BOB

 

Here's my friend, Bob Hollingsworth, sitting in the sand at Tennessee Valley Beach, in, what in German is called "Türkensitz" (Turkish seat) position. Bob is framed in a perfect prop. It really is a heavy frame, used for holding signs. It is even spring-loaded, to allow it to sway in the wind, without falling. A Park Ranger told us that the frame has been sitting there since the Cosco Bussan oil spill last November. Probably borrowed by one government agency from another. And I assume that it was used to hold a sign warning the public away from the contaminated beach. Good citizen that I am, I called the Crissy Field Cafe today and reported our discovery!

 

All of which is less important than the fact that here was another great photo-op!

 

Gopher Snake

 

After a lengthy and, at times, heated discussion with my spiritual advisor, we decided upon this Gopher Snake, in favor of the picture of a mosquito, which I may send out tomorrow. I photographed the snake yesterday on the Tennessee Valley Trail. The harmless Gopher Snake shares the mottled camouflage of the Rattlesnake and, taking advantage of this similarity, mimics the rattler: hissing, broadening its jaw to make its head more triangular and shaking its tail among the leaves like a rattle. While I am faithfully quoting from my brand-new John Muir Laws SIERRA NEVADA guide book, I can't help but wonder how the heck the Gopher Snake learnt to mimic?

 

Note the snake's forked tongue. Checking another source, I found that a snake sticks out its tongue to collect data for its Jacobson's Organ, an organ strategically located in front of the roof of the snake's mouth that functions as a chemical receptor. Each and every time the snake flicks out its forked tongue, it snares chemical particles in the air, which latch onto, or dissolve in, the moisture of the snake's tongue. Once the snake reels in its tongue, it inserts the tips of the forked tongue into the two awaiting openings of the Jacobson's organ where the particles, especially those of animal body odors, are identified, analyzed, and acted upon.

 

After all that, what I really wanted to say is that the snake was beautiful!

 

EYEYEYEYEYE

 

The beauty of my Daily E-mail is that I'm the BOSS and can do whatever I please! I wonder what you think of today's picture? The eye of a beautiful woman, plus a little Photoshop, and a Thumbprint multiple output. Change is the spice of life. And Obama's battlecry.

 

Bovine Bakery Exhibit

 

A very important exhibit of photographs, by none other than the famous moi, is opening today at the Bovine Bakery in Point Reyes Station. The bakery is located at 11315 State Route 1. Don't miss this golden opportunity to see great photography while munching on one of the world's most delicious scones. Note the rack with coffee mugs. This is provided for the convenience of longtime patrons. The mug in the upper left corner belongs to the featured artist himself.

 

I urge you, in all humility, to hurry to Point Reyes to see the exhibit before the crowds become unmanageable!

 

Rabbit

 

Most of the year you don't see rabbits at the Ponds. Suddenly they're all over the place. They must be multiplying like rabbits! ( forgive me for that one). They are Black-tailed Jackrabbits, usually hopping rather than walking, as evidenced by my picture. According to the guidebook, every 5th leap is higher to check for predators! They can run up to 35 mph. Now you see them, now you don't!  I love the way the sun shines through their long ears!

 

Mourning Dove

 

I have Mourning Doves on my verandah, but I had to go to the Ponds to get Mount Tamalpais for a backdrop! This on a beautiful walk this morning.

 

Black-crowned Night -Heron

 

Well, this may not be the greatest photograph I have ever taken, but Black-crowned Night-Herons are not that easy to shoot. Not that they are particularly skittish, but here in Marin County they are not as common as some of the other water-fowl, and they tend to keep their distance. Anyhow, here she/he is! Note the strange reflection of her/his legs in the very shallow water. This morning in the Corte Madera Creek.

 

Blackbirds chasing Crow

 

Here's a couple of male Red-winged Blackbirds chasing a Crow. I assume they were protecting their nests. The Blackbirds are absolutely fearless and oblivious of size!. Earlier I saw one of them chasing a Red-tailed Hawk! All this excitement took place this morning at the Ponds.

 

Chain at Ponds

 

The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Ponds do not only provide wildlife-picture opportunities, but lots of other interesting subjects as well.

 

Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve

 

Here's another one from the Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve. The solo tree had to be photographed and the white clouds just added a certain je ne sais quoi to the scene. Which I did enhans a tad!

 

The Olympics

 

The Olympics are coming, the Olympics are coming! This young athlete is getting himself in shape by doing 200 pushups. He wants to increase his muscle-mass by 46%, hoping to place in the weightlifting events. Normally our macho guy does his pushups to intimidate other males and to notify girl-lizards of his amorous intentions. The interview and photo-shoot took place yesterday morning at the Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve.

