Creek Delta Merganser

Shuttled over to the Post Office...walked back through the Oak Grove...Ground Squirrel piping..clip...I was kinda sleepy, and at the upstream Creek Footbridge (Rocking Log) I just sat down on one of the
Bridge Posts in the sunlight....Creek's always pretty...after a bit, I thought I heard Merganser quacking...their quack is a little coarser than Mallards'...but couldn't locate...until Merganser surfaced right below me...clips and pics...I followed up the Creek...finally lost Merganser in the Upper Creek Delta...I walked about a bit, then sat in the sun...sleepy!...found some long legged flying bugs mating...pics...and Caterpillars...one on my hand!...didn't know what was tickling me...little green thing...clips...for sometime..and a blog devoted just to the Bugs!..as some of the pics and clips are very cool, but I often leave them out..being 'just' Bugs!...Flickers came by..and were startled off by two tourists...thought I had a spot to myself!...the Delta is still kinda wild...and difficult to walk across with the water high...(it's gone down a lot!)....I sat here..then there...and caught a glimpse of Merganser, a good long way from the Bridge...clips and pics...I'd post up all of them..the ones with Merganser swimming are always cool...but too long to post...if not for Merganser, the Bugs would have been the 'broadpost'...sunny warm blue light breeze and a few puffy clouds...report of two Bears playing at Happy Isles...same time frame as when I was there yesterday...hmmph..I think Blue Jay is feeding her babies in the Umbrella Nest...try for pic tomorrow...

Flowers And Insects

First thing I do, last few days, is go back and check the Fig Tree...the Figs are beginning to ripen, and they'll attract Birds....did that this morning, but no luck, and then went to Breakfast, but before I sat down, realized I'd forgotten the binocs on the Cement Block...so back I went..which was okay...had my croissant, orange juice, and coffee sitting by the Creek at the Swath....Merganser came by flying furiously Upcreek...otherwise very quiet...picked up, and looked for Merganser by the Creek Footbridges, but no luck...and continued out to Bobcat Meadow...and caught the Shuttle at Sentinel Stop...hopped off at Happy Isles...Pony Path isn't too crowded, and walked out that way...took the Bee pics and clips, and some Lizard pics and clips...sat awhile by the Boulder...the Ouzel nest is gone...likely fallen off that Boulder...pics and clip of flying insect catching Black Birds...for sometime...Brewer's, I think...back at the Snack Stand, got lunch..hotdog cookie gator aid...and sat awhile by the Fen...thought to go up to Sierra Point...but...just too much gear with!...walked through the Fen, and made a left turn to explore the Use Trail there that goes along the Scree under Glacier Point...lots of growth skirting the Fen...Trail ran into avalanche knocked down Aspens...took the Reed pic thereabout...found a pile of trash, and wish I'd brought a plastic trash bag...next time...I kinda was hoping for an overview of the Fen...would like to just perch and watch thereabout some evening...I might be able to do that keeping further up slope amongst the Trees...anyway...a quiet excursion...back to Happy Isles again, and took the Trail on the West side of the Merced to Clark Bridge...Bee pic amongst the Lupine just before the Campground...took the Shuttle back to the Village...picked up dinner...egg salad sandwich, chips, and another orange juice, and went to the Long Fallen Ponderosa at the Artist's Grove, and gazed out over the greengreen Meadow contemplating if I'd see anything today!...picked up and went to Creek's End, and looped back over Chapel Bridge...out through the Meadow to Swinging Bridge...had in mind the Violet Green Swallows all day, and thought to find them in the evening by the Broken Cottonwood in Two Top Pine Meadow...and they were there...approaching the Cottonwood I frightened Mama Merganser with her Merganserlings...they were hidden in the grasses, and in the little stream where stones are layed for crossing...what a racket!...she was really upset..and with the little ones hurrying to catch up, she swam out into the Slough....glad to see the Mergansers...there were two Mallards with their Ducklings too...pics and clips...one port hole clip of the young Mallards all on a log very cool...for sometime...set up the digi and took lots of Violet Green Swallow pics and clips...they roost there in the Aspens...I was surrounded by them swooping and diving...Sentinel for a backdrop...very cool...just one clip posted up...others for sometime...picked up, and went back the way I came all the way to Chapel Bridge...clip of Moth...third one in three years!...dont see them often...last clip a Deer by the Merced near the Bridge..a young Buck...it was a long afternoon walkabout...and very quiet...sunny warm with a few rain shower clouds that didn't shower!...

