Lady Bug

Shuttled over to the Post Office....walked back and thought to take pics of little flowers and such...Manual setting is different on the new 20x and I couldn't sort out exposures...only took a few pics and clips...a short walk!!...I have figured out how to review pics and clips in the provided Zoom browser...but I like Windows' browser...but still cant get the hd clips to play at normal speed...another thing to study out!....sunny hot and blue...I'll take the 12x with along tomorrow...there's another new 12x that's come out...it looks very nice and compact...found the mini scope...safely packed away in the camel back's second pouch!!...the Cedar Tree dropped seeds in the Cabin's Rain Gutters..they're growing really well...get some pics tomorrow....would really like to cultivate a couple...have to go look up Cedar Banzais!!

Gizmo of the Day

http://10ein.blogspot.com/2007/07/il-vous-suffit-de-poser-ngligemment-le.html

http://www.behance.net/Gallery/PhotonSynthesis/121180

now...it they can just make one the size of a Pine Tree....

Acorn Woodpecker Tree

Dogwood pic from yesterday...only clip today is the Acorn Woodpecker....lots of Tourists about...watercolor class in session by Chapel Bridge...checked for Owl...have to wait for my days off...in the evenings when I can listen for Owl...maybe figure out where they went!...report of Bears along North Side Drive...which is open now...no more north side quiet!...report of Bear up at Upper Falls Trail too...sunny warm...with some broken overcast clouds....

Four Mile Day

After Breakfast, geared up and paddled up the Four Mile Trail...which is 4.7 miles or so!.. up and down, and just getting to the Trail Head, the whole distance was like a Ten Mile Day...and I'm tired!...there's plenty of scenery to see...maybe the best trail for scenics...but not many critters...some little bird pics and clips...Lizards...Squirrels...Golden Mantles...but pics too blurry...did see one Deer track...had hoped for Blue Grouse...took the tripod and scopes just for that...think I may have lost the mini scope...pack zipper worked open..it was a lot of extra weight taking the tripod and scopes...but I've learned to 'be prepared'!!...last few switch backs, I was really plodding...but perked up after a late lunch at Glacier Point...and the evening hike down, while tiring too, was very enjoyable...that's how most folk do the trail...take the Bus up and hike down...didn't see anyone coming down..until I crossed Swinging Bridge, and my hiking friend was sitting near the Path by the River...and some Deer nearby in Two Top Pine Meadow..nice to be able to talkabout a Day with a friend!...the top pic...the Fir and Rock...I saw that scenic the first time up the Trail, 2003, and was taken with it...have pics from every hike of the Fir...keep meaning to get one in Winter with snow...best do that next snow fall, as the Fir now is almost taller than the Rock!!....Trail has one Snow Tongue, past the gate, that's a little hazardous...for a hiker aways behind it was a little too hazardous!...they dropped their pack, and in reaching for it took a tumble..but not far...though the far below put a scare in them and he was looking to hitch a ride back down from Glacier Point!!...this they related to me at the Point...view of Bobcat Meadow pics are from the Perch at the Twenty Fifth Switch Back...Thirty Third if coming down...there's Fifty Eight!....the Perch has 'exposure'...climber parlance for 'far below'!!..so be careful going out for a looksee...Two Top pics from the same local...several places along the Trail with this view...the Perch view is unique!...looked for Agaziz Rock, which is supposed to be at Union Point...view there is bothered by a Pine...but I cant see where the Rock is, if it's still there...Nuthatch was at the very end of the hike up...Providence's award!!...Snow Plant too at the top of the little stairs!!

