Oriole

Walked over to the Post Office...tripods haven't come yet...feel sort of vulnerable insomuch a critter could show up that requires a tripod to photograph...like the reported four Bears last night ...two of them "tiny cubs" out and "frolicking" by the Cathedrals...Forty Six was by the Chapel while I was taking clip of the Ducks last night...and is nine years old!...out in Cook's by the Merced I got the Oriole pic..a Bullock's Oriole I believe...and then after a walk out to Lodgepole Point...the Point is getting submerged!...I went back of the Deer House and saw Flicker...Flickers are so pretty...and their elusiveness a challenge!...and I got this one sticking it's tongue out..though too grainy to see in the mpeg clip!....tongue is like a Hummingbird's....and Flicker too was after those white worms in the Cedar branches...branch looks like it has an open wound!...sunny...not to warm...little windy...

Half Dome Ducks

Sounds like a Hockey Team..I took the clip at the very end of the day...which started out catching the Bus before sun up in Mariposa...I napped a bit once back in the Valley...then over to the Post Office to see if the tripods came...I've become very convinced that a heavy tripod is the only kind to have!...anyway...walked about a lot...the Merced and Creek rose a lot just over the day I was away...the Great Turf is totally under water...and the Diversion Channel has a "creek" and I couldn't get to the Merced without a wade!....that on the walk out to Creek's End...on the way back from there I crossed the Creek...How?...I walked across the Twin Fallen Trees over to the Deer House...were there were Deer!...hadn't thought to use the fallen trees as a bridge......took the pic of Weee Bridge from there...the Falls are really loud...Dogwoods all blooming...sunny and warm in the sun cool in the shade...report of Mama Bear and Two Cubs at Happy Isles...Deer in small groups or alone here and there...even showed off the Tree in the Door Gallery to friends!....nice day.

Yellow Bird

Oh...I'm not sure what some of these birds are!!...maybe this one is an Oriole...hopefully I can get some better pictures of them...they are always high up in the tree tops!




Took another clip of the Impossible Nest Builders...warm blue and sunny...the Duck yesterday might have been a Cinnamon Duck pair...but I have to get a better picture of them too!...got some little pics of insects flying...these are kinda cool!...Mariposa tomorrow...

Flying Woodpeckers

Was out and about early....when out in Cook's I took some pics of the Woodpeckers at the Woodpecker Tree...and thought to try for in flight pics...insomuch as they were making forays...see clip...I just sat down and tried to track and frame them for a long time...they'd leave awhile but always come back...I'll try to do this again...and maybe with the other birds too...there's tricks to it...soon as I figure them out!....continued on the big loop...and then around to Creek's End...Carp thereabouts...saw a new Duck pair at the Cook's Ponds...got chased off by photog group tour while taking pics of Ducks on a pond....kinda rude!...I'll go out to Cook's tomorrow...the Ducks circle about and maybe I can get them in flight....very warm at work...but outside ideal temp...Tshirt weather....oh...Ponderosa Grove is now Flicker Grove...the same two I think that I got pics and clips of were there again...but true to form and illusive this time!

Apple Tree

Peddled over to the Post Office...and a peddle fell off!...anyway...made the big loop...took a pic of the Apple Tree by the Woodpecker Tree...it's blooming!...photogs out and about all over...old old report of Ring Tail Cat "two day ups..on a ledge...Washington Column"...oh...and this one...everyday the Dragon Passengers are asked if they've seen critters....this time everyone was silent...until one quiet soul raised their hand and said...quietly...'I saw a Mountain Lion at Mirror Lake...'....now...I was incredulous walking by!...but...I dont know!...sunny and blue...these are the postcard holiday days....

Frazzle

Got up early and peddled over to the Post Office...then around Cook's and over to the Creek...saw Deer here and there...the Mallard Duck climbs out on the Great Turf in the clip...parked the bike back at the Cabin and saw more Deer...followed them down to the Creek....and got clip of them going over Weee Bridge...going to call it Deer Crossing!....and then I walked over to the Village to get Laundry Soap....and walked back again to the Cabin...so I was back and forth!....from six to ten...then curled up for a 'brunch' nap...and off to work. Report of maybe Hawk flying...few days ago report of Bear at Cathedral and River Campground....the Ring Tail Cat at Last Chance for Souvenirs was captured...things are getting greener and greener....blue and cool and sunny.

