Redwoods

Stopped by the Mairposa Grove on the return from town...paddled out to the Grizzly Giant...pic....Does and Buck along side the Path...pics and clips....Chickarees and Grey Squirrel too...pics and clips...heard Nuthatches..almost a chorus!...and DownyOrHairy Woodpeckers...Raven...and a call I didn't recognize...should have recorded it...sunny cool blue...on the way to town, saw Hawk fly over...and on way back two Hawks...one swooping down to the ground, the other perched on Oak...all from the car going through the Foothills, and no way to get pics...Sparrows and Blackbirds in town...much thanks to my friend for the rideabout!

Hawk: November 30, 2007

Didn't get out and about today...bit of a cold, so thought to rest...got through work ok, and look forward to trip to town tomorrow...friend wants help with video camera purchase....dont know that much about them my ownself...pics and clips up from 2007....been hoping since for more close pics of Coop, but dissappointed again this November....Bobcat's tail is in the clip...see red circle...I may have put this up before....and Coyote was by the Fig Tree later too...the weather this November is very like the weather that November...one difference is water in the Creek...it was dryer in 2007...sunny blue cool today...

Ponderosa Hawk

Out and about early, before Sun up....back to the Creek and Creek's End...cold, but not so cold...some Fog...and then it got cold with a wind from the North East...swirled the Fog about...Kingfisher chattering!...somewhere up towards Chapel Bridge...thought to go thataway, but the Creek a little higher, making the leap problematic...turned about and out the Diversion Channel...crossed through the Woods to the Merced...quiet all the way...turned about and walked back aways along the River...pic of Half Dome Snow topped...sky grey...crossed the Woods to the Bike Path, and sighted Big Wings way high up flying to perch in the Ponderosa....set the tripod down, and tried to get closer with the new camera.. pics up....there was a great pic to be taken, but I had to get to the Tree and go under Hawk's perch branch, and to where I could see Hawk face on and high above...and I was there!...raised the camera...and Hawk took off..pressed shutter...but the camera goes to sleep to conserve battery...and didn't wake up quick enough...Hawk flew to another high perch...pic up...and I went back to get the tripod...wanted a clip, and from a long way away, looked away a moment, and Hawk was gone...following took me back to the Cabin...but no luck...and put the gear up, went to Breakfast, and then back to the Cabin and sleep...some Sun, cool and a dusting of Snow about half way down the Walls....Hawk looks to be Hawk of a few days ago...I think there's a setting on the camera to delay the going to sleep mode....could use one of those my ownself!....Sky was clear, but the Tree branches were 'raining'...still wet from yesterday's Rain....

Backyard Deer

B

Back at the Cabin after Breakfast, sitting on the bunk, and kinda sleepy, and...just curled up and napped until worktime...so no walkabout pics or clips...but!...after taking care of whiskers and teeth for worktime, I opened the door, and there was Mama Doe and Two Fawns...hurried back around front to get the 20x...and was able to get a 'walkabout' clip after all!...cloudy and sometime sunny, cool, before work...during work it rained a little...Road wet on the way back to the Cabin after work....not nearly cold enough for Snow...

Raven

Went to Last Chance before sun up for early Breakfast...then went back to sleep!...out and about before work for an hour or so...paddled back to Creek's End...Raven by the Tiki Outlet...above actually...clip and pic up...Wood's quiet...maybe heard Kingfisher....tried for Invisible Bird pics...sunny warm blue....report of Peregrine Falcon running into the Window of the Last Chance Bar...knocked out, but regained consciousness and flew off...this last week...have to research this report a bit!....coming back to Cabin after work, Mama Doe and Two Fawns under the Bus Port...tried for clip...too dark, but lucky to get flash pic!....

Blue Jay

Shuttled over to the Post Office..while there, heard report of hoo hooo in the morning behind the Village...went out that way, and sat awhile at Church Bowl...sunshine...sighted Buck across the A Meadow..and walked out that way....clips of house cats on the way... cats on the loose...not a good thing with Coyote about...clip and pic of Buck...a Thin Antlered Buck...walked back along the Road...and through the Oak Grove...went out to Chapel Bridge..and out Lodgepole Point...across the Creek...in the Backyard, Blue Jay showed and perched on the Litter Pile...not sure what to call it...like a pile of gardening clippings...been there a long time...anyway...pic and clip....thinking of gardening--yesterday, tree trimmers were trimming the Black Oaks in the Village...removing the Mistletoe too....sunny warm blue....and quiet...did hear Flicker, and Nuthatch, and the Invisible Birds....Ravens about....