Phoebe And Owl

After a late afternoon nap...(it was rainy out)...I paddled out to Bobcat Meadow...and while going by the Deer House, I heard Blue Jays sounding the alarm...Owl was right there by the Deer House up in the Oaks...tried for pics and clips...but Owl was behind a branch, and before I could angle around, flew off back towards the Creek...I thought to follow, but Black Phoebes were atop the Air Shed...so, set up the digiscope... and Phoebe pics and clips...these scope pics the closest I have of Phoebes at the Shed, where I often see them this time of year...there's a Nest under one corner, but I didn't check it for Babies...picked up, and went out to Lodgepole Point to look for Owl...at the Point, and across Creek's End, I heard one Blue Jay scolding, and thanks to that, found Owl...pic and clip...(and this time Owl is on a Ponderosa Branch!)...watched Owl for a good long while...very cool to be at Creek's End...and thought how Owl was right above where I was standing when I heard Owl hoo hooing in the distance towards Chapel Bridge, and waded the Creek to go looksee...this back in Feb.... and how I found Owl in the Cottonwood....oh...a lot I've seen at Creek's End, though there are many times when it is quiet, and most would think that is how it always is!....picked up, and went back and crossed the Bridge...thought maybe to find the Fledglings on the far side of the Merced...when I was opposite from Creek's End, I could still hear Blue Jay, and sighted Owl again...posed on a lower branch, but was too slow with the digi.. did see Owl through the binocs fly across Creek's End, and up along the Point...Owl was taking me Tree to Tree!....on the Path again by the Deer House, I saw Owl go to a tall Ponderosa, near the Muir Redwood...dim pic of scene with Falls....tried to set up again, and Owl went to an Oak...from the Path thereabout, I could hear Robins raising the alarm...dim clip of Owl silhouetted...Owl flew off again, back way I came to the several branched giant Ponderosa near the Bridge...I followed...and then Owl flew across the Merced..and lost to sight in the fading light and dark Trees....oh...I forgot to post up the Half Dome pic from Lodgpole Point...in fact, there's a lot of 'imagination pic' to go with this...Imagination pics and clips are ones often blurry...underexposed...but still valuable as they tell a lot!....the aftenoon Clouds came in again with rain, and one rolling Thunder clap...I made a mid aftenoon paddle to, and shuttle back, to and from the Post Office!...it's so crowded mid day, so I just had lunch, and curled up...more reports of Bear...usually around campgrounds and cars parked...best to walkabout in the early morning and late evening...collided with the Canon walkers, all peering through their borrowed cameras and lenses with puzzlement, on the Boardwalk by the Oak Branch Arching Over Half Dome...Wed. I'd like to join them and try one of those red ring lenses!!

Violet Green Swallows And Owl

Paddled out to Creek's End...then along the Merced...Aspen toppeled over at Ozone Beach...shore erosion....on the Path near Swinging Bridge, I was intent on sighting a Blue Bird, and heard approaching bicycle wheels...so tried to hurry...then a voice...'Did you get it fixed yet!' 'Geezzzz lueezz!, You scared the bird!'...it was the previous owner of the Bus....and this conversation has gone on for awhile.....'I found some parts, I'll bring them by...'....'It's going to take more than a few parts!'....so it goes...I went on out to Two Top Pine Meadow at the Rocks near the Broken Cottonwood...and just sat awhile....the Violet Greens were flying by and flying by..and I waitedwaited...and they perched!...three times!...and twice I caught them flying off and onto the branches...pics of Song Sparrow, Redwing, and Female Redwing too...the Broken Cottonwood is far enough, and by itself enough, in the Meadow, to be a kinda magnet for the little birds...oh...at the Path, the Lovely Rockclimber peddled by on their bike too...with their giant bouldering pad...and said sweetly, as always, 'hi david'....and then ring ring with the little handlebar bell to warn the meandering tourists...sunny warm blue with a fine breeze...Owl is sitting on a Cottonwood branch..miss labled Ponderosa...clip is from the Monday group...and still more of those for sometime!...Hikers' Bus begins going to Tuolumne next week...where I'll begin going too on my days off!!