Downy Woodpecker

Went out kinda early for the walk...it rained a little last night and the clouds were clearing...actually... right after a rain a lot of clouds seem to come right out of the walls and ground....it's all pretty dramatic....some new birds...to me!...are showing...the two yesterday..and this Downy Woodpecker today....at the end of the walk a little rain began to Fall...cool...and beautiful too!

It Snowed in Yosemite Creek

Got up early for breakfast..but it was cold and grey...and I went back to the Cabin and curled up to try and pay the sleep debt of the last few days...then over to the Post Office after noon and lunch....walked out to Chapel Bridge and while taking a clip of Duck on the Fallen Tree..a Coot showed up!...I haven't seen one of those since before coming to the Valley...saw them all the time by the Ocean...didn't realize Coot's have such big feet!....dinner at Siberia....showed clips to Friends...then went with them to see Earth Day movies....missed the booths and things...learned they were all last Saturday....Earth Day is somekinda holiday in the making....after the movies...in a car!...going over Wee Bridge.... the frazzle became the subject....The Lady of the Tuolumne said..."Tourists asked where it came from...and I answered...'It snowed in Yosemite Creek....'"....I dont know what the other bird is...looks to have a crest.

Dogwood

Went out on the morning walk and got as far as Siberia...Ground Squirrel up in a Dogwood wrapped around a thin branch...so I reach out to put the tripod legs out...and one of the clamps is broken...hmmph!...thought there was just a pebble rattling around in it...so anyway... picked up and went back to Cabin and online and ordered another one...and the travel one too!...I'd dropped it a few times from the bike handlebars...my bad...after lunch walked out to Ozone beach and around to Creek's End...lots of frazzle...it's cold...and a bit windy...making the critters scarce...then over to Siberia for dinner...and got the Dogwood pic...the trees "spring" out with their leaves and flowers really quick...in contrast to the slow decline in Fall....which I miss...I like the Fall colors....the clip is from the other day...the Whiteheaded Woodpecker in the burnt leaning log....it's long...and likely boring...but it's true to how I watch the critters and how they are...reminds me of classical music somehow...cold blue and sunny...nice day.

Yellow Bird

Walked about early over to the Oak Grove....out to Lodge Pole Point...and to where-the-woodpecker-lives...Woodpecker was home and got good clips to go with yesterday's...saw the Yellow Bird at Last Chance...pic and clip...Flicker at Lower Falls...and Swallows! above the Deer House with Falls as backdrop...one blurry pic...
it was a fine morning.....lots and lots of Blue Jays....cold enough for ice overnight on the Fall's Wall...lots of people....note the well known transportation hub universal sound in the clip!

Woodpecker

Got out for an early peddle about...over to the Post Office...then Cook's and over to Chapel Meadow where....I hear a Woodpecker..parked the bike and looked and looked...oh!!...Woodpecker was inside this log...burnt some from the control burn....and busy making a nesting home...I waited and listened...took a clip...then this White Headed Woodpecker poked its head out...and looked me over...chose to fly off when I had the camera off...of course...but I know where Woodpecker lives now...and the dwelling is close to the ground.... so I may be able to follow the Spring progress of a Woodpecker Family....keep trying to get a good clip of the yellow bird....I've got so many clips and pics now I'm getting confused where things are...cant find those ones I thought I maybe deleted...and maybe I deleted them!...cool...a few clouds...listened to all the birds....Bobcat still about...report yesterday over in Siberia.

Pond Frog

Went over to Lower Falls to see if I could see the Moonbow...I guess it was there...lots of photogs were there...had my headlamp on so thought to peddle about...over to Oak Grove..then out to Cook's...more photogs all along the way!....came to the Pond and saw tiny eyes in the headlamp...wasn't sure until one blinked....and got some flash pics of Frog...it was about the size of my hand...lots of others singing but couldn't see them....took a good clip of a chickadee in the morning walkabout...but deleted it...oh...and my...oh!...they're on the other 12x!...so tomorrow I'll go through those...thought I deleted them!...some clouds...kinda cool but very nice.

