Mergansers And Owls

On the way to the Post Office, glimpsed the Mergansers sleeping on a log...this from the Creek Footbridge..the Log is one left from the Jam broken up by high water...took some long distance clips and pics...picked up mail and did some Village errands...and hurried back to check on Owl...Owl was home...and beside the Cottonwood there was a mom with their kid....I pointed up to the Tree...and mom pulled out her binocs!!!...I went to a Knoll and set up...and she came over...'where?'...Owl IS hard to see!!....so I let her look through the camera, and that helped...I just wanted one pic...and took it with out much fanfare ...trusting my first set up was okay...and I was happily surprised to see Young Owl peeking out when I reviewed the pic!!...must have happened for just a moment, as I checked with the binocs to see if the Young Owls were in view...would really like to get pic with both...would really like to set up the new scope on the Knolls..doesn't seem a good idea though...the scope being so large might startle Owl...a Merganser pair flew over Chapel Bridge as I went back...thought they might be the ones I saw earlier, but I thought to check at the Creek Footbridge..and the pair I'd seen earlier were still there snoozing!...I took some pics from the second Bridge, and the Mergansers weren't inclined to move, so I sat on the Bridge and ate my Bear Claw and drank my Orange juice...a tourist pair came along, one with a long lens camera...and I pointed out the Mergansers...and she took one pic from the Bridge...and now this is curious..as I had already taken pics from many angles...and after 'breakfast' I snuck up closer using the Trees for cover...and got the pics above...it's a commonplace for the photogs to take a pic and move on...and the more photo spots visited in as short a time as possible the better...sigh...find one place and just sit, I'd say!!....sunny blue warm....all pics and clips with the new 20x..all I had along with the tripod...clip is a hd converted to mpeg..why it's wide...reviewing the pics and clips isn't the same...as no icon pic of the clips...and the memory cant handled just letting a days shoot play...crashed the hp!!...hmmph...that's one of my favorite things to do...download the pics and clips, and just let the slide show play them...including the clips...have to study out how this could be made possible with the 20x!...after I post up...I surf about the web and often find blogs I like...so maybe start here links to a 'blog of the day'...

Blog of the Day

http://blog.easttennesseewildflowers.com/

Gopher

Owl pics, Bluebird pics, Gopher pics and clips, from yesterday...today the dishevelment almost took over...it took hours last night and this morning to box everything for the new carpet, with many funks contemplating the improbability of accumulating so much stuff!...the carpet laying took about fifteen minutes!...and made me so cheerful to see that the next two hours putting everything back inside...still boxed..a breeze!...still have to unbox...but that's probably a good time to sift and keep this and get rid of that!...anyway...my neighbor was going through the same thing...though they didn't box...and made the Backyard resemble a yard sale!...I miss yard sales...my stuff out front looked like an eviction 'from a foreclosure' I speculated!!...got a nice pic of Friends who helped me, all out front..but had the new camera accidentally set at such a low resolution that only wallet size will look okay...I hope..ordered up some as thank yous...same low exposure problem with the Black Capped Chickadees building a nest inside my neighbors wall...see clip...one thought was they were eating the ants...tomorrow will try to get better pics and clips!....the second from top Owl pic was taken with the new 20x too...and I'm wondering if it's 'noisy'...one problem with the new camera is it takes noisy pics of things like fur..close textured stuff..and I'm wondering if the 20x has same problem...have to take pics with the 12x and the other two and compare!....the new camera took the Bluebird pics..like the one on the little Pine a lot...report of small Blond Bear near Flicker Grove...causing Bear Jam...and looking for termites...some doubt as to the fate of its Mom...I think I have pic and clip of the two out at Mirror Lake path...I find myself conjecturing in talkabouts that using Bangity Bang Sticks to frighten Bear might be on a par with rolled up newspapers and Dogs...and effectual...but with the risk of making meanness...anywayanyway... the carpet is reallyreally nice...sunny blue and its back to warm to hot...noisy Owl looks to be Mama Owl...but wonder if it's Papa!...think of them as the Sentinel Owls...

