Rush Creek Revisited

A couple of days ago I sent out a picture of Rush Creek. While I was showered by accolades, my very-long-time San Francisco friend Jennifer, never one to mince words, wrote "that was a so-so picture". And, bless (?) her heart, she sent me her altered version  of same (attached hereto). I like it better than mine. Jennie has shown considerable talent acting as an arbiter elegantarium (look it up in your Funk and Google) of my photographs and then editing and re-creating them. While she is self-appointed, I wonder if I should I offer her a job? Do I smell a burgeoning cottage-industry?

 

Reflection

Here's another one of my reflection pictures which some of you love, and others love to hate. As for me, I am pure as the driven snow, innocently recording what I see. It all took place at Rush Creek, yesterday.

 

Rush Creek

Bob T and I braved gale-force winds to walk along Rush Creek this morning. Proving once again that photographers are a hardy bunch!

 

Unhappy Mushroom

While I was sound asleep last night, my artist friend, Elli, in Vienna, taking advantage of a 9 hour time difference, was hard at work on my mushroom. Isn't modern technology amazing!!

 

Happy Mushroom

You probably think of me as someone whose stories are often fabrications. But, not unlike the boy who always cried wolf, this time my story is true. I did not fiddle with the mushroom. It really had a smiley face. The eyes and the mouth had dropped from the trees above. Honest! Truly! 'pon my word!

 

I saw this man and his parrot in San Anselmo yesterday, and they were more than willing to pose for me.

 

Polly Wants a Cracker

I saw this man and his parrot in San Anselmo yesterday, and they were more than willing to pose for me.

Mount Diablo

The East Bay's Mount Diablo, as I saw it from the Ponds yesterday morning. Standing 3,864ft (1,178m), it is the highest mountain in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our own Mount Tamalpais is 2,574ft (784m).

 

Waiting for Brunch

If there's one thing I cannot tolerate it's people telling me why their pictures are not perfect. It's even worse when they start explaining why they are not.

 

That having been said, let me tell you about my picture. I took it this morning at the Ponds. How often do you see a Great Blue Heron, a Great Egret and a couple of, what I think were, Snowy Egrets, all waiting for their brunch to be served by the current of the stream? But I had problems. The sunlight was blinding and the birds refused to move closer together. I couldn't change my position because a) I didn't want to fall into the drink, and b) because I would have had to shoot through some weeds and branches. So there you have it!

 

The birds' wait was not in vain. They caught plenty of whatever it was they caught.

 

Brown Pelican

Here's a Brown Pelican we saw at the Tennessee Valley Beach yesterday. A little unusual, since 99% of the Pelicans I see in Marin County are white. On the other side of the GG Bridge, in San Francisco however, I see mostly brown birds.

 

The Surf is Up

This morning at Tennessee Valley Beach with Eva L. Beautiful surf.

 

Tell me what it is, and I'll feed it.

 

I found it on the street. My guess is - a holder for beverages.

 

Picture

Yes, it's a picture! One that I have been wanting to take for a long time. It's looking East from the Bon Air Bridge crossing the Corte Madera Creek. It's on Margie, Sandy, Bob T and my Thursday morning walk, from the College of Marin Track, along the creek on one side and back on the other. Trouble is that you have to cross the street to take the picture. Today I finally did it!

 

Swan

I counted fifteen Mute Swans at the Ellis Creek Ponds in Petaluma this morning. For the second time I ran into Bob Dyer, the most knowledgeable docent around. I asked him why the swan in my picture was fluffing his wings. Bob told me that the swans are very territorial, and this one was asserting himself and showing off. Bob believes there are two swan families at the ponds and they are always in competition. Bob also said that the Mute Swans are not welcome because they are quite aggressive toward other birds.

 

Despite their name, the Mute Swans are far from mute!

 

Outdoor Art

Arturo Ragno was born in Rome, but, early on, moved to Florence to study art at the internationally renowned Scuola Lorenzo de' Medici. Upon completion of his studies, the artist picked Point Reyes to practice what he had learnt. This morning I chose one of his masterpieces, exhibited through December 31st on the Bear Valley Trail, for my Daily E-mail.

