Xmas Bird Count

I was at Lower Falls, and on my way to join one of the Volunteer Xmas Bird Count Groups at the Visitor Center, but coming over the Footbridge was second group, and I asked if I could tag along, and did!....we crossed the Road and along the Parking Lots.....and right across the Road from Last Chance, the group (eight including me) had stopped, and were all looking and pointing to the Trees...bringing up the rear, I didn't know what was sighted, but when I saw it was Hawk, the Young Red Shoulder, I was very pleased...an auspicious start!....Hawk posed for a long while, then flew off to the Backyard...another Hawk was calling somewhere out in Owl Woods just behind the Rooms...I'm a bit like my dog with rabbits when I hear or see Hawk...and thought to follow...but continued to tag along with the group...we paddled out the Bike Path to Swinging Bridge...Hawk calling all the while across the Merced...sighted Black Cap Chicadees, Golden Crowned Kinglets, DownyAndHairy Woodpeckers, Stellar Jays, Ravens, heard Northern Flicker, and from Swinging Bridge, one of the group thought they may have seen Two or Three Red Tail Hawks gather in a Pine, and then fly off...this far upstream...across the Bridge, we continued along the Path to cars parked at the Boardwalk, and rode out to El Cap Meadow...looked for Peregrine Falcon that likes the Jeffery Pine Snag on El Cap....sighted from out in the Meadow with the scope, but no luck...most of the walk very quiet....had lunch....Two Ravens waiting patiently...heard mention that the Ravens began appearing in the Valley in the Seventies...picked up, and across the Road into the Forest at the base of El Cap. and along the Trail to the Old Oak Flat Road....cloudy and cool...and quiet.....reached a viewpoint of Bridalveil Falls, and began hearing and seeing Little Birds....and Red Tail Hawk sighted soaring in circles overhead....continued on up the Old Road to where there is a large Rock Fall...making a viewsight to look over the whole West Valley...very cool place...and sat awhile...listenedlistened....Western Blue Birds calling high up the slope in the Live Oaks and Pines....the slope here is entirely Snow free...higher than the Valley, but not in the South Wall's shade....and took off two layers!...sighted Red Tail Hawk farfar out over the Valley, flying up Valley...sunlight flashing on feathers while Hawk flew in the shade from Leaning Tower and the Cathedrals...this is a very good place to get pics of Hawk in flight, I'm thinking!...sighted one Blue Bird flying in much the same fashion, and Blue Bird perched atop a Snag, Half Dome for background...very cool...OH!...earlier, Tree Frog, and remains of Bees' Honey Comb...first time to see Honey Comb...thinking Bear's sweat(sweet!) snack...picked up and back to the cars at the Meadow...quiet...rode along to Tunnel View to retrieve more cars, and then a ride back to Chapel Meadow, where I hopped out, and went out the Boardwalk in the last of the Terrific Light, for my usual walk...through the Meadow to Chapel Bridge, and to Lower Falls Stop and through the Oak Grove to the Village...Young Buck in the Grove...only had a croissant and orange juice all day, and got a hot dog, chips and another orange juice...sat awhile with coffee, and reviewed pics and clips...then ordered a large pizza to take to the after count pot luck...this at the Library...very nice company, and food...after eating, everyone reported the species they saw, and numbers of each species...I was the only one in attendance for the group I was with, so got to announce the ones we saw, which was cool...a lot my group saw, was before I joined up...they saw Adult Red Shoulder Hawk, Coop, earlier by Swinging Bridge...the count will be up on the web, and I'll link it when it is....cloudy cool, then sunny blue...a fine day...

Link of the Day:
There are a lot of arguments going on over the e(n)vironment, that have a kind of misdirection to them. Restore Hetch Hetchy folk can seldom lay out what will be in Hetch Hetchy once the water behind the dam is gone. And 'global warming' should be articulated as the planet drying out, which I took note of in post up back on Old GEnie. Everyone wants water, but the problem has been there is 'water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink'.--the oceans are salt water. But here's an innovative desalination effort:
http://www.ecofriendlymag.com/sustainable-transporation-and-alternative-fuel/vancouver-startup-saltworks-working-on-desalination-game-changer/

Desalination is a primary goal, and this I've known since my high school science project!!