Sunset Ouzel

Most of the day taken up with laundry, housecleaning...and trying to make some prints...had to move the dishevelment to get to the printer!...did get out for short walks in the morning and evening...in the morning: two Mallards at Creek's End...clip..White Headed Woodpecker in the Woods...clip...in the evening: Young Buck in the Backyard...clip...and Ouzel by the Cottonwood Grove diving in the Merced...clip up...at last light, Sunset show over the Cathedrals and Eagle Peak...pic up...sunny cool blue with a few high clouds...and quiet...critter quiet....usual ever present machine noises....

Blue Jay And Raven

Out and about a bit, coffee in hand, after early Breakfast--french toast and sausage....Raven eating nuts and seeds beside the Road and the Fire Hydrant...clip...for the Raven collection...for sometime......made a loop through the Woods to Creek's End and back to the Cabin...and sleep...feel like it's time to hibernate...bit chilly in the morning...out again around two....Mama Doe and Two Fawns resting behind the Rooms....made the Outside Loop counterclockwise...Blue Jay pics at Swinging Bridge...pic...a good place right now for Bird pics...as the Bridge is at some of the little Trees tops' level...and the afternoon Sun is terrific...Two Does out in the Meadow at Ayer's View...clips...continued out through Chapel and Bobcat Meadows and to the Post Office...Raven clip at the Woodpecker Tree...retrieved the Bike and pedaled over the Merced to Housekeeping...reflection pics in the River from the Footbridge...great time for reflections...and the photogs are all taking pics of the Half Moon moving alongabove the South Rim...took some my own self!...for sometime...Young Buck thereabout..and Doe..pics...thought maybe to wait for sunset, and a hoo hoo in Housekeeping...but too shady and cold!..needed gloves...pedaled back to the Cabin in time to park the Bike and paddled out to Creek's End...Doe by the Fig Tree...pic...and a seat on Owl Log to watch the last light on Half Dome...easy to see now with the Trees' leaves fallen...quiet...quiet everywhere for most part...and Blue Heron flew by heading towards Half Stump....managed to get the new camera sighted for blurry pics!...very cool...light gone and paddled back through the quiet Woods to the Cabin....sunny cool blue...and very scenic...forgot to mention report yesterday of Ring Tail Cat at the Train Wreck...oh!...little Grey Squirrel clip taken in the Backyard...lots of Grey Squirrels about...and the local Chicaree....dont recall seeing Ground Squirrels...have to check that tomorrow...read they hibernate all Winter...

Backyard Hawk

Missed Breakfast, and past noon.... picked up mini donuts and orange juice at the Store...gathered the gear, and after just a few steps on the Dirt Road, glimpsed Hawk fly to a Tree on my right...set up the tripod and 20x, faraway pic and clip, and much backlighting from Sun...left the 20x to record, and approached cautiously with the new camera, pausing for pics...needn't have worried much that Hawk would fly off...Hawk stayed perched unperturbed a long while...I tried different angles...difficulties: branches, sunlight, street cleaner--and then a ruckus...Three Does, Five Fawns--and Thin Antlered Buck courting the Does...I dont know what all they were doing, my attention on Hawk...but could hear them running about....lowered the camera now and then for Deer pics, but really didn't want to miss the opportunity for Hawk pics!...after about ten minutes, I went back for the Tripod...and for another ten minutes took clips!...I thought to sit down, and try to wait for Hawk to fly off...and get a flight pic...and in the midst of changing position, Hawk did fly off to another nearby Tree...some distant flight pics...gathered the gear scattered about...and Hawk flew a little further to the Fig Tree...when I got there, I happened on Two Does and Four Fawns...and Hawk flew from the Tree to the ground on the the other side of Deer...did get tiny clip of this flight, but couldn't follow!...Deer were in the way!...I went back around by way of the Dirt Road.... delayed to take pics of Buck, and One Doe with One Fawn..when I finally got around up the Swath to the Fig Tree from the other side, Hawk was gone, and Deer resting in the Sun...film shoot over!...so went to the Creek, and took a seat on the RipRap... and donuts and orange juice brunch!...sunny cool blue...on the clip, one can hear Buck bleating...along with the street cleaner!!...Hawk must like to be around Deer...second time this has happened....Mama Doe and Two Fawns were nearby during the other day's Hawk pics...sad news at work...good friend passed away...shared Critter reports while working, and they could pronounce Mabinogion....