 

Sandy and Margie

Here's Sandy and Margie yesterday, finishing our weekly hike at the College of Marin. And I do confess that I added a just leeeetle bit of drama by bringing up the color and contrast of the picture.

 

My Kitchen Window

I am fascinated by what I see from my kitchen window. Storms, rainbows, birds, deer, squirrels, and now the gorgeous Lupin. The thought occurs that, perhaps I should take all my pictures from my easy-chair, never leaving the window. I could have my meals delivered and sleep in my chair. Perhaps all the roaming around hasn't been healthy for me. Eventually I could publish a book entitled "The Kitchen Window Adventurer". What do you think?

 

As for the Lupin, 2008 seems to be a banner year. It's appearing in spots where it hasn't been for ages. Where does it live in off years?

 

California Quail

 

The bird-population around the Ponds changes year round. Recently quite a few California Quail have moved in. I love watching these birds. There is something comical about them, the way they prefer to run rather than fly! When they do fly it is usually not very high. They scurry around in groups, hiding under bushes when someone approaches. But I'm probably not telling you anything new!

 

I find it hard to believe that anyone would hunt these beautiful creatures. Another reason to love Dick Cheney!

 

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Here's the recipe ~ Look up to the sky on a very blustery morning at the Ponds. Pick a suitable passel of clouds, disperse well and shoot. Rush home and carefully download into computer. Stir well and pour slowly into Photoshop. Heat to bring out succulent color and contrast. Now cut away unsavory parts. Examine while still hot. Then pick choicest morsel, arrange tastefully and serve on an E-mail platter.

 

Recommended wine ~ Château Lafite-Rothchild 2000. This wine is predominately (about 93 percent) Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remainder Merlot.

 

Crane Fly

Sometimes I don't have to go very far to find a willing model. This Crane Fly sat on the wall, right outside my door. "Mosquito Hawk" is a misnomer, since Crane Flies do not eat mosquitoes! What they do eat is plant nectar. Isn't this insect delicate and beautiful! 

 

And by the way, I used this opportunity to test my newly acquired set of close-up filters.

 

REFLECTION

 

I'd love to brag about this one. However, following in the steps of Honest Abe, I must confess that this photograph was just a fluke! Taking advantage of my camera's rapid-fire capability, I took several shots of the Egret as it took off! It happened this morning at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Ponds (which I lovingly refer to as the Sewage Ponds).

 

Not a Portrait

 

This is not a portrait. Do not file under PORTRAIT. File instead under ARTSY-FARTSY, ASIAN.

 

Great Egret

 

When I see an Egret take wing, I automatically raise my camera to my eye and begin shooting. It's a knee-jerk reaction. I do this, in spite of the fact that I am not the greatest Egret photographer in the world (which Philip Green is). I took this picture on Wednesday at the Corte Madera Marsh.

 

Two Couples

Two couples enjoying a beautiful day in Sausalito.

 

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I took this picture from the Sausalito waterfront this morning. The Bay Bridge is in the background.

 

Artsy-Fartsy

In an effort to keep my Artsy-Fartsy fans happy, here's one I took this morning.

 

 

Downtown San Francisco on Thursday morning #4

 

Does anyone have a clue as to what the sticker is all about?

 

This is the last of the S. F. series.

 

Downtown S.F. #3.

Downtown San Francisco on Thursday morning #3

 

Downtown S.F. #2

Downtown San Francisco on Thursday morning #2

 

Downtown S.F. #1

 

Downtown San Francisco on a Thursday morning (#1)

 

The Buckeye

I have received literally hundreds (well, at least two or three) inquiries regarding an update on the Buckeye Tree. Here it is ~

 

The Buckeye Chronicle

A few weeks ago, Bob H. helped me (he did most of the work) transplant the tree to my backyard (not really mine) and place a wire-mesh enclosure around it. I must mention here that Bob lugged a large shovel, plus the fencing, over to my house on his bicycle, all the way over the Corte Madera Grade from Mill Valley! What a guy! A couple of days later I discovered to my horror that my deer friends (see Monday's lovely picture) had eaten all the leaves through the fencing, leaving only the stems. Nevertheless I emptied a bucket of water on the site and strengthened the fence. Lo and behold, a few days later new leaves were popping out at the top. Since then things have been going uphill, as the attached picture proves. Unfortunately it is not a great shot but you will appreciate the difficulties involved.

 

One more thing ~ when asked what I will do when the Buckeye has turned into a large tree, I said that I will sit on one of its branches and ponder. About next trying my luck with a Ponderosa Pine. If you don't think that's hilarious I'd like to drop you off my mailing list.

 

Beauty

 

I'll let you pick a title of your choosing for this one.

 

A Visitor

 

A visitor, right in my own backyard! Not very shy. I love the sun shining through his ears! That was yesterday, when I went to check on my buckeye tree.