Sparrow

I was peddling through Cook's after going to the Post Office...and on the same bush that I took the pic of the Redwing....there was this Sparrow perched in the identical fashion...one foot each on a different twig..."kinda like a gymnast on the rings!"...I told a friend...I thought it a rare way to perch...but I'm thinking now it's a commonplace...Sparrow looks to need some toenail trimming!....went over to Swinging Bridge to find the Cedar mentioned in a book from the library about distinctive trees in the Valley...oh...and the three volume history of the Valley came...that set me back some!....but it's neat...the tree book said Galen Clark's cabin was once by the Cedar...which is supposed to be at Swinging Bridge...found one with the top gone that looked to be it...nice to know though where Clark's cabin was...or at least one of them...like Muir I suspect he moved around...sunny blue warm...Ducks on the Ponds....Finches I think they are...yellow birds that do the morning singing...haven't got a good pic yet...they are about.

Ground Squirrel Atop Cedar

Well, I had in mind to put up clip of flowers in the wind clips from Mariposa...and it would be really neat...but memory problems....walked to the Post Office and peddled back....I park the bike here and there!...this Ground Squirrel right at Lower Falls...saw Coyote and took clip...but forgot tripod connector for camera!...so hand held and not what I would have liked!...really nice day...cool blue and sunny.

Acorn Jay

Back from Mariposa this morning...got some nice clips there of..Mariposa Creek!...but no time tonight to glue them up....and got some nice clips hereabouts of the Deer this evening...but no time!...and a clip too of this Blue Jay!...anyway...nice blue cold day with some control burn smoke...the Merced is full...always nice to watch from the Bus to and fro Mariposa window....the new 12x gets jaggy sometimes when with full magnification of the teleconverter....zooms quieter...haven't compared pic quality yet with the old one...cant save pics to the web the same way...they're too big message says...so cropped this one down...will have to figure out how to get back to that "save for web" resolution as they have been nice to click on in the blog and see bigger pic....long story about the Deer...they were by the Deer House...and I thought they might try to cross the Merced...at the Chapel Bridge...which would have been a sight!...but tourist were about...then they started up to Lodge Pole Point...and I thought.."Oh, they're going to Creek's End...and will maybe cross!"....so I got out ahead of them and sat on the roots of the Ponderosa at the Point...and set up the tripod with legs retracted...and waited...and they showed up one by one..and I got good clips...except they were always eyeing me!...normally they ignore me...but because I think I was so low to ground it spooked them...they did come almost to the Creek...but turned around and trotted back....I located them further up the Creek...then they went back to the Deer House where they looked to settle down...trying to be invisible failed this time!...went to dinner in Siberia..then got a car tour with friends all the way up to Tunnel View..got good clip of Sentinel Falls...can get a better one and will go back for this...it's a rare fall like so many that only show at high water.

Flowers

Walked about out back...Deer on the dirt road...the Creek has risen a lot...got pics and clips....walked out to Creek's End to see....got more clips of the Impossible Nest builders!...this flower pic by the Tiki Temple...it is hot for this time of year!...clear and blue...tomorrow to Mariposa....

Spring Leaves

Peddeled to the Village and back around Cook's...lots of people and hot!...leaves are starting to come out....Doe was in Cook's...ran and "pronged" across the whole meadow...ears up....looking for the herd I guess...and looking forlorn...report of Bobcat "over by the Backpacker camp by the little stream...he walked across a log across the stream then leaped...a really long leap!..onto a rock!"....sometimes the reports are better than the pics and clips!!

The Impossible Nest

The first clip I ever took...few years back now...was with the 3x...I thought I deleted it by accident...and was broken hearted!...it was two Blue Jays hopping about and talking...this clip is more nest building under the "Bus" port roof...they've moved to the inside of the support pole...but not with much better luck!...glad I took the 12x with to work...peddled over to the Post Office and out to Cook's...Duck on the Pond...which now has the water lilly pads....and it's hot again...and lots of people...just like that it's Summertime like...I'll have to find that old clip and post it!

