2:24:53 pm, April17, 2013

San Francisco Ferry Building as seen from the second floor of Autodesk on Market Street.

 

Flags

String of flags flown from a sailboat docked at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon. In the background is Racoon Strait, lying between Tiburon and Angel Island.

 

And, since you asked ~ In 1814, the British 26-gun sloop of war, the H.M.S. Raccoon, was damaged off the coast of Oregon, but stayed afloat to reach San Francisco Bay. From March 13 to 19th, the ship was repaired on the beach at Ayala Cove on the Northern portion of Angel Island. This event gave the name to the deep-water channel between Tiburon and Angel Island.

 

Dandelion

My love-affair with Dandelion continues!

 

Great Egret

Great Egret at the Rookery in Santa Rosa. At one time, feathers from these, and other birds with beautiful plumage, were all the rage for use on women's hats. Some men, including ranking military figures, also wore feathers. Beautiful birds were hunted to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, in 1918, the Audubon Society succeeded in bringing about a federal ban on certain types of feathers. Good job!

 

Black-crowned Night Heron, not to be outdone, performing her/his nest-building duties.

 

Yesterday's Picture Today!

You don't have to tell me that the quality of this picture is lousy.

I was just sitting down for breakfast at my kitchen-window when I spotted doe and fawn approaching. I raced (!) to my bedroom, picked up my camera, turned it on, adjusted the setting, and took the picture. The two dears were gone in a flash!

 

It was just something I had to shoot! Agree?

 

Great Egret

Nest-building was in full swing this morning at the Ninth Street Rookery in Santa Rosa. Here's a Great Egret, carrying a branch to the construction site. A real favorite of mine. This was my third annual visit.

 

What is this Woman Doing?

This is the scene that met Bob T and me at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Ponds yesterday. Of course we asked the lady what she was up to! It turned out she was radio-tracking banded Clapper Rail, an endangered species! A U.S. Geological Survey project. Bravo!

 

You live and learn!

 

Female House Finch

A couple of days ago I featured a male House Finch. Today's picture is of a female. Same bird-feeder, and possibly the male's soul-mate. The guy was much more colorful than the gal, but perhaps her shades of gray are more refined and show more class.

Lake Lagunitas

Mallard and reflection of Mount Tamalpais. It all took place this morning at Lake Lagunitas.

 

House Finch

Male House Finch enjoying breakfast at Janet B's birdfeeder.

 

View from Sausalito

While in Sausalito yesterday, I was struck by the contrast of the little sailboats with the huge cargo ship "Green Point". Googling a little, I found that the Vessel was bound for the Port of Richmond.

 

Kathy Johnson

Here's Kathy Johnson, having breakfast this morning, with our little Thursday group, at the Half Day Cafe in Kentfield. Kathy, a Tamalpa Runners member, ran the Boston Marathon on Monday. She, and 5,000 other runners were stopped at the 40 Kilometer mark. Kathy tried to call her husband, Dominic, who was waiting at their hotel, but she couldn't get through because the iPhone connection had been canceled. Tired, she walked to the hotel. Moments after arriving there, she and her husband were told to vacate! They went to a coffee shop. Minutes later it was ordered closed!

 

Long story short, Kathy and her husband are happy to be back in Marin, none the worse for wear, after a harrowing, memorable, experience.