Bluebird Post

Oh...I had everything ready to upload...but before, updated to the new web browser...and it wouldn't work..kept just getting the little 'beep' on everymouse click everywhere on the browser page...went into the delete programs menu...and saw an allow programs menu...and scrolled down to the browser...allowed it...and now it works...this all on the desktop...gonna keep the old one on the lap top!!...broke one of my coin save jars and been picking out the coins from the glass...did that while doing the video upload...oh!...that's another irritation!...I cannot find a program that opens and plays smoothly the hd video...these are .mov files....I can render them into avi in Premier...see clip above......mov to avi to mpeg...and I cant review pics and clips together...I'm having to open the clips one at a time...instead of the slide show with clips...hmmmph...pennies in broken glass...paddled over to check on Owl...but no luck...all Three off somewhere...was trying to take clips of Bluebird right at the foot of Chapel Bridge...ran out of batteries once...and twice had clip of the same Bluebird pose on branch...the one with the Cottonwood leaves...interrupted...second time I uttered my fiercest expletive...'geeez loueeezzz!!"...a clip for sometime!....never could finish the zoom in...met another photog with a red ring lens while looking for Owl...and they too said they had pics of Bear to email...this a reciprocal for my telling them where to take Acorn Woodpecker pics...(Woodpecker Tree, of course!)....on the way back over the Bridge, I saw a Bluebird fly into the Post Hole....one of the railing posts...I knew of this woodpecker hole from my hiking friend, who has a pic of Woodpecker at the Post...(and too, pics of Little Blond Bear from other day I must acquire!)...anyway...I set the 20x to macro..and poked the lens in the hole...and Bluebird flew out the other hole!...there's two..one on each side...Bluebird was very annoyed, and went to a nearby branch and perched..waiting for me to leave..I obliged, but not before setting the camera to video...from a distance, I watched..took some pics with the new camera...and finally she flew back in the Post...clip!!!!....I got another one on the other side..a better one as it shows the Bridge..and zooms in...but I'm worn out working with those .mov clips!!....this was the midday walk...I went to the Post Office and back...picked up another bracket that came..a kinda rail affair...and it...well...it just wont work with the new scope...good thing I've got things to work with the Barska bracket...back at the Cabin I had lunch..and a much needed nap...I woke up with the light fading, and paddled out to see..and listen for Owl...no luck...but a nice walk in Chapel Meadow..Deer clip..and Violet Green attempted clip!...they were darting in the twilight with Half Dome as backdrop....went to Last Chance for dinner...oh..on way back had nice talkabout with friend about Bear sighting at Day Use...and of the fate of the Little Blond Bear's mom...anyway..sigh..there was still light after dinner and I went down to Creek's End to listen..and the Bats were darting about...very neat..as this first time for their pics...albeit blurry in the dark!....the high water is moving things around..the Twin Fallen Cedars have separated...one was atop the other before...and Owl Log...see Bat pic...is pushed up against the Alders...hopefully another sitable log will float up on the Shingle...they keep running the same films at the Ranger evening shows...but the talkabouts before are cool...reports of Critters...someone saw a snake swimmng...'scary but cool'....

Owl Overhead

After Breakfast, paddled over Chapel Bridge to check on Owl...and no one about in the Meadow...no Owls either on the Cottonwood!...a bit concerned, I went over to the Two Ponderosas...checked all the branches with the binocs...finallyfinally on the far side of one, glimpsed Owl about halfway up...four minute clip!...and pics...forgot to download the ones with the new camera...mostly just Owl's back from where I was...and taking them the reason for the long clip...I set the new 2ox to record while I worked around the other side of the Pine...Owl seemed unconcerned...and I think I could have stood there a long time looking up!!...couldn't locate the Young Owls..thought maybe they too were in the Ponderosas...did find feathers on the ground...which I learned later from the Park Orinthologist...who was with a group looking through binocs at the Cottonwood from the Path...were the feathers of Bandtail Pigeon...thought that..and hoped as much!..I found a bunch the other day in the Village too...picked up from under the Pines and walked towards the Cottonwood...looking all over..and then I went out in the Meadow aways...and finallyfinally spotted one Young Owl!...pic and clip...I looked and looked for the second...but it wasn't until I had given up a bit, and looked through the new scope...oh!...I forgot to tell why the new scope was on the tripod!...while I was looking at the Cottonwood, Mama Owl had moved to another branch, and I could see her silhouetted...so set up the didgi...but just as I was ready, she flew to the other side of the Pine...then I dropped the whole caboodle...bracket slipped off..but no harm done...but I just kind of left off everything...work time coming...and no time to re gather my composure!!...but on the Path I had the scope on the tripod..and studied the Tree...and finallyfinally found the second Young Owl...took pics of both...above...up the Path was the group with the binocs...and I went over, set up, and offered looks through the scope...and had a fine talkabout about Owls with the Park Orinthologist!!..I'm not sure how she knew the Owls were there...forgot to ask...but she knew where all the others are in the Valley!...and I was glad to hear there are more...sunny hot and blue...just a slight breeze..report of Big Blond Bear walking across Swinging Bridge..and the tourists making way...once across, Bear took a swim in the Merced...a few days ago, report of the Little Blond Bear in Flicker Grove...I reported that...but tonight, the photog, Sandy, who awhile back I showed where Owl was on condition of an email of the pics, has her website up..and a pic of the Little Blond Bear sleeping up in a Pine...which is knockdown...and coincidentally a bit like Owl pic above!...

Today's Web Site

link:http://www.sandyfollett.com/

at the site.. Little Blond Bear is in the Wildlife set...

Blog of the Day

http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/ornithologist-film.htm

I'll put this one on the mast too!!