Old Cedar

I was in the Ponderosa Grove (a map with where all these places are is in the works!) trying to get a clip of the Mountain Chicadee singing its little song...my favorite thing to hear when hiking...and I didn't have much time what with doing taxes and negotiating with a rock climber to maybe purchase a car...and I said to myself, "I need a pic for the blog!"...and took this pic of the Cedar....I've been stressed since four am over the car...didn't sleep for thinking on it...I haven't had a running car for four and one half years!...for goodness sake...I have the Bus of course now since the beginning of Winter...I almost had it towed to a garage in Mid Pines but the towtruck driver was a numbscull not seeming to know where I wanted to have it taken...(this has become a Bus post!)...this all on the phone while at work...and I just rattled my head and said, "This is all too confusing!"...and cancelled the tow. So now I have in mind to do all the work on the Bus myself...and have to figure out how to get parts and tools and all that...hence the allure of purchasing another car...that runs and can get up and down the hill! Meanwhile there's always YARTS and what's become the routine ride to the dentist!....which has gotten a little confusing too!...It's been that kinda day....friend said at work, "It's really nice day!"...my glum response..."I wouldn't know...".... being cooped up at work and all....I subscribe to PCT...and they step off about now down there by El Campo I think...well...I'll hear their tales at the picnic tables in Toulumne!...the Cedars...by the way...over on the other side of Wee Bridge....the Creek Delta...are very old and have really interesting shapes...somewhat like this one...which pic doesn't do justice!

Deer at the Deer House

I tried to get a Deer and Daffodil pic...they weren't eating them...just nearby...guess they dont like them!...there was a group of Does by the house.... and a group of Bucks down by the Creek...I took pics of each...maybe I can figure out whose who!...Pidgeons flew to the ground by the Daffodils...but off before I could swing camera around!...pic is from over by the Village on way to Post Office...got the accessories for the second 12x...so all set to walkabout with a camera under each arm!...cool...ice on the Falls Wall...but the old Snowcone is still breaking up...lot of frazzle in the Creek...I'm starting to get a collection of critters with bark background!

Deer House Daffodils

Well...I paddled up to the Bench...but didn't get far...maybe a quarter of the way....got to a place that was like walking on a sloping roof covered with loose dusty dirt and dried live oak leaves...and at the roof edge an invisible five hundred foot drop!... and I thought..."I can probably cross that.."....probably wont do!...and I didn't want to be a tourist conversation piece!...so turned back...but will go up again sometime...but not alone...best to do hikes like this with companions...went to the Post Office earlier...Humming Bird pic and Chickadee...think it's a Chickadee...then at the late start to the Ledge I got the Yellow Bird pics and clip right by Lower Falls paths...when I got back and after pizza in Siberia I paddled out in the fading light past the Deer House...where there was one Deer....and saw the Daffodils...a sentimental touch left over from bygone days...it's too bad...the Deer House sits vacant and going to ruin...went across the Chapel Footbridge and along the Merced..found the Deer in Four Things Meadow...again I couldn't tell if a Fawn settled down with a Doe was One Fawn...and I can't recognize any individuals...they're getting a new fur coat?...and of course new antlers...it was a very cool tableau with the Falls and Merced in background....report of Bobcats at Lower Falls...traded digital pics and stories with the tourists...cold and grey and clouds...almost winter day...but great day to uphike and walkabout.

Dim-veiled Grandeur

(This post belongs over in Tree in the Door...to be corrected later...One Floppy Ear is today's Fauna and Flora post!...interesting though...Fauna and Flora has taken on the look and feel of the old Nature Notes!)