Blue Jay's Bush

Paddled over to Lower Falls...Rainbow on the Falls.... best seen from the top of the Path at the Little Meadow...and around 11:45!...too tiny in pic up to see well..but have dvd clip that's okay....continued over to Chapel Bridge....Blue Jays' were at their Bush...pics and clips...and a clip lost..didn't press button...in that one, Blue Jay flew to the River's edge and took a bath...will try again!...went along the River past Sentinel Bridge...Ouzel clip and pic...been wondering where Ouzel has been keeping...and back through Bobcat Meadow....over the Creek at the Stepping Stones...out to Creek's End...through the Woods...along the Bike Path...time..and to the Cabin...a quiet walk...but the Rainbow very cool....Sun was sorta where the Full Moon will be...and will keep in mind a possible Moonbow to be seen from this view spot....sunny cool blue...reported storm was an exaggeration!...rained just enough to dampen the asphalt..oh!...google's done a new trick...mouse over and click on the Falls pic...pic will enlarge, and fit to screen...before it would enlarge larger than screen...to make it do that again, note the cursor has become a magnifying glass, and click again...one should be able to make out the Rainbow!!...

quote

The service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Service_Organic_Act

unquote

and another:

quote

16And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
17And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

unquote

Windy Morning

Well..made it to Last Chance in time for eggs and sausage!...afterwards, geared up and paddled back to the Creek...happened on Mama Doe and Two Fawns right away in the Backyard...pics and clip...at Creek's End were Two Does...pics and clips...hopped over the Creek...on Lodgpole Point, think I got a clip of a new Little Bird...like a Creeper, but with Orange chest...just a brief glimpse...Little Birds about..and invisible as usual!...oh!...saw Kingfisher when I first got to the Creek...flew by like a kite without a string ....and Three Mallards too..clip and pic of Mallards..they were at Duck Harbor and heading down Creek...when I was on the other side, took some more Mallard pics and clips...paddled out past the Deer House...lots of little marker flags and fence posts about...some manner of work in progress for the Tiki Piping I imagine...continued through Bobcat Meadow to the Post Office.....little Owl painting from ebay came....walked back through the Oak Grove...no Acorn Woodpeckers about.. windy....crossed over Road at Lower Falls and back to the Deer House...Stepping Stones...and up the Swath to the Cabin...a quiet walk...save for the wind in the Trees!....cloud cover...sometimes sunlight and pale sky...cool...tonight it's supposed to be raining...but not yet...maybe in the wee hours....report of Thick Antlered Buck with Does over in the Village...friend walkedabout Two Top Pine Meadow in the evening, and reported it quiet too...except for 'Ravens playing in the wind'...earlier I saw Ravens soaring over Bobcat Meadow....oh!...I did a random search and found this article being offered by the online archives...I often find articles, but cant access them with out subscibing to these services...but looking about, I found that amazon is offering the service too...and tiki pipeing on my mind, I downloaded for a modest fee with one click:

Title: The hidden landscape of Yosemite National Park.Author: Craig E. ColtenPublication: Journal of Cultural Geography (Magazine/Journal) Date: March 22, 2005Publisher: Thomson GaleVolume: 22 Issue: 2 Page: 27(24)

Dissappointed that it only mention things up until 1930s or so...but an interesting article if one is interested in the nuts and bolts...and just where the heck the smell comes from!!

I think this links to general info about edocs:

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=ord_shrt_home?_encoding=UTF8&node=551440

oh!...enough, it's late and I do want to be out early if snow on ground!!!

