunately, Bear had gone out into the Woods, instead of climbing into a Tour Bus...which at one time in the Bearabout, was like just thirty yards away..oh...I'll do another post and relate this better!...had Breakfast and went to sleep...and to sleep now too in a minute or two, and all the way to worktime tomorrow!...the lure of maybe hearing maybe Owls or Hawks at five thirty in the morning has sorta taken hold!....sunny hot blue....and just a couple mosquito bites!!...oh...Bear number 99...or 66...I have to check...but I think I have clip of this Bear from long time ago...thought it was Fir Bear...46...or 49!

Marmot Road

Pic and clip from up in Tuolumne Tuesday..along Soda Springs Road...I think it was called....Shuttle pulled up after Breakfast, hopped on and over to the Post Office...thought to walk back, but return Shuttle pulled up, and hopped on...it's like that sometime...I just go where the 'wind' takes me....back at the Cabin, the entry door was papered over...masking...the painters were spray painting the neighborhood...I had the 20x along, so started out on a walkabout...at Creek's End discovered Hairy Woodpecker's Nest Hole Tree had been opened up by Bear overnight... like the Chapel Bridge Post!...contents gone of course..hmph...related this to friend at work, and they said, 'tragic'...and it is...it reminds me somehow of the old Greek tragedies....it just broke my heart!...Mama Woodpecker was up in Heron Pine, chattering away..disconsolate I'm sure...and I think it was Bear...no footprints or smashed down grasses...but there are what look like two small claw scratches on the Tree...for awhile suspected Owl...had my Sherlock Holmes hat on...but couldn't figure it out for certain...walked out the Channel..a slow walk, hoping to see Owls...didn't want to think about vandals...Woods all quiet...at Swinging Bridge, made a right out into Two Top Pine Meadow...flower pics along the way...stirred up a couple sunbathers out in the middle...the tall grasses fortunately concealing...back through Camp 4 and to the Cabin...a quiet walk, but pretty and scenic...sunny hot blue with a breeze that wouldn't be quiet long enough to take the flower pics!...Raccoon tonight at Last Chance...didn't see Raccoon my own self...saw tourists outside the windows watching....Coyote howling while uploading clip...a concern, as the Fawns are about...and at the beginning of the walk took clip and pic of pregnant Doe browsing in the Backyard...water in Two Top..at the Slough too..almost dried up...I haven't seen anything like the Mallard and Mergansers I saw last year...just the one Merganser with Meganserlings..and the Two Mallards with Ducklings...and just that one time!..I think one reason for this is the grasses grew up in what was open water last year...and that water was open from the control burn...and it attracted the water fowl...a conjecture!!

Baby Ground Squirrel

Shuttled over to the Post Office...hopped off at Lower Falls on the way back...went out in the Delta and sat awhile...here and there...quiet....had time, so crossed the Road and walked along the Creek...and at the Swath Pole Tree, happened on the White Headed Woodpecker....clip..oh!...the Squirrel clip was by the Post Office..the Babies were pulling down the Grass stems...wanted clip of that...hard to see in one up...rafters at Creek's End...and there are like little patrols of Tourists about...out in the Delta...and too in Owl Woods..which was quiet...'cept for work on the Tiki Temples....holes being drilled in the cement walls for small pipes...that's the noise in the background while Woodpecker's working on the Pole Tree hole!...report of Mama Doe and New Two by Last Chance...Coyote howling last night close outside the Cabin...at work, talkabout about the possibility of Ravens being a kind of new population hereabout...not many reports of Ravens in the old reports....sunny hot blue with animating breeze...this to say, out in the Delta the Tree Leaves rustle in the mysterious Valley wind...

Blog of the Day

http://caulludriga.blogspot.com/

(has Oso pic...)

Killdeer

Got up and out early over to Two Top Pine Meadow...check for Hawks!...but quiet...quiet when I passed Owl Woods too...found a noisy hammering Flicker..pic and clip...for sometime...was sleepy, and the Hiker Bus was departing...thought, I can sleep on the Bus...and did!...a beautiful afternoon up in Tuolumne...lots of pics and clips of Marmots and Picket Pins...this beside the Dirt Road to Soda Springs....for sometime...sat a long while at 1915 Bridge....scenics and another Pin pic...walking back to the Store on the Use Path, I spotted the Killdeer...tough to get pics and clips because of distance...and wind!!...had both digi and 20x set up...new camera pic too!....when I reviewed the clip, I saw the little Bird scoot across in the foreground....put this portion up in slow motion...dont know what kind of Bird it is!...napped again on the Bus coming back..had some nachos at the Cabin, and curled up....went out at twilight, but Owl Woods still quiet...'cept for Hairy Woodpecker at Creek's End...and thereabout Violet Green Swallows...clips for sometime...and Mama Mallard with Ducklings...looks to be same bunch I saw in the Delta....they sailed by below Owl in one of the clips last evening...didn't see them until I reviewed the clip....when I'm filming with two cameras this happens....I capture things I dont know I have...some of the Marmot and Pin clips of today are really neat...not enough time to edit tonight...sunny blue and cool with a slight breeze..and that alpine feel to things up in the Meadows...mosquitoes not so bad....and mostly just the little Popcorn Flowers...the rest yet to blossom...Valley crowded, hot, and still a little smokey...could see the fires from Road on ride back..they looked tamed...no smoke at all in the Meadows...flowers are blossoming at White Wolf...no Bears...maybe just a glimpse of one at Crane Flat...report one I saw first Meadow Bus ride was in auto accident...drive safe.

Webpage of the Day (somewhere in this should be current Tuolumne chit chat...)

