Xmas Hawk

Had a little time after late Breakfast, and paddled out to Owl Woods...friend was out ahead walking too, and I thought to divert, but heard Hawk, Cedar, calling, scree, scree, scree, scree, somewhere over by the Cattails...friend saw me, and started talking, and I started shushing..'Quiet!'...to no avail, and I kinda gave up.... somehow my protestations for quiet on the set are always met with amused derision!.... we talked awhile walking through the Woods, but then I heard Hawk call again behind us...paddled back, and sighted Cedar against the Magnificent Blue Sky...we'd walked right under the Ponderosa yakityyacking....circled about for pics...friend went ahead, busy with cell phone...all I had with was the new camera...took me awhile to notice that the Falls were in the background....backed up aways to get some scenics....very cool to see Cedar....sunny blueblue cool...warm almost...report of spilled bag of popcorn at the Train Wreck...'Ravens covered the whole courtyard'...and report of Coyote out in Bobcat Meadow yesterday....found new track in Owl Woods....tiny feet in straight line walk like Bobcat or Coyote....need to find 'critter tracks in snow' guide....and a Critter Tracks post up for sometime!....Oh...tried to get pic of Cedar taking off from perch, but looked down at the camera, looked back...and lookedlooked, but Cedar gone...still had time...caught up, and showed pics to friend, who was curious to know why this Red Shoulder doesn't look like the Red Shoulder I showed them the other day...explained the difference in colors between juvenile and adult..."I'll have to look up next time!" they said...just enough time left for looksee at Two Top Pine Meadow...paddled out the Diversion Channel and along the Path...quiet...and back to the Cabin...

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Paddled over to Lower Falls, and out Rocky Slope...Little Birds about...impossible as usual...Kinglet pic and shortshort clip...found fresh Bobcat track in Camp 4...headed back the way I came..but Snow is in patches, and lost track...crossed the Road to the Scorched Forest...found Coyote Track, but not fresh....checked Two Top Pine Meadow at...Two Top Pine!...but quiet...time...and back to the Cabin...Chickaree and Grey Squirrel in the Backyard...lots of Grey Squirrels in Camp 4....and quite a few campers...even some Rock Climbers on the Rocky Slope Wall....sunny blueblue and cool....thought maybe to find Bobcat...seeing track encouraging...try again tomorrow!!..and with more time!

And, the Ring Tail Cat can be seen here:

http://pennyotwellpaintings.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-at-ahwahnee-hotel-in-yosemite.html

Have a Merry Xmas tomorrow!!

Sun Trees, Snow Trees, and Chickaree

Paddled out and made the Big Loop counterclockwise...Two Top Pine Meadow, Swinging Bridge, Chapel Meadow, Chapel Bridge, around Bobcat Meadow, back through the Oak Grove to Lower Falls...and just quietquiet the whole way...Ravens, Kinglets, a DownyOrHairyWoodpecker...and at the Falls Delta, heard Chickaree...went off the Path into the Trees for pic and clip...earlier I'd Shuttled back and forth to the Post Office...from thereabout, I saw the Sun Trees right at the top of the Glacier Wall...pic.... Snow Trees pic from yesterday....sunny blueblue, cool...while scanning the Trees, had to remind my feet not to slip on the Ice!!

Solstice Hawk

Paddled out to Two Top Pine Meadow...sat awhile at the Broken Cottonwood...quiet...but very scenic!...light Snowfall overnight, and still snowing off and on during morning and early afternoon...picked up and crossed over Swinging Bridge, making the Big Loop counterclockwise...sat awhile at CAD Beach....Downy Woodpecker, Kinglet...pics...crossed Chapel Bridge, and just after the Lily Pad Boardwalk Bridge, sighted Hawk, Coop, near the Merced perched in Cottonwoods....far away pics with new camera....tried to set up digi, but took too long, and Coop flew over to the Artist Grove, from there up the Road, from there back to the Grove, and from there, calling, all the way across Bobcat Meadow to somewhere by the Elm...I tagged along!....along side the Road past the Elm, looked back and saw Coop perched high in one of the Young Elms...a couple new camera pics...and one digi pic....and Coop flew from there across the Road towards the Baseball Field...tagged along, and went up the Apple Tree Path, where my way was blocked by Antlered Buck with two Does...sat awhile waiting on the Split Rail Fence, but Buck wasn't inclined to move!....picked up and went back to Bobcat Meadow...Clouds had cleared, and Snow Banners on Half Dome...pic and clip...Young Buck out in the Meadow near Flicker Grove...pic...paddled over to the Post Office, and had lunch, hot dog, chips, crangrape...while seated at Picnic Table, talking with friend, watched Robin catch a worm...clip...been wondering where Robins have been...picked up, lots of Light left, and paddled back out Bobcat Meadow...met photog friend, Edie, by the Oak Branch Arcing Over Half Dome..posed for pic...paddled out to the Chapel...stopping now and then for scenics...forgot to post up one of Snow Tree I like....all the Snow Trees along the Rims worthy of pics!....lots of Snow Banners too...Sky, Magnificent Blue, but no Hawk...checked the Boardwalk Cottonwoods in the last of the Terrific Light...Wind picked up...and face a bit numb when I talked!...paddled back the way we came, and I left off as Edie was still taking pics over Bobcat Meadow of Half Dome...returned to the Cabin...still light..but too bushed!...snowy cloudy to sunny blue and cold wind!...a fine day!...back to work tomorrow...clip from yesterday....Coop is in the lower right corner of top pic...