North Dome Hawk

Out and about late...took chocolate croissant with, and thought to go back to the Creek for Brunch...but too noisy at the Deer House...Tiki pump truck servicing the Porta Tiki's...it's a horrific noise!...anyway...diverted to the Lunch Sit Log....happened on Young Buck on the Bike Path...pic and clip....and Song Sparrow..clip and pic...at the Log, heard Hawk calling far away across the Woods, and likely across the Merced too, I thought...and it was so...hurried into the Woods, and when I got to Half Stump, I could hear Hawk from the Trees across the River...clip...waded across, eyes always on the Trees, and stepped in a hole...almost drowned!..not...but did tilt over, and recovered, keeping things dry!...once on the other side, I located Hawk in the large, and much photographed in the Fall, Oak...and one of my first Hawk pics and clip are from that Tree too...anyway...clips and pics...and while trying to set up the digi..the gorilla pods are proving too slow to set up...Hawk few off when I was looking down...disappointed, I walked alongside the Cottonwood Grove, and to my right from a Cottonwood Snag...one where I have evening pics of Owl!...Hawk flew low through the Grove across the River to Creek's End...paddled through the Grove, and waded across the Merced, which is about it's deepest hereabout..above my knees...and scrambled up the bank and out into the Diversion Channel, as Hawk headed up that way and I was able to keep eye contact...again too slow with the digi..and just gave up on that...finally caught up with Hawk, after..lesee...four Trees...and got another pic and clip...and then there were three more Trees!...but lost Hawk above the Bike Path, not far from yesterday's sighting....thought to go to the Cabin and dry off, and eat my croissant, but Coyote was coming from the other direction...clip and pic...and lost Coyote out on the Road in front of Last Chance...but thought to follow...nearing Two Top Pine Meadow on the Bike Path, I heard Hawk again...and Blue Jays and Ravens scolding...just missed getting clip of them all...but Hawk flew off into the Scorched Forest...saw Hawk fly off from three more Trees...and when I came out into the Meadow, I found myself searching with much hope Two Top Pine for Hawk... a wished for pic!...but Hawk was gone...time...and returned to the Cabin....Chickaree greeted me...pics and clips...and I ate the croissant on the way to work!...sunny warm blue...River wasn't that cold...and a fine Tree to Tree with Hawk!...nine or ten Trees all together...six recorded with tinytiny pics or clips...and one good close looksee through the scope...that time Hawk was on Owl's Ponderosa...the Pine I often view from the Lunch Sit Log....I had made a big circular loop at that point, much to the amusement, I'm sure, to a tourist that was lounging in the Sun thereabout!

Alder Hawk

On way to Breakfast, saw the Shuttle waiting...hopped on...wanted to go over to the A Meadow and look at the 'Aspens'....checked mail, and picked up bagel and orange juice....at the Meadow, saw right away the Trees are Cottonwoods...an Old Cottonwood surrounded by 'offspring'....so, I need to make an errata page!..been calling too many Cottonwoods, Aspens...a common mistake!..anyway...paddled across the Meadow...didn't realize how wide it is!...and found a shady seat near the Chevrons Wall...near Church Bowl...oh!...at the Cottonwood, clip and pics of female Downy Woodpecker...for sometime...ate Brunch in the shade, Blue Jay for company...continued over to the A Rooms...heard Pileated Woodpecker near the Dorm, but couldn't locate...Shuttled back to Lower Falls...hopped off and went to the Creek behind the Deer House...Stepping Stones Crossing...and out to Creek's End and around to almost Ozone Beach...quiet...checked the Deer Carcass..almost gone...time..and back to the Cabin...oh!...Sparrow pics as I got near the Cabin on the Bike Path...need to identify them...now...on the way to work, I thought to take the 20x with...I most always do ....and just past the Perfect Dogwood...heard scolding Blue Jays....walked down the little slope to looksee...and was happy to find Mama Doe and Two Fawns... pics...and turned my attention to the Blue Jays...and sighted Hawk...zoomed in with the camera, and Hawk flew off, but not far...Hawk found an Alder next to the Bike Path to perch in....and I managed to sneak up until I was right under the Trees...been a long while since I've gotten this close to Hawk perching...but it happens...Hawk will just ignore noises and movement, intent I imagine on hunting, as the Forest Hawks hunt from perches...so I got some clips and pics...but branches and shadows and the 20x not focusing and tourists' crunchcrunch on the Alder Leaves...and I was going to be late for work!...and that finally distracted me to 'fly off'..and left Hawk unperturbed...was nine minutes late...sunny cool blue...a few big white clouds..and some breezes...it was breezy late yesterday too...report of Owl hoo hooing early in the morning across road from Last Chance...near parking lot...tourist report of lots of Deer by Lower Falls...both Bucks and Does...now for Sparrow identity...brb...well..the top one is Song Sparrow...and the next might be a young White Crowned Sparrow...but veryvery not sure!...