Cottonwood Owls

There was a wedding in progress just downstream from the Cottonwood...so I went to the Road view spot...and could see one Fledgling...wait...first I saw the Fledgling from the Path...pics and clips with the minididgi...then I went to the Road!...wanted to find the second Fledgling!...and from there I thought I saw the Two next to one another...but really too far away for the minididgi!...but I took some pics and clips..and then went back to the Path...and took some more clips...of just one Fledgling, I thought...but reviewing these clips tonight, I see I had all Three Owls in view...but with leaves and distance..very hard to see!...I waited and waited for the Wedding to end...and most everyone finally came back to the Path...except the Bride and Groom and the photog!...and they were right near the Cottonwood...I thought and thought...and paddled out to the Knolls..trying not to disturb them..and the Owls!!...and when I looked up I was delighted to see all three..Mama Owl with the Two Young Owls..perched in a row....the wedding pair and photog were going out further into the Meadow...and talking loud!...so I went over and counsled them that the Meadow was wet...and I was photographing the Owls...and offered my congratulations too!...they went a little bit further away...and I went a little bit nearer the Cottonwood....and was doing a minididgi clip...and another photog walked by...and set up out in the Meadow and was taking pics of the Chapel...then he starts calling out his congratulations!...so I showed him the Owls too...and asked again for quiet on the set!!!...the close up clip of Mama Owl is knockdown...some things one cannot 'pre visualize'!!!!...the clip of the Fledgling with the siren on the sound was taken from the Path earlier...the other photog got some good pics...and was well acquainted with the Valley, I learned...which explains his self assuredness in walking out to the photo spot in the Meadow!...I bumped up against work time again..got what clips and pics I could...one would have liked to get the one with all three 'smiling for the camera'!....did take a pan clip which is charming...pan up and zoom in to the Owls..and zoom back out and down and around past the Chapel...and the photog...and the couple embracing..and the wedding photog...and back past them again...180 up to the Falls...and zoom in...and in hd!...I dont know what to do with the clips and pics that show the general area...if Owl wants to make the Cottonwood home for a long time...like years!...best not to make too much to do about it!!...but the Magnificent Perch IS in a Magnificent setting!!...dont know but tomorrow I'll go down to the River with my paints...and just sit...an excuse to observe the Owls!!...sunny warm blue...with the breeze in the Cottonwood leaves!!!!

Blog of the Day (the moonbow craze is afoot!)

http://michaelfryephotography.blogspot.com/2009/05/lunar-rainbows.html

Fledgelings

I crossed Chapel Bridge and went all the way out to the Road view spot to check on Owl...sighted in with the minidigi and binocs...and the Cottonwood Bowl was empty!...with some consternation, I paddled back...and had to wait for an opening when no tourists were about the Beach...which is very small at the moment as the water is very high!...finally, got window of opportunity!..and, with the minididgi ready on the tripod, paddled out to one of the Knolls...looked up at the Cottonwood with the binocs...and the Bowl was still empty!...and it looked very empty after all the days of seeing Owl there!!...downhearted, I checked the Two Ponderosas for Owl...but no luck..then checked the Cottonwood again...and I glimpsed one of the Young Owls hidden by the leaves on a limb near the Bowl...veryvery cool...a Fledgling....I sighted in and got some hurried clips...and the pic above...and got so bold to go out into the Meadow aways for a favorite framed shot...one I'd taken in the snow and rain before...the ground is hard already from the warm days..and while doing handheld clips and pics with the new 20x, I spotted the second Young Owl...perched on another limb above the first..and even more hidden...this was just wonderful to see!...the Young Owls have both fledged...I was trying hard not to attract attention...photogs all over!...and hurried....a family showed up...playing flute and guitar..and sitting at the Beach..thought to ask them to do a soundtrack for the clips!...but thought better...too much ruckus maybe for the Young Owls...dont know where Mama Owl was...'out hunting' a friend at work speculated..'babies to feed'..and that's likely the case...I picked up...and tried to get some more pics from the Path..but couldn't see them...went back to the Knoll to check...and they were still on the limbs...took one last handheld clip in hd...a pan in and out....for sometime..when the Owls are off...and likely home again in Owl Woods!...I'd read that Owls when they've fledged just go to a nearby branch and sit awhile...how long I'm not sure...I've been concerned they'd fly down to the ground and not be able to fly back up...that could still happen...and still a concern!...what with ruckus makers about!...hopefully, it wont be long before the Young Owls can fly strong...and where ever they please in the Incomparable Valley!!!...sunny warm and blue.....well...ten to twelve weeks to flying...first saw Owl at the Cottonwood 'hollow'...that's the word I was looking for!!...about eight or nine weeks ago...well..up tomorrow early to see if the Young Owls are out and about!!

link:http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/owls/grethorn.html

Blog of the Day (veryvery cool)

http://coronadetucson.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-world-owlets.html