Cedar Hawk

After Breakfast, thought to check across the Road for Hawk...no luck...and paddled out to Owl Woods....but just on the Bike Path, I heard Hawk's call back where I just was....sighted Hawk in the same stand of Trees as yesterday....thought of name for Hawk--Cedar....and this time I could follow!...Cedar changed Trees three times, then flew off over across the Road over the Train Wreck...handheld pics and clips with the 20x, all I had with....started back to the Cabin, and heard Cedar's call again...turned around, and Cedar was perched again higher up in the Trees....clip up....photogs and tourists turned out to looksee....clip and pic....too many folk about, so turned about again to go to the Cabin, and while walking along the Sidewalk, Cedar swooped low over head from behind and out to the Backyard in front...some more pics and clips!!....I was on the Bike Path sighting Cedar on a Snag, and Cedar took off and flew to Tree right beside the Path...very cool....Cedar flew once more back towards the Rooms, and I lost track....back at the Cabin, gathered all the gear, and out to the Backyard to look about....heard Cedar, but couldn't locate....thought to paddle over to the Post Office...looped through Bobcat Meadow....digi clip of Acorn Woodpecker on the Woodpecker Tree....sprinkles beginning to Fall...Oh!..wait...that was later...I'd started out to Two Top Pine Meadow...was going the long way to the Post Office!..but got as far as Two Top Pine Meadow, and realized I forgot the binocs, so went back to retrieve them...that's when I heard Cedar...anyway...picked up mail...and lunch..tuna, apple juice, reeses....beginning to Rain, and somewhat tired out, I hopped on the Shuttle, with a nap back at the Cabin in mind....but along the Oak Grove, sighted Antlered Buck chasing Doe...hopped off at Lower Falls, and went back along the Grove, and across the Road to the Elm...thereabout took lots of clips of Buck courting Doe...expected some gamboling, but Buck in the runabout I'd seen from Shuttle, must have hurt one back foot, and was favoring it, but still courting!...clips need editing...for sometime...eventually, Mama Doe and Two Fawns, and another Doe, joined Buck...and returning back across the Road in the Grove, sighted Thick Antlered Buck with Doe, and Four Point Buck...happy to see Deer about...first time so many in awhile...returned to the Cabin and dropped off gear, except for the 20x, and started over to Last Chance for snack and coffee....kept to the right (left!), in case Cedar might be about again...and nearing the Tree Stand, sighted Big Wings flying low!....some more clips and pics!...veryvery cool...Cedar flew from the Room's Roof to the Ponderosas behind...I went around and got clips and pics, and Cedar flew off toward Ozone Beach and the Merced...started to turn around, and glimpsed Cedar flying back overhead, over the Roof, back to the other side!...some kinda record day for Tree to Tree!....but couldn't locate Cedar this last time....after snack, soup and salad, paddled out to Owl Woods, and along the Diversion Channel to Creek's End in the fading light....some wintery scenic pics...and Mallards at Creek's End out in the Merced...two males, three females...and Ouzel on the same small Branch as yesterday...cloudy sometimes sprinkles sometimes rain...ate lunch late watchting Bones' rerun on TV.....I watched waited and took clips of the Deer a long time...hard to convey the scene in brief venue..often the case with the close observation!