Blog of the Day (found looking for the sparrow)
http://redandthepeanut.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Blue Jay's Hawk Call

Out and about before sunup...but too late for the meteors....paddled back to the Creek and Creek's End...could hear Kingfisher upstream near Chapel Bridge...had seen fog over Bobcat Meadow..and again through the Bridge Railings...took clip to record Kingfisher's call...hopped over the Creek and out to the Meadow to looksee....pic and clip....heard Hawk in the distance...but just one call...forget what drew me back to Creek's End, another Hawk call I think...but hopped over again...and walked up the Diversion Channel...sighted a flock of Ravens on a fallen Snag...clip...didn't think much of them together, but then remembered the Deer Carcasses last Winter...went to looksee with much reluctance what had Ravens' attention...and as a I feared, a Deer carcass...one of the Fawns...pic...but too grim to post....continued out to the River...and heard Hawk...should say, a would be Hawk with Blue Feathers.!!..I found the Blue Jay that mimics Hawk's call..same time, same Trees, but this time I had the 20x along (and ironicly, the new camera without its battery--still in charger!)...clips...and wish I could have gotten closer, but Blue Jay was on far side of Merced...heard Hawk back in the Woods...back that way I went, but no luck...and went out through the Woods to the Cabin...and to Breakfast...French toast and sausage...returning to the Cabin, I heard Hawk again right in the Backyard...looked about, but again no luck...so to the Cabin and sleep....out again around two, with the intent to take pics of each Tree's fallen leaves...and to check the Aspen Grove to see if they are Aspens!...across Chapel Bridge and along the Use Path, and near the Grove sighted Hawk soaring against the Glacier Wall...friend approaching from the Meadow on the Use Path, and I raised my hand, and asked for quiet..clip in progress!....Hawk stayed too far away though, and is tinytiny...and lost sight when Hawk made the turn over Siberia...for a little while, Half Dome was in background..always a wished for background!...friend saw Hawk too...and reported sighting Owl by Housekeeping...demonstrated Owl's size with hands, and didn't look big enough for Great Horned Owl....Owl was perched on one of those flashing light traffic stanchions....while we were talking, I sighted Big Wings flying across the River from the Grove to Creek's End...picked up and followed...but no luck...went back to the Grove to take pic of leaves...I cant tell if they're Aspens or not!...will look about web in moment...sighted DownyOrHairy Woodpecker high in one Tree...pic and clip...continued along the Meadow to Swinging Bridge...sat awhile at the Boardwalk...skipped lunch, but drank an apple juice..which helped!...as I was hungry...at Two Top Pine Meadow, walked out to the Broken Cottonwood....Raven clip...and a neat clip of a pair of DownyOrHairy Woodpeckers chasing..for sometime...dont know where the time went, but light almost gone from Two Top...made a loop around to the Scorched Forest...pic...heard Pileated Pair thereabout...but couldn't locate....back to the Bike Path...Buck with thin antlers..clip...back along the River to Ozone Beach...Doe at the exact same place as Buck last evening!...and no photogs or tourists!...clip...heard Mallard distant at Creek's End...and went out the Diversion Channel...checked the carcass...undisturbed since morning...at Creek's End, clip of Mallard....and while listening, Kingfisher flew by at eye level...sun gone from Half Dome...was thinking how briefly I saw Kingfisher, but how cool...only a second!...and starting back up the Creek, heard Owl's raspy screech...started back into the Woods, and Owl swooped overhead, and banked back into the Woods....followed, but just way too dark...Owl was like a tenth of a second!....but how cool!!...sunny cool blue...cold tonight...weather to change a bit, they say...brb...gonna check on Aspens in the Valley...

This site calls them Aspens:
http://ca.myphotoscout.com/2009/10/28/fall-in-yosemite-valley/

And this one Cottonwoods:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdanmitchell/

scroll down a bit at this one...

brb...

And here's one of the, everyone calls them Aspens, in the A Meadow...
http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np-image.yose40083.html

The first site's pic is of the gravel shingle where I was standing this morning...the second is where I took clip of Mallard...didn't get to the A Meadow today..but that one is from the Bike Path with Arches in background...

brb...

Well..this site suggest there are no Aspens in the Valley...which would make them all Cottonwoods, I guess!
http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/fall-color.htm

but:

quote

The aspen is the most widely distributed of our North American trees and one of the most delightful. At our latitude it does not descend the mountains much below 4,500 feet, though one stray grove is to be found on the Valley floor (4,000 feet), on the south side of the Merced River near Cathedral Spires.

Trees of Yosemite (1932, 1948) by Mary Curry Tresidder

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/trees_of_yosemite/quaking_aspen.html

and from same:

quote

The Black Cottonwood is one of the trees frequently encountered along the banks of the Merced River and on the edge of the meadows throughout the floor of Yosemite Valley. It is found well into the next zone also, where it finds favorable conditions, but it does not go so high as the aspen.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/trees_of_yosemite/black_cottonwood.html

unquote

and who is Mary Curry Tressider?
brb...
http://www.historic-hotels-lodges.com/california/ahwahnee-hotel/tour/ahwahnee-tressider-suite.html

and it's been a ghostly day!!

