Pigeon

Woke up five to eight....Hiker's Bus leaves for Tuolumne at eight fifteen!....geared up....and Bus was under the Port Roof waiting...but driver explained there were still long delays on the Road because of fire crews working...disappointed, but next weekend, Bus is still running...so..next week!...two weekends lost because of the Road delays!....Shuttle to Siberia was across the Street, so hopped on and went there for Breakfast...caught the Shuttle back...but didn't get far...Buck was browsing in the Road...for a long time!...driver waited patient...see pic!....at Village stop, sighted Pigeon....one I've heard reports about...hopped off...pic and clip...picked up Mail and caught the Shuttle again, and back to Last Chance....walked out to the Creek...had all the gear!...but quiet...so to the Cabin and sleep...afternoon naps and tv....critters have their routines...I have mine....out and about in the early evening...with all gear... could have used second tripod!...was in the Diversion Channel, under the smokey day Cottonwood...looked up...and Owl opened one sleepy eye to looksee who was below...neat pic...for sometime...just one...as I didn't want to disturb Owl...and saw the opportunity, finding Owl so early, to watch Owl go into it's evening 'routine'!....went ahead aways, and circled back, and looked with the binocs...and lost Owl!...oh...I had to go back to the same spot..look up...and there Owl was still!...so I went off at another angle...found a spot to sit...and looked with the binocs again..and lost Owl again!....I often lose sight of birds when the binocs are to my eyes, as they fly off while I'm scanning.......this time I was lucky...bringing the binocs down, I saw Owl swoop low from the Tree, past me to somewhere beyond the Cattail Pond...Owl often doesn't move far... and flys straight...so, I took some time while still on the ground...a little slope under the Black Oaks...and put together the digi...adjusted the 20x and new camera....gathered myself together, and stood up...often a task in itself!...Indian walked out from behind the Trees to where I could see across the Pond clearly...hoping Owl wouldn't be startled...and there was Owl perched between two Ponderosas a good distance away...and by good, I mean both far enough I wouldn't disturb Owl, and the right distance for the digiscope to focus..not too close...not too far...pics not too good...but clips are knockdown!...dont know if Owl caught something...thought it a good time to pick up after Owl left the Perch...paddled about the Woods and along the Merced a bit more...still a lot of light...but couldn't locate CottonwoodOrAspenOrSentinel...OrPonderosa...Ponderosa is the name now for Papa Owl...of course, I cant tell one from another!...except the young Owls will be making the scrreech calls for awhile....sat awhile at Owl log...had been diverted from there earlier by tourist!...and then up to Chapel Bridge...heard Kingfisher again...found a neat spot just downstream from Bridge, by Butterfly Flat... thereabout a log jam with lots of Twigs for little Birds...pic of Phoebe...try again here tomorrow...it's shady!...sunny hot and clear blue...report of Peregrine on a Cathedral's Dome in Cologne, Germany!...talkabout with German rock climber on Bus...shared interest in critter pics...and answered his enquiry about where to find critters!...told him of Falcon...and he one upped with tales of Falcons in all the German cities...seems they have a pigeon problem and the Falcons a welcome control!...report of Bobcat and Mama Bear with Two Cubs in the Little Valley on his way up and down Half Dome....when the light leaves Half Dome, the Bats come out....fly close by too...and will have to get a stronger flash for pics...and have thought maybe just a really strong headlamp might work for clips.....thinking aloud!!
Link to story of German Falcons:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/4c1nyx9ujyeae9pm/
and one to Faclon on Cathedral...but in England!!
http://www.flixya.com/video/889238/2008_Derby_Peregrine_Falcon_(4)_-_Too_Close_for_Co
on youtub more of these...chicks in this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tawTDADXvuM