Here's one that I really like! Spied on Veterans Place in San Anselmo.

 

Memorial Day

Two members of the House of Steel at the Memorial Day services, Avenue of the Flags, Marin Civic Center.

 

Family Outing

You already met most of the members of these two families a few days ago. They were walking across the trail, heading for the Ponds, with little Jimmy being stubborn. Well, here they are again, this time in the water, in strict formation. I've lost track of Jimmy, but this time he's toeing the line (inappropriate description?). I just love the little teenagers!

 

Elbert

The Ponds were awfully quiet today. Everybody has migrated out. Only Mallards and Canada Geese, Canada Geese and Mallards have remained. Wearily we trudged along. That's when we discovered Elbert. He was in good spirits, and soon we were too!

 

end#

Help!

I'm surrounded by images! Lemme outta here!

 

My First Commercial

This afternoon Bob H. and I traveled to Point Reyes Station, there to hang eight of my pictures at the Bovine Bakery. The exhibit will stay up until June 26, giving you plenty of time to see it. You are familiar with most of the pictures from my Daily E-mails, but seeing them in the flesh is so much more exciting. Besides, the scones at the Bovine are out of this world, but you gotta get there early or you'll miss out. Now, have I convinced you?

 

Note that my mug appears in the picture (taken by Bob H) three times. The handsome real moi, the photo on the blurb on the wall, and the one in the rack (1st cup, 3d row down).

 

Deer

One of the joys of visiting Point Reyes National Seashore used to be the frequent sightings of deer. Then, three years ago, hundreds of "non-native" (Fallow and Axis) deer were slaughtered, leaving only the small population of Native Blacktails. As a result, the deer in my picture (taken yesterday) was the first I've seen in several visits.

 

Not What You Think!

Dick was driving back from Point Reyes, and I was in the passenger seat with Bob T in the back. The two cops were just riding behind us. Everybody was doing the posted 35 MPH. No problem. Just a good photo-op! You can relax now!

 

Stubborn

Little Jimmy is being stubborn.

 

San Francisco Market Street

 

Corte Madera Marsh

Family having fun at Corte Madera Marsh on Saturday morning. San Quentin in background.

 

Gadwall

Methinks 'twas a Gadwall I spied at the Ponds the other day. Sure is pretty!

 

Caspian Tern??

I snapped this picture at  the LGVSD Ponds the other day. I think it was a Caspian Tern. Whatever it was, I've never seen one before. I'll never be a birder, since I forget faster than I learn. But I don't care, since I'm a happy camper just seeing all that gorgeous wildlife around me.

 

Get Outta Our Turf!

Here are six members of the Red-winged Blackbird Neighborhood Association chasing away a Crow that has come too close to one of their nests. The Blackbirds can do this because they are much more agile than the somewhat clumsy Crow.

 

I wonder what is sticking out of the Crow's beak?

 

Cormorants

A second length of sewage pipe has popped up at the LGVSD Ponds, affording the  thankful, resident, Cormorants a much improved, and larger, platform to rest their weary wings. Another fine example of your taxes at work.

 

Clouds

Clouds don't get enough press these days! In the olden (ha!) days, painters and photographers loved to do clouds. Pictures of approaching storms, etc. Do I sound like an old fuddy-duddy?

 

I took this picture at the LGVSD Ponds this morning. The sun won out!

 

Oops!

Oops! The last one was the wrong picture. Here's the correct one of the Bumble Bee in flight!

Bumble Bee

Here's the picture of a Bumble Bee in flight. I took it, a few days ago, at Rush Creek. Bumble Bees, like other bee species, are of great importance to humans because they are major pollinators. Without bees we'd be in a sorry mess.

 

Kelsey

Here's Kelsey, one of my two lovely granddaughters. The other one, Danika, will present herself in a couple of months.

 

Snowy Egret at the LGVSD Ponds the other day. The Snowies do not migrate.

 

Visits to Point Reyes Station are guaranteed to be fun, especially since there's always something new to see. Right now it's interesting outdoor art installations with the theme "Reflections on Water". All this as part of the 2011 Geography of Hope. Attached is a picture of one of the installations.

 

Reflections on Water

Visits to Point Reyes Station are guaranteed to be fun, especially since there's always something new to see. Right now it's interesting outdoor art installations with the theme "Reflections on Water". All this as part of the 2011 Geography of Hope. Attached is a picture of one of the installations.

 

Reflections on Water

Visits to Point Reyes Station are guaranteed to be fun, especially since there's always something new to see. Right now it's interesting outdoor art installations with the theme "Reflections on Water". All this as part of the 2011 Geography of Hope. Attached is a picture of one of the installations.

 

Happy Easter!

Yeah, yeah, I know Easter was a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't happen upon this Cotton Tail (Brush Rabbit) until yesterday, at the Point Reyes National Seashore. I am also aware that the picture is not really high quality, but I took it from really far away. As I came closer the young guy/gal hightailed it into the underbrush. Regardless, it rates high on the cuteness scale.

 

The Old Oak Tree

This Oak Tree is at Rush Creek. Surprisingly it is not completely dead. And a lot of birds land on its branches. Bob H and I discovered a Starling nest and took some pictures of a parent feeding the young. We saw some Woodpeckers and perhaps they are nesting too. It is even possible that some Swallows live there. One of these days I'll bring my folding chair and just sit under the tree and wait for some action.

 

Captions Invited

Mother's Day

Mallard mom and her offsprings enjoying Mother's Day at the Ponds.

 

One More Swan Picture

Mute Swan at Ellis Creek. Actually a misnomer, since these swans are not mute. They were originally introduced from Europe. They have a wing-span of 75" and weigh 22 lbs.

 

There's No Justice In This World

While the beautiful but nasty Swans were lording it over the pond, a destitute family of Canada Geese was huddled in a refugee camp on the outskirts, the goslings waiting for mom to feed them.

 

Cygnets

One more Baby Swans picture. They're just toooo cute!

 

Family Values

Having chased every other bird out of the pond, dad (here seen on the right), proudly returned to his family.

 

Territorial Swans

The Mute Swans are not well liked at the Ellis Creek Ponds in Petaluma. They are non-native and very aggressive, lording it over other waterfowl. I recorded this behavior in my picture of a male Swan chasing a Canada Goose half-way across the pond and right up the bank. Then he triumphantly returned to Mama-Swan and their eight babies on the other side of the pond. They were the only residents left. Unfortunately we humans are not any better!

 

"Just think, Elmer, before you know it, he'll be going to school!"

 

Gopher Snake

Gopher Snake at the Ponds this morning.

 

PG&E

Here's a picture of the P.G.&E. headquarters entrance at 245 Market Street in San Francisco which I took a couple of days ago. I am very fond of the Art Deco architecture and sculptures, dating back to 1923.

 

I don't mean to distract you but ~~~~~~~~~~~~ when I Googled the building, I discovered that there is a Peregrine Falcon nest on the roof of the other P.G.&E. building, right around the corner, at 77 Beale Street. But what's more, there is a Nest Cam, pointed at the birds. Here's the address ~ http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/nestcamSF_large.htm . Be patient, sometimes the chicks need to take a nap. All this leaves me very confused. What comes first? Art appreciation or birding?