Cottonwood Beach

Paddled out after Breakfast...around eleven...back to the Creek...heard Hawk over by Chapel Meadow...but quiet when I got to Chapel Bridge...oh!...Kingfisher flew by going up Creek just before Stepping Stones...waited awhile....but no luck...Hawk quiet too at Chapel Bridge...but Black Phoebe there again...crossed the Bridge and went down to the shore so Sun would be behind..and waitedwaited...but Phoebe went to Blue Jay's Bush...and then away...sighted friend sitting farfar away on Owl Log...pic...dont know but they have seen and heard Owl more than I have!...waited for Phoebe to maybe return, or Hawk's call, or Kingfisher....and Mixed Flock showed up!...Mountain Blue Birds, Juncos, Yellow Rump Warbler...and Fox Sparrow...pic of a living one this time!...Flock went down to the Beach for bathing and sunning...not unlike the tourists!...far away pics...and wished I'd taken the 20x with the video along...with that in mind, after Flock left, went back to the Cabin for the rest of the Gear...and felt better prepared!...hopped on the Bike and peddled back to Chapel Bridge...and around to Swinging Bridge almost...thought I sighted Hawk...but two Ravens...Ravens have fooled me into thinking they were Hawk a lot lately!...Raven pics, but blurry...been taking a lot of blurry pics of late!!...anyway....peddled back the way I came...oh!...went out the Boardwalk to see the Yellowjacket Nest...had hoped to digiscope the Wasps....but the Nest has fallen...pic up....peddled back the way I came...through Bobcat Meadow and to the Post Office...book came I want to post up review of with the Baiji book review...for sometime soon!...parked the Bike...picked up late lunch...egg salad, hershys, crangrape and chips...walked out to the Road and along through the Oaks...some of the orange perforated plastic fencing up around Oaks that have become mostly snags...and that's likely it's purpose...prep for dangerous tree removal...found a seat near the Elm...was eating the sandwich...and the Mixed Flock reappeared...lots of Blue Birds...pic of Yellow Rump, and clip...picked up after they left, and after lunch!... nearing the Deer House heard Hawk somewhere over in the Backyard...hurried from Lower Falls Shuttle stop across the Road through the Deer House Oaks across the Stepping Stones and...at the Dirt Road, a Tiki Temple utility truck was bouncing along...and no more Hawk calls..hmmph...was very close...Hawk almost overhead...continued out to Ozone Beach...time not late enough for Owl prowl...and enough light, so went to the Broken Cottonwood in Two Top Pine Meadow, thinking the Blue Birds might be about....seen them there before in the evening...but when I got there it was quiet...and saw the last light leave Two Top Pine...scenic pics...returned back the way I came to Owl Woods...at Ozone, sighted Buck, along with half a dozen other photogs, who were here and thereabout all day...sometimes feel I'm fighting for a seat on the rollercoaster...hmmph...anyway...with one tourist ahead, and a photog or two behind...paddled through Owl Woods...but quiet...Creek's End seating filled up!...so diverted to the Cattail Pond...and along the Dirt Roads all the way to the Swath, were I stood on the Rip Rap and listened...last pink light leaving Half Dome...and quietquiet...a kind of desultory day...especially when I frightened a friend showing them the Yellowjacket Nest pieces I snagged...'take that away!'...they were busy on phone, so I couldn't explain.... put it all back in my pack, and had to leave!...the Nest is like the thinnest of paper...and whatever was inside, Wasps and whatnot, completely gone...but for a desultory day, there were some charming scenes...the Little Birds at Cottonwood Beach, the fallen Nest, and seeing Buck with the thick antlers again...scenes that are charming as they relate to earlier reports...especially the little Fox Sparrow!...sunny cool blue...

Editing note: I routinely go over a post the night I post, finding spelling errors and such...peddling should be pedaling and pedaled...and of course any grammer teacher would and should shoot me!...but I escaped school, and errors hearabout abound and remain a subconscious teasing....