Blue Jay On Nest

Paddled over to the Post Office...no mail!...shuttled back to the Cabin...forgot the tripod attachment for the camera bases...and scope...retrieved them and went out to Creek's End...quiet and a June Gloomy kinda day...sat awhile at Creek's End...listened to and watched Downy Woodpecker...too low light for pic......and while sitting on the shore sand heard one hoo hoo from Owl...I just cant ever find Owl there at Creek's End...leastwise with only one hoo hoo to go on!....few day old report of California Tortoise Backs (butterflies) blooming at the Merced Grove...saw this myself out the Bus' front window when I went to Merced...oh...did get clip of Chickadee by Creek Footbridge...lots of tourists for a rainy cloudy day...and rescue going on at Half Dome late evening...dont know details...Blue Jay is still on her nest...
Web site of the Day (all about Grinnell)
http://mvz.berkeley.edu/Grinnell/index.html

Merganser On Owl Log

Paddled over to the Post Office...shuttled back to Lower Falls...and hopped off to walk out into Bobcat Meadow...Half Dome shrouded in the rain clouds...neat pics and clip..forgot to post up!...for sometime...crossed over Chapel Bridge and out along the Merced...opposite Creek's End took some more scenics of the Falls...and surprised to notice Merganser on Owl Log..had the mini scope along and set it up...pics and clips...very difficult light...white Log blocks out...there was a good pic there with tangle of old branches and dark and light...but I couldn't figure out how to get it!...I need a 3x with a manual mode so I can do the f stop and focus...picked up, and back at the Cabin realized I'd forgotten my Camel Back...tried to run back to get it...but it was a slow..and intermittent jog!...I run sometimes to catch the Shuttle...and even occasionally break into a trot coming down a trail...that mostly just to break the tedium...but I really haven't gone out and run for a long time...I used to run all the time playing basketball and baseball...and riding my bike to0 up and down the hills from Rainbow to Temecula...the long up hikes I do...but it's like I'm using my lungs in a different fashion than when I run...I huff and puff for hours hiking...but running is more intense and shorter time wise...anywayanyway...I'll have to get some running shoes....feels good to run... made it to work on time...cloudy cool with some sprinkles towards the walkrun's end!...the Canon people are going to be back in a week or so...they set up a booth by the Visitor Center...and loan out cameras and lenses for their guided walks...recommended!!...the Museum is doing the Obata show again... it's good....but I'd hoped for something new...and not about climbers!!...dont know where the Owls are again...check Owl Woods tomorrow...

Owl And Blue Jays

Pic and clip from Monday....today, paddled over to the Post Office...sunny blue breezy....retrieved the Bike and peddled over to Chapel Bridge...walked out in the Meadow for a bit...quiet....but very pretty...weather report warns of storm coming in the early morning...at work, took pic of the PossibleImpossible Nest...Blue Jay is sitting on her eggs in one of the umbrellas...tourists stand on chairs for looksee and pics...thought to get pic myself..and clip..but didn't need chair...clip went okay, but I thought I had turned off the flash..but didn't...and flash lit up Blue Jay with pic...Blue Jay stayed stoicly quiet...twice..as I made the same error a second time!...did finally get natural light pic...for sometime...report of Mama Bear with two very small Cubs over in Siberia...took some more Flower pics...and another Mushroom...oh..and a clip of some odd swimming things in the Lily Pad Pond...haven't downloaded yet...