I think I had thought today to work into a post...dont know but it might have been a thoughtless day!...oh...in fact I got so worked up about taxes on the phone that I've thought to make an extra effort not to stress!...it's some age thing!...it was a fine day...and thought some on the Fern Ledge adventure...there's a route up to the base of the Upper Falls on the right...seldom used...and with some exposed parts...so says the little map in the climber's route book I picked up...I tend to over plan these things!...like to go there and maybe tomorrow..though the wade across the Creek seems to have left me a bit chilled and sore throatish!...either that or the sneezing sniffiling passenger in seat in front on Shuttle!...oh!...that was the thought...they sprayed some populated area and wrecked havoc!...brb...

quote

The state agriculture department plans to use airplanes at night this summer to spray a farm pesticide over urban San Francisco, Marin County and the East Bay, intending to eradicate a potentially destructive moth.

State plans Bay Area pesticide spraying
Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer
Friday, February 15, 2008

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/15/MN99V2PMN.DTL

unquote

This is worse than I thought...that story predated the one I read today...brb...

quote

one of hundreds of families in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties that reported health problems last year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture ordered an aerial spray of pesticides containing synthetic insect pheromones and other ingredients in a campaign to eradicate the light brown apple moth.

Health problems reported after aerial spraying
Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer
Monday, April 7, 2008

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/04/07/MNROVUMES.DTL

unquote

Well...not quite what I thought..this spraying story predates the first I quoted...but it's still thought provoking...I've been provoked in self similar fashion when malathion was spayed over my neighborhood. Sometime not much one can do but shake a futile fist at the sky...but it's a "sometime"...

brb...

quote

The light brown apple moth is a native insect of Australia. It has been introduced and now occurs in New Caledonia, the British Isles, Hawaii where it has lived for more than 100 years, Western Australia and New Zealand. In March 2007 the moth was positively identified by DNA in mainland United States in California across hundreds of miles from Los Angeles to Napa north of San Francisco. The highest concentrations found so far are in Santa Cruz County and the City of San Francisco.

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

unquote

And here's the tale...

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

Thinking thoughts increaseth sorrow...

But to Fern Ledge...brb...

quote

The best point from which to observe them is on Fern Ledge. For some time after moonrise the arc has a span of about five hundred feet, and is set upright; one end planted in the boiling spray at the bottom, the other in the edge of the fall, creeping lower, of course, and becoming less upright as the moon rises higher. This grand arc of color, glowing in mild, shapely beauty in so weird and huge a chamber of night shadows, and amid the rush and roar and tumultuous dashing of this thunder-voiced fall, is one of the most impressive and most cheering of all the blessed evangels of the mountains.
A wild scene, but not a safe one, is made by the moon as it appears through the edge of the Yosemite Fall when one is behind it. Once after enjoying the night-song of the waters, and watching the formation of the colored bow as the moon came round the domes and sent her beams into the wild uproar, I ventured out on the narrow bench that extends back of the fall from Fern Ledge and began to admire the dim-veiled grandeur of the view.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/john_muir_writings/the_treasures_of_the_yosemite/

unquote

A journey there at night is a bit beyond...but another wonder story of Muir's!...brb...I've snagged a bit from Yosemite Nature Notes...which is online courtesy of the Yosemite research library...I think..brb...well...the Tenaya bit makes it a must do...sometime.

DavidDavid

One Floppy Ear

I went on a morning walk...and one after lunch...both to the Post Office...one an IRS problem...which I solved with a phone call...whewhh!...and the other to pick up a second new 12x....I thought so much about these two things that I didn't much look for critters!...I sat awhile in the Ponderosa Grove trying out the new camera....later I went down to Creek's End with the new sandals on...and promptly got a pine cone "leaf" in one...these things have a little point on them!...then I rolled up my genes and waded across Creek's End..frazzle was in the water from the Snow Cone...it was cold!...so cold my feet went numb about half way...and it took some doing to cross even though the water only came to my knees...I have some respect now for the Deer crossing the Merced!...sandals got full of sand and I promptly returned to the Cabin and changed back to boots!...I'll have to find a way to hook the sandals to the back of the daypack...it's nice to just walk down to the Creek from the Backyard and cross over....there was a little sunlight left and I went down again to Creek's End again...earlier I had found One Fawn and Three Does at the Ponderosa Grove...got clips and pics better than the others I posted...but I'll save them...as I want to post up the clip of the Sentinel Deer settled down at the edge of Owl Woods...I'm beginning to recognize some of them...the one with floppy ear...Flop Ear...and One Antleer too, I think....this group may be all Bucks...there were eleven all together...if there were Does the little one might be One Fawn...couldn't tell as I kept distance...and finished up the day with the loop to Ozone Beach and back to the Cabin...sunny with some clouds...warm..except the Creek water! Report of two Bobcats at Lower Falls...one tiny...and a far away report of an Egret atop a Redwood tree...this by Coast....people like to relate critter stories! Flop Ear's ear looks floppier in the clip! Oh...and Ring Tail Squirrel was in the Last Chance grocery after hours...eating a snickers! The new 12x will have a flash accessory that works with the telephoto lens...so the illusive night critters I may be able to get pics of...would need lights for clips!