Dawn Chorus Owls

Well...the official Dawn Chorus Day was May 3....but this morning I got up for what I thought was Dawn Chorus Day...little early in fact...geared up and out at 5 am...first call was part of a Song Sparrow's song..Song Sparrow singing in it's sleep!...it was quiet as I walked with headlamp out to the Falls..which are roaring of course!...spray and the biggest roar at the View Footbridge...continued around the loop..past Muir's Boulder...and at the Shuttle Stop my headlamp picked out the first critter eyes' glowing...some Deer across the Road...flash pic...went over to the Deer House and perched on a Picnic Bench...clip...all the Birds were up and singing...couldn't hear them earlier because of the Falls Roar!...the Two Mallards were in the Little Pond in front of the Benches...and joined in with some quack quacks....when there was just enough light for clips, I paddled over to check on Owl...wanted to get a Hoo Hoo Hoo Hooo Hoo Hoo for the Chorus...and almost did!..when I got past the Cottonwood to the Knolls, I heard Owl calling in the Cottonwood by the River Bank...I set up...just to record the sound...by this, I mean I just pointed the 12x at the Trees...and started clip...just as I did, Owl flew out and away...right past the Two Ponderosas...low to the ground...I panned and followed and have a clip...but so grainy, and wont work to post up....and as Owl flew past the Ponderosa Trunk...I glimpsed a second Owl perched...this was too cool!...Mama and Papa Owl were up and about!!...I sighted in on Owl...and just as the focus took hold, Owl flew down to the ground..right between the Pines where I stood last evening!...see clip!...very cool!...I dont think Owl caught anything...and Owl flew up to another Cottonwood.....I didn't want to stay long...but wanted to get short pic and clip with the 12x of the Young Owls...they've gotten too big to be Baby Owls!!...and sighted in...dim clip and pic...I looked back for Owl but no luck...and with more daylight, I thought to go out to the Road and set up the new scope...same spot as yesterday..but no traffic and wind!!!...some clips..close up ones dark...like the one posted..and that's the only clip with both Young Owls...continued on the Big Loop...very pretty...thought I heard raptor call up on the Glacier Wall...just impossible to locate with all the rock and crannies...had Breakfast at Last Chance...and then went back to the Near Shore view spot to see if Mama Owl was back...more clips...just one Young Owl could be seen...and no Mama...picked up and back to the Cabin...and a nap at 9 am...so I was out for awhile!!....and tired...woke up when repair work being done...and went out again to the Near Shore to check on Owl...still no Mama Owl...just the Young Owls...picked up and went to the Post Office...on the way some Brit Tourists were gazing at the side of the Path...mystified!...Gopher was pushing up dirt and making a mound...I've never been able to get pics of the any of the Underground Menagerie!...'cept clip of Bobcat catching one!...and Gopher must be Tourist Tolerant..as it was undisturbed by all of us stopping to watch...got a clip and some terribly homely pics!!...for sometime!...at the Village, the new 20x came...just in time...lens error messages are happening too often with the 12x...(which with the converter and it's censor is close to a 20x too!!)...not sure if it's just batteries, or grit, or what...the 20x has a nice big fold out screen...but the one piece lens looks very fragile...I set it all up and took some first pics sitting by the Near Shore..looking out for Owl...still not home...picked up and back to the Cabin were I put the pics and clips on the computer...disappointed that the hd video is in mov. mode..and a memory hog...wont play smooth 'cept with Zoom Browser..have to study this out...finished the upload of pics to the blog..and went out with just the tripod, binocs, and new 20x...got a really cool clip of Clouds and Moon...and checked for Owl...took one quick pic from the Knolls..and I dont know which Owl it is!...looks too old for one of the Young Owls..and too Young for Mama Owl!...will study this out...and post up tomorrow!...oh..at Swinging Bridge in the Morning, I got a really nice clip of Deer...and Deer again at Lower Falls at Dusk...Bluebird pics and clips..Warbler pic...Grosbeak pics ad clips...some scenics...a fine day!...cool with clouds...roads were wet in the morning... tomorrow carpet layers come..it's late now..and I'll be up even later boxing the dishevelment!!