Backyard Kinglet

Out and about a bit late...paddled over to the Lunch Sit Log, which I miss because it gets dark now at worktime lunch...had with orange juice and danish...brunch!...Ravens about...one perched overhead...clip...saw Mama Doe and Two Fawns on the way...may have been the pair with one Fawn that limps...report they were seen today hereabout....can't tell from clip...picked up and went to the Cabin for Gear...then back to the Creek...wedding in progress over at the Deer House...so diverted a bit...crossed over Creek just below Duck Harbor...stepping stones...and out to Chapel Bridge...tried for clip of Black Phoebe making fluttering forays...looks like Phoebe runs into the Bridge in clip...but more likely caught the bug right there next to the iron girder...see clip!...earlier, Kinglet pic in the Backyard...not sure which Kinglet...sunny cool blue...walked back around to Lower Falls...met up with friend who is source of many reports!...reports Owl was hoo hooing right behind Last Chance last night...took pic and clip of wedding...very unique scene..and learned something about taking wedding pics...set it up so a photog can take pics from behind the minister....good friend takes wedding pics hereabout..will ask them if they ever think to do this!....report of Bear crossing road by El Cap...short walk today...tomorrowtomorrow...

Blog of the Day

http://ohiosyesterdays.blogspot.com/2008/03/bob-hines-wildlife-artist.html

Pileated Pair And Hawk

After Breakfast...cheerios, milk, croissant... paddled about the backyard, coffee in hand...Juncos and Kinglets...just had the 20x and binocs...went out the Dirt Road behind the Rooms to Lower Falls...and heard Pileated Woodpecker out in the Delta...took awhile, but located Pileated drumming high on a Snag...while doing clip, second Pileated came around...spent the next hour going Tree to Tree with Pileated Pair!!...lots of clips in hd, so hard to upload...for sometime...glad to get clips and pics of both male and female Pileated Woodpeckers together!...pics were tough to get, most of the time sun light in background...and Pileateds are so animated, and blur the photos...batteries ran down, and backups were already run down...so back to the Cabin for rest of the Gear....but when I got back, the Delta was quiet...while following Pileated, sighted Acorn Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker...pics and clips...and heard Hawk...wanted to break away to go looksee for Hawk, but stayed....still time...so paddled out to Chapel Bridge, and around the Deer House across the Creek and to Creek's End...stood there awhile, and sighted Hawk high in the Cerulean Blue Sky...didn't do the focus well...but Red Tail Hawk looks to be the same with the missing feathers that I have pics of from Tuolumne, Gaylor Lake, and the Valley...coming back through Owl Woods, pics of Brown Creeper...but blurry too!...sunny cool and blue...report from reporter I forgot to report: "lots of Deer" about two days ago...didn't see any today....dont remember any yesterday either...

Backyard Little Birds

Paddled back to the Creek, quiet, Creek's End too...hopped across...through the Deer House Oaks to Lower Falls and through the Oak Grove to the Post Office...and quiet!...now, yesterday in the Rain, in just the short way to work, I heard and saw more birds than today...with the sky sunny and blue...paddled back from the Post Office through Bobcat Meadow...one of those orange perforated plastic fences up for some reason...all the way from Sentinel Bridge to Chapel Bridge...between the Path and the River...wondered how the Deer will move about...it's the season when they gambol...anyway...went behind the Deer House to the Creek, and just sat awhile...group of Ravens calling and chasing overhead..there are a lot of Ravens..and there's one Blue Jay that likes a leafless twig bush at Cottonwood Beach...if Blue Jay is there tomorrow, will looksee to see what the attraction is...stepped stone across the Creek...time...and at the Backyard, found the Little Birds...otherwise the whole walk was quiet...but scenic...all the Oaks have matched up with the same deep gold, and some snow on top of Half Dome...sunny cool blue...report of Buck out in Two Top Pine Meadow...

A page of interest to moviemovie makers:

http://www.yosemitefilmfestival.com/Submissions/FAQ/tabid/338/Default.aspx

Deer And Mallards

Clips up from yesterday...didn't get out today...cloudy and rainy, some Snow high on the Rims...report of Coyote crossing the Road by the Scorched Forest...counted the Mallards in the clip...twelve!...and I have a clip of Mallards from last year, same time about, Nov. 10....and same place ..Creek's End...link to last year's post: http://treeinthedoorvideo.blogspot.com/2008/11/rainy-day-mallards.html

report too that lots of Birds about, especially the Little Birds...so, I missed that...hmmph...tomorrow...