Red Wing Blackbird

Got up early...peddled about...got a good Blue Jay clip by Lower Falls....got off work early again...peddled about again!....got pic and clip of Red Wing in Cook's....went to where I can see all Four Things as Maxfield Parish Clouds were rolling through (I've heard them called 'simpsons' clouds!)...but sunset didn't put on a show...well...no more than usual...it was very nice to be out and about in the evening...and I really like the pic of the Red Wing..note the feet!...sunny...fluff clouds...warm and cool later..wore gloves!

One Fawn at Bus Stop

Peddled over to the Post Office...then saw some tourists with their cameras out by the Bus Stop...if not for that I would have missed One Fawn with some Does...and Mama Doe....the inside of the leg has healed...but the lump on the outside is still there...and One Fawn clearly favors the leg...and was certainly not a part of the bunch that crossed the Merced!....lots of green grass in the meadows now...Deer food all the way to next snowfall...oh...snow could still come this season!...pic and clip of Golden Mantle Squirrel...saw two Buz Birds fly over Owl Woods...think I found a big nest..but it's hard to tell...it could just be where fallen needles and branches have gotten caught...haven't heard Owl...or seen Hawk...am making a collection of Song Sparrow songs...they have quite a repertory....sunny warm and blue...bracks showing on the Dogwoods...flowers on the old fruit trees....White Alders for a long while have had long seed like pods dangling...they were the first to sorta come alive...shrubs are getting green leaves...mountainmisery it's stickers!

Brown Creeper Song

Got the afternoon off from work...went to Siberia for dinner...pizza...Deer were in the A Meadow....then out around Cook's and to Lodge Pole Point...the Ducks flew passed up the Merced...down the Merced..then up the Creek...quack ..... quack quack....Coyote was on the Village Road in the morning walkabout....little cloudy....cool sunny....here's the dee dee deedely dee song!

Courting Northern Flicker

Peddled over to the Post Office...picked up print of The Creek...on the way back after going over to Chapel Footbridge...I keep looking for Hawk!...I caught a glimpse of what I thought was Robin but it was too large..so I used the lens like a telescope..and it was Flicker...in the Ponderosa Grove across from the Lower Falls stop....usually I cant get close to Flicker but this one perched and stayed in sight..and joined up with another Ficker....for courting....very cool to see...and I got good clips and pics...of the Illusive Bird!...sunny blue cool and breezy....report of Bear in pickup truck.

Creek's End Deer

I guess I can type while the clip uploads!...it's long...five minutes...see if I can do this!...after a walk to the Post Office I went through the backyard down to the Creek and took a seat on the rip rap...after awhile...and some disconsolation!...the Deer came out of Cook's right towards me...I got some unbalanced clips...tripod skipping on the rocks...and they crossed the Creek right in front of me...which I thought cool..then I followed them...trying to see if One Fawn was in the group...can't tell!...they meandered down to Creek's End...and crossed the Merced..very cool...makes up for the similar clip I lost getting clip of Sentinel Owl...oh..now I've hit return and have to start over! ...with some patience I think I've got the clip up!...saw a Rabbit right outside the window at Last Chance...need to carry the 3x about!...cool grey day.

Courageous Squirrel