 

For those with a curious mind ~ the artist's surname, Ragno, means 'spider' in Italian.

 

New Career?

I wonder whether, in this time of specialization, I could make a living as an elbow photographer? Attached is an example of my work. The elbow belongs to a lovely lady whose name I cannot divulge, because of  the right of privacy. As far as the face is concerned ~  resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Though I will admit that Max Schmeling comes to mind.

 

Is this a possible career for me?

 

Fatma

No more spiders for a while!

 

As you know, portrait photography is one of my passions. Gorgeous Fatma (yes, Fatma - not Fatima) was helping her friend, Tsadae Neway, at her Inesscents Aromatic Botanicals booth at the Green Festival in San Francisco today, and she graciously allowed me to take her picture. Fatma is from Kenya, but unlike our President, she was born there. And yes, I will E-mail her the picture.

 

Spider in the Morning

My sincere apologies to those among you who are afraid of spiders, even if they are merely on a photograph. But how could I have resisted taking a picture of this gorgeous specimen at the Ponds this morning? Pea-soup fog covered everything with shiny pearls. Once again, my Audubon guide failed me, and you'll have to live without an identifying label. But then, what's in a name? If you must, you can call him/her TIGER, for the yellow and black striped legs. 

 

Ellis Creek

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area there's a new treat in store for you. The Ellis Creek Trail System, in Petaluma, was opened to the public last July. There are four beautiful ponds, all part of the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility. Bird life is already abundant, and more birds are arriving. There are many, very helpful kiosks along the trail, describing the history as well as flora and fauna. Note that Ellis Creek is accessible from Shollenberger Park, which I discovered recently. You owe it to yourself to visit this area. Google will tell you more.

 

And by the way, Bob H and I had the good fortune of running into, and speaking with the number one docent, Bob Dyer.

 

Who'd a thunk?

Yesterday, in Margie's own speak ~

 

"On the Bear Valley Trail one can sometimes see deer, ospreys, rabbits, crows, quail, robins, turkey vultures, and more, but yesterday Hans spotted a new species of wildlife!  It's as yet unidentified."

 

And here's my entry.

 

Magical Mystery Tour

Sometimes, when we venture onto the Bear Valley Trail in the early morning, it's as though we were entering a virtual fairyland. Any moment now, a wizard will step out of the woods and take us on a magical mystery-tour.

 

Should you get nostalgic for the Beatles version, click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euMCu5IRRHM

though any similarity is purely coincidental. But but who wouldn't want to hear the foursome again!

 

Kids will be Kids

The parents were getting a little testy, waiting for the kids to quit romping about, and join them on their walk.

 

Fence

Fence at McGinnis Park in San Rafael.

 

Almost Oops!

Almost Oops! When Bob H and I wandered around the Shollenberger Ponds the other day, we got all excited about this accidental barbed-wire artwork, and took numerous pix. Once safely stored on my computer, I forgot all about this treasure. Until this morning, when  I un-oopsed it, and here it is, for you to admire.

 

Reflection

This morning at the Ponds.

 

Sign in the Petaluma River

This sign sits in the Petaluma River, along Shollenberger Park. And if you have a fertile imagination, you could write a short story about how the sign got there.

 

What is it?

On our walk around the ponds at Shollenberger Park yesterday, Bob H and I came upon some strange shapes on a metal railing. Had they been on a rock, I would have said 'lichen'; but on metal? Be that as it may, beauty is in the eye of the beholder(s), in this case Bob and I. And perhaps you!

 

Black-necked Stilts

Four Black-necked Stilts at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma this morning. I don't know why they like to stand on one leg.

 

Art

Forget for a moment that you are looking at the picture of a spider-web. Look at it instead as a work of art, created by a spider, and then embellished by the morning dew. Alright, you may now say "wow"!

 

Holy Smoke!

Extremely rare and valuable picture of Canada Geese attacking unsuspecting cows under cover of early morning ground fog. It all took place today, at McGinnis Park in San Rafael. No Photoshop, no kidding!

 

Sunday in the Park

Sunday in the park.