Ground Squirrel

I often pass the Ground Squirrels on way to Last Chance...and thought to set the 20x on the bench for clip...after Breakfast, Shuttled over to the Post Office...looked for Little Birds in the Indian Village..a few there and invisible...walked back to Lower Falls...Oaks are all gold.....mixed flock on the Apple Tree Path...tried for pics and clips...not much luck...Juncos and Yellow Rumps...happened on Does in view from the Creek Footbridge...clip...they have a routine, I think...they come from Rocky Slope...cross the Creek..make a right, and cross the Road...then to the Deer House...and across the Merced at Chapel Bridge..I've seen Deer do this several times....anyway, I left them milling about the Creek, and myself went to Chapel Bridge!...and out Lodgpole Point...sighted a group of Mallards, both male and female Mallards together, some on far side of Merced...three in the Creek...while taking clips, heard Hawk back at the Deer House..quiet when I got there......time for work, and crossed the Creek behind the Deer House...using stones to step on...and in a kinda hurry...book and mail in paper bag slipped from my hand and into the Creek...fished them out with a long stick...but everything wet...a quiet walkabout, but glad to see more Deer...four Does and one Fawn...and the Ducks...like ten of them...heard Kingfisher at Chapel Bridge...stood out on the Bridge and waitedwaited...if I ever do get a good pic of Kingfisher, from the Bridge will likely be the place....overcast, the sun just a sometime glow in the clouds, cool....report of Hawks by Housekeeping..."was across the Road from Housekeeping, and heard a Blue Jay..went to look, and a Hawk was in the tree...it flew about thirty feet to another tree, and the Blue Jay followed and landed on branch right below the Hawk...then the Hawk flew across to a tree in Housekeeping...and another Hawk flew down to the same tree, but the first Hawk flew off"....a Tree to Tree report, I'd say!!...

Hermit Thrush

Out and about a little after first daylight...back to Creek's End and along the Merced...oh...Mama Doe, Two Fawns, and two young Bucks in the Diversion Channel diverted me to the River!...and at Ozone Beach, early tourists, out for a walk too, diverted me back to Owl Woods, and to Breakfast!...and after Breakfast, went back to sleep...clip of the Deer....quiet otherwise, and cold enough for gloves....which I'll begin taking along...after the nap, and lunch, geared up and went along Rocky Slope...and found the Hermit Thrush at Camp 4...a new bird sighting for me!...continued to Rocky Point...construction thereabout on an Indian Round House...had wondered what was going on there, and now a sign up explains it...(will look about in a minute to see if story on web...it's here in pdf:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/upload/icc106-2.pdf )...crossed the Road at Rocky Point, and thought to check the Aspens...see if Beaver ever came back to chew down more Trees...and was surprised to find fresh Beaver work on an Aspen...looked about for tracks, as work looks like from just a day or so ago, but couldn't find any...tracks from maybe Duck, and Bear, and for sure lots of Deer, and lots of people!.....continued upriver...Kingfisher flew by going downstream...clip but Kingfisher too tiny...walked along the River to Swinging Bridge, and from there to Chapel Bridge...more pics of the Yellowjacket Nest...and clip of Mama Doe and One Fawn in Chapel Meadow....crossed Chapel Bridge..scenic pic at Cottonwood Beach...one back at CAD Beach too...and out Lodgepole Point...by now almost dark...and entirely quiet...walked out the Deer House Road and around Lower Falls back to the Cabin...along the whole walk, I saw and heard few Birds...Blue Jay, Robin, Kingfisher, Flicker, Junco, Raven, Kinglets, and the Hermit Thrush....lots of Squirrels at Camp 4...pics and clips...reason for it being so quiet:...cloudy overcast and cool...and it's November...when 'no birds sing'....

well..I looked about for news of the Miwok Roundhouse construction...sign up says it's "Phase One"...the series of 'phases' is making an Indian Village of sorts...this was in the Old Valley Plan, and I would think the Indian Village, along with everything else, is on hold until 2012....sign says it will be ready for public in September, 2010...which suggests it will be an attraction...well...it will be of course, if for no other than just nosey tourists, (and photogs!)....but it may be just an Indian thing, and off limits somehow...but one wonders here about restroom facilities and pavements...to say nothing of the rockfall hazards of Rocky Point...and disturbance to the Peregrins!!...and more traffic along Rocky Slope!....Bobcat will be perturbed!!...a tale or two will unfold about all this, I'm sure!!!...there's irony in the sign...natural materials the Indians used are being used, it touts..but moved and shaped with backhoes and chainsaws!....what they should maybe do, is put it in the middle of Camp 4.....a fine ruckous that would make!!...the Climbing Tribe already has laid claim thereabout!!