Xmas Bird Count

I was at Lower Falls, and on my way to join one of the Volunteer Xmas Bird Count Groups at the Visitor Center, but coming over the Footbridge was second group, and I asked if I could tag along, and did!....we crossed the Road and along the Parking Lots.....and right across the Road from Last Chance, the group (eight including me) had stopped, and were all looking and pointing to the Trees...bringing up the rear, I didn't know what was sighted, but when I saw it was Hawk, the Young Red Shoulder, I was very pleased...an auspicious start!....Hawk posed for a long while, then flew off to the Backyard...another Hawk was calling somewhere out in Owl Woods just behind the Rooms...I'm a bit like my dog with rabbits when I hear or see Hawk...and thought to follow...but continued to tag along with the group...we paddled out the Bike Path to Swinging Bridge...Hawk calling all the while across the Merced...sighted Black Cap Chicadees, Golden Crowned Kinglets, DownyAndHairy Woodpeckers, Stellar Jays, Ravens, heard Northern Flicker, and from Swinging Bridge, one of the group thought they may have seen Two or Three Red Tail Hawks gather in a Pine, and then fly off...this far upstream...across the Bridge, we continued along the Path to cars parked at the Boardwalk, and rode out to El Cap Meadow...looked for Peregrine Falcon that likes the Jeffery Pine Snag on El Cap....sighted from out in the Meadow with the scope, but no luck...most of the walk very quiet....had lunch....Two Ravens waiting patiently...heard mention that the Ravens began appearing in the Valley in the Seventies...picked up, and across the Road into the Forest at the base of El Cap. and along the Trail to the Old Oak Flat Road....cloudy and cool...and quiet.....reached a viewpoint of Bridalveil Falls, and began hearing and seeing Little Birds....and Red Tail Hawk sighted soaring in circles overhead....continued on up the Old Road to where there is a large Rock Fall...making a viewsight to look over the whole West Valley...very cool place...and sat awhile...listenedlistened....Western Blue Birds calling high up the slope in the Live Oaks and Pines....the slope here is entirely Snow free...higher than the Valley, but not in the South Wall's shade....and took off two layers!...sighted Red Tail Hawk farfar out over the Valley, flying up Valley...sunlight flashing on feathers while Hawk flew in the shade from Leaning Tower and the Cathedrals...this is a very good place to get pics of Hawk in flight, I'm thinking!...sighted one Blue Bird flying in much the same fashion, and Blue Bird perched atop a Snag, Half Dome for background...very cool...OH!...earlier, Tree Frog, and remains of Bees' Honey Comb...first time to see Honey Comb...thinking Bear's sweat(sweet!) snack...picked up and back to the cars at the Meadow...quiet...rode along to Tunnel View to retrieve more cars, and then a ride back to Chapel Meadow, where I hopped out, and went out the Boardwalk in the last of the Terrific Light, for my usual walk...through the Meadow to Chapel Bridge, and to Lower Falls Stop and through the Oak Grove to the Village...Young Buck in the Grove...only had a croissant and orange juice all day, and got a hot dog, chips and another orange juice...sat awhile with coffee, and reviewed pics and clips...then ordered a large pizza to take to the after count pot luck...this at the Library...very nice company, and food...after eating, everyone reported the species they saw, and numbers of each species...I was the only one in attendance for the group I was with, so got to announce the ones we saw, which was cool...a lot my group saw, was before I joined up...they saw Adult Red Shoulder Hawk, Coop, earlier by Swinging Bridge...the count will be up on the web, and I'll link it when it is....cloudy cool, then sunny blue...a fine day...

Link of the Day:
There are a lot of arguments going on over the e(n)vironment, that have a kind of misdirection to them. Restore Hetch Hetchy folk can seldom lay out what will be in Hetch Hetchy once the water behind the dam is gone. And 'global warming' should be articulated as the planet drying out, which I took note of in post up back on Old GEnie. Everyone wants water, but the problem has been there is 'water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink'.--the oceans are salt water. But here's an innovative desalination effort:
http://www.ecofriendlymag.com/sustainable-transporation-and-alternative-fuel/vancouver-startup-saltworks-working-on-desalination-game-changer/

Desalination is a primary goal, and this I've known since my high school science project!!

Coop

On the way to the Post Office, thought to loop through Bobcat Meadow....on the Boardwalk past the Artist's Grove, I thought to check the Two Snags...and Hawk was on the left Snag...Coop!...Coop perched a long while, and I got a long clip, and pics...then Coop flew over to Oak by the Road...pics and clips...then to a nearby Pine...no luck..then across the Road to the Clubhouse...and there I lost sight...picked up mail, and returned the way I came to Chapel Bridge...just over the Bridge, sighted Hawk, Young Red Shoulder, swoop low to a perch in the Pines beside the Path, but tourist ahead startled Hawk...did get long distance pic...watched Hawk fly over the Road...and then from another perch, Hawk flew right over the Chapel...lost sight, but when I got to the Road, Hawk flew again to perch on a low snag on a Pine just across and near the Road...got a good pic with new camera, but Hawk's head obscured by branches...Hawk took off before I could get a better angle, and came across the Road, and to a perch on the same, or close to same, Cedar snag of the other day...tried to sight digi, but too slow, and Hawk flew again like the other days to the Cottonwood Tree Line by the Merced...tried to follow, but lost sight....on reaching the Boardwalk, head Hawk calling near the same location as yesterday, downriver just a bit from the Bend...went out the Boardwalk and along the River...but Hawk quiet...and across the River, I sighted my Owl finding friend out for walk....clip of joke told for sometime...not sure what to do with clips of my friends in them!....left off conversation across the River when I heard Hawk calling behind...no luck, and trying to locate Hawk took me to Swinging Bridge...from there out to the Broken Cottonwood in Two Top Pine Meadow..took a seat...chocolate croissant and orange juice...heard Blue Birds...hoped they'd come nearer, but no luck...picked up and went back the way I came, just a few minutes of Terrific Light left...paddled out the Boardwalk from the Path, and at CAD Beach went out across Chapel Meadow on the Use Path...near the Two Ponderosas, Hawk flew to a Cottonwood and perched...farfar away, tried to sight, but lost sight!...continued past the Deer House, and to Lower Falls...to the Cabin and out to Creek's End again in last light...Ouzel out in the Merced...pic...looped through the Diversion Channel...just a couple new Deer Tracks...can tell they're new as Deer step in my bootprints from yesterday....the Use Paths are for the most part originally Deer Paths...the Deer stay to them even when the Paths are almost disappeared under Snow...hazy broken cloudy sometime sunshine cool....