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/list.php?1

Peregrine Falcon And Owls

Woke up early...Dawn Chorus outside...it's gotten to be a small chorus...a few Blue Jays, a few Robins...nonetheless, always pleasant to hear...geared up, with the thought to go out to Two Top Pine Meadow, where I haven't been for a few days, and started out with a swing to Creek's End... in Owl Woods though, I found all three Owls almost immediately...and I had both tripods with...set them up, the digi on one, the 20x 0n the other...and it kinda works....Fledgelings were curious!...to start, both were together, but one flew off after just a few seconds of clip...then Mama Owl flew out from right over my head and off to a far Cottonwood...but one Fledgling remained...the pics up...and I have clips too....for sometime...picked up, and did go to Creek's End...then back along the Merced out to Two Top....very pretty when I got there with the morning light...much like the Solstice Morning post up....and way in the distance, out beyond the Broken Cottonwood, and in the Tree Line along the Merced, I saw three Big Wings..and when I heard them call too...exclaimed...in my thoughts as I do!...Hawks!!...I didn't run...but kept the Trees where I last saw them always in view...and went out the Use Path...I still had both tripods set up (one carried in each hand!)...and when I got to the Broken Cottonwood, I set up the 20x for a wide view, on the chance the Hawks would fly out of the Trees, while I tried to sneak up with the new camera...the digi I just left....being just keen to get a still, and to do that needing the quickness of the new camera....the 20x recorded me going ahead, and one Hawk flies out...and I tried to sight with the new camera...but no luck...oh!!!...I forgot...before all this, one of the Hawks had flown right towards me...and I tried to sight it with the 2ox still on the tripod...this is the backpacking pod and very light...but it was an impossible kind of effort..and I had the camera at chest level...and I watched Hawk fly a circle over head around me in the Magnificent Blue Sky...and could see by it's swept wings it was a Falcon...a Peregrine Falcon, my thoughts exclaimed!!....so it was with much anxiety that I was sneaking up!...I had no luck on this effort, the pics with the new camera were just sky and rock, the Hawk I tried to sight flying off all the way to Rocky Point....and the clip shows me walking back...disconsolate...I gathered up the pods, and went ahead, as the Use Trail goes along the Merced, with the hope of maybe a Hawk still in the Trees....and there was...Hawk went Tree to Tree...and I was able to get two pics with the 2ox..one zoomed...blurry..Hawk was far away...but I've never seen Peregrine!....blurry is just fine!!...now way ahead of me, Hawk flew even further, all the way around Beaver Bend....I was hopeful, as I could hear Hawk calling...and I'm wondering if the three Hawks I saw, were all Peregrines, because the sound I was hearing was like Red Shoulder Hawk...I recorded the call a couple times...for sometime...I went around the Bend, and downriver along the Trail aways, the call leading me...last I heard Hawk, Hawk was somewhere across the Road up in Rocky Point....I would have kept pursuing, but was really tired....and hungry...so paddled back along the Rocky Slope to Lower Falls..and to Last Chance for Breakfast, and to the Cabin for sleep!...woke up around one, downloaded the pics and clips...very happy to see it is Peregrine in the pics when I checked the books...and Shuttled over to the Village for lunch...and Shuttled back to the Cabin for more sleep!....but Heavy Metal drove me out again...which was okay...twilight time arrived.... best for critter pics....and I went to Creek's End..and heard Blue Jay scolding...and found Mama Owl where I have often wished to find Owl....perched in the Leaning Cedars...again, I had both tripod set ups....and I filled up both cards...these are eight gig cards!...though some space has saved favorites...nonetheless, I took a lot of pics and clips!...Owl posed and posed...I have views looking out towards the Merced, views from across the Creek at Zeke's Perch...and finally views up Creek right by Lodgepole Point...to get those, I took the boots off, and waded out into the Creek (kept my socks on...helped a little to cushion against the gravel!)...I was quite a sight, standing in the Creek, with both cameras on their respective tripods...and quite a view to the two kayakers that came by!...they were quiet, and I think delighted to see Owl....the clip up is the view I had there....it...it is the most remarkable clip I've taken...clips!..both cameras!...and on a remarkable day, with the morning Owls and the Peregrine!!....Owl flies off because Ravens came by...but didn't go far, and I hung around Creek's End awhile listening to the hoo hoo hoos...and then Owl flew back to the Leaning Cedars!...one last clip in the fading light, and I picked up and went out the Channel towards Ozone Beach...and along the way, found one Fledgling in the Grasses...clips and pics for sometime...picked up, and when I got to the River, found, sadly, the Cedar that I hid behind to see Merganser the first time, and startled Coop (Red Shoulder Hawk) hiding there too, Coop was eyeing Merganser, this Cedar has fallen into the River...more shore erosion...oh...I am really fond of that Tree!...another Aspen across the River has fallen too...so there's like three major Tree falls thereabout from shore edge erosion...made it in time to Last Chance for dinner...a last lookback at the last pink glow on Half Dome...a fine evening!...a fine morning!...sunny blue hot...but cooled off in the evening...some pink smoke over the Cathedrals...portions of the many Owl clips of the last few days I'll post from time to time...report that the bird with the band on it's foot is a Homing Pigeon...owner is hoping the effort to catch it is successful!...actually has two bands, one on each foot...showed a feather at the Visitor Center...found it in the Delta a few days ago...no one sure what Bird its from..but in looking at Owl pics...I think it's Owl's...so Owl hunts in the Delta...I've never seen Owl there...maybe that's next!!...and always hopeful for Pygmy Owl, which I believe I've heard there....Owl hoo hoos twice in the clip...and clicks beak...but just barely discernable...

Webpage about 'scoping'...

http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/07/yosemite-national-park-returns-square-one-yosemite-valley-plan