Spring Day Owl

After Breakfast, I sat on the bunk and figured out how to attach the 3x to the Bracket with some rubber bands...and it looked to work..stepped outside with it all, and sighted on the Falls...and it does work!...so...problem solved, I geared up and went over to the near bank of the Merced...clip and pics of Owl...Owl was blocking view of the Baby Owls...so paddled over to the Path by the Road...clips and pics of one Baby...actually, I think thereabout I got a clip with a little bit of both...still very hard to see, and very far away..sooo...paddled around and over to the Two Ponderosas...but had to hesitate on the way..four Birders were going along the Merced with binocs...I waited and waited..finally they started back the way they came...and I went ahead...only to startle up the Bluebirds they were looking at!...my bad...but got a pic of Bluebird...kindafuzzy though...I got to the Pines...and they were ahead...and I beckoned them back...which took a bit...my pantomiming isn't too good!...but they finally all gathered under the Pines and I let them look through the scope at the Baby Owls...this was a kinda make up for a selfish moment over at the Road when one passerby guessed I wasn't looking at the Falls, and asked what I was seeing..and I only showed him a pic of Owl on the lcd 3x!....I've become a bit protective of Owl!...but then, I cant resist letting the Tourists have a looksee!...yet another dilemma...I told the four Birders to be quiet, Owl I thought was likely in the Pines overhead, as I couldn't see her at the Cottonwood...they talked anyway, and I was glad to see them go!...and was glad they didn't hear Mama Owl go Hooo hooo hoo hoo hoo hooo overhead just as they left!!...I looked up and searched and spotted her...blurry pic..and clip..for sometime!...and looked back to my camera pouch, and a young couple came around the Pine Trunk...taking a pic of a Pine Cone!...my pantomime skills were put to the test again!...they couldn't speak English!...but my arm flapping and pointing up brought them to see Owl overhead too!...the girl took a pic with her 3x...likely better than mine!...and they were delighted...and even more so when I showed them the Baby Owls through the scope!....a charming moment there under the Pines!....Owl hoo hooing helped my pantomime!...and the eyes wide expression 'ohhh!' is universal!!....they continued on towards CAD Beach...and I...I thought and thought...with Mama Owl just overhead, I thought best to pick up...all the visiting pushed the pic and clip taking to the back..and I hadn't got any of the Two Baby Owls nestled sleeping in the Bowl...I took one last look...and went ahead to Chapel Bridge....once there I looked back at the Pines...and picked out Owl's silhouette...pic and clip..very neat...'good' in fact!!...I made the Big Big Loop out to the Beaver Trees...and back along the Rocky Slope...just at Rocky Point I happened on the wonder of the granite sliver in the Cedar!!...a long afternoon!...and tomorrow up before Dawn for Dawn Chorus Day...will perch on the Deer House picnic benches until light enough to go to the Near Shore...check on Owl!...then Breakfast..then a long nap!...transit for another time....report of Bear in the afternoon by Swinging Bridge...last few days causing Bear Jams...but no luck today...lots and lots of photogs about...thought I heard raptors screech at Rocky Point...but couldn't locate...

Mallards And Redwing

Paddled out to check on Owl from the Near Shore....I'm not going to get real clear sharp pics and clips from here, but with the new scope I can see Owl okay, and I'm far away...quite far away really!...still haven't figured out the bracket problem...so just took a handheld pic...looked for Papa Owl in the Ponderosas with the binocs...no luck...can see those really well from the Near Shore...this is about half way out Lodgpole Point...in fact where the Twigs have been...a fine place to sit with views in those warm Fall evenings!...the Mallards were in the little new pond near the Deer House again...and I made a circuit of Bobcat Meadow...pic and clip of Redwing...and some scenic pics...drizzly rain..clearing up in the evening...report of Midpines pet cat finding a blue egg...maybe Quail?...water has gone down a bit...Glacier Point might open tomorrow...would really like to do the Four Mile...but I'm waiting for the opening...a favorite thing to do is to have lunch at

Glacier between the up and down hike!

Two Rainy Day Owls

Paddled over to the near side of the Merced with the new scope...sighted in on the Cottonwood Bowl...and Owl looked very wet inside it!...thought to do a clip...remembered to bring the Bracket...but forgot the 3x camera!...had to paddle all the way back to the Cabin...retrieve it...and decided to cross Chapel Bridge and set up under the Two Ponderosas...was at the Knolls and saw Owl's silhouette in the Pines...set up...but got a lot of lens error messages...which meant the lens was bumping something...kept adjusting..kept getting messages..and finally just set the 3x on the little platform....I'd been trying to hold it in place with a drawer pull knob!..see yesterdays pics!...this may still work..just have to become adept at it...this first try out in the rain with the new scope was tough!...Owl was behind the pine needles...and after a pic and clip, I turned around to the Cottonwood...sighted in, expecting to see the Babies...and saw Mama Owl!...it was Papa Owl over in the Pines!...took pic and clip of Mama Owl...and have the two...Two Rainy Day Owls...Great Horned Owls mate for life...just learned that from tonight's Sat. Nite Live!...skit with Red Tail Hawk...they mate for life too...Canada Geese do too!...checked for Canada..gone the last two days...flown off, likely North!, I suspect....Mallard Pair right by the Deer House, floating about...clip...pics of Bobcat Meadow...for sometime...clip of the Creek from Creek Footbridge....high water washed apart the log jam Mergansers dived under the other day...drizzly rain...went to the Post Office..and Store to buy rubber bands..have an idea to use them to attach the 3x to the Bracket!...someone...someone should just make a spotting scope eyepiece that IS a digital camera...one could just attach it to the scope...save a lot of trouble!!...at work I was putting up bowls at the Soup Island...and Wolfie showed up there getting some soup...showed her the Owl pics...all's well....Papa Owl roosts in the Pines...Mama in the Cottonwood...the tourists I talked to at the Fen the other day said they had an Owl pair in an Oak near their home for eight years!!....thanks for visit, ahLen!

Deer And New Digiscope

Didn't go far on the walk!...just a few steps out the Cabin door...wanted to try out the new scope...and had to experiment a lot to get a solution of how to mount the camera...and I only got the one pic of the tree branches before the camera battery quit!...but it shows promise...I resolved a bug on the tall Oak, though the branch looks like an Alder...not sure what I pointed at!!..but it was aways away!...while I was about all this a small Deer herd came gamboling out from behind the Cabin and the Backyard...wish I could have got that clip!...but I anticipated they would troop across the parking lot in single file...and did get that clip with the 12x!...a couple stragglers stood awhile by the red car...and I happened to notice the 3x lcd screen was picking one up...and focused..and..well..it was Deer's tail..end...it's raining a lot...on the news 'Pohono Bridge flood warning'....crest at 12 feet...I'm not sure what that means...the Merced will be 12 feet deep?!...have to get up early to looksee!!...I'm snug and warm in the Cabin..Owls too in the Cottonwood Bowl...but I'm a little concerned for Wolfie in Camp 4!...she came by at work and told of seeing some movement in the Owls' Bowl...her friend that was along, talked too much, Wolfie said....report of one of the Creek Bears by the Cabin while I was at work..not sure which one..'playing with a bag of garbage'....report of Merganser flying under Creek Bridge...report yesterday of Blue Grouse up on Snow Creek Trail...that report with sound!... mostly sprinkles since last night until tonight when the steady drizzle came...snow up high...May 5, Teusday, is Dawn Chorus Day(think I have that right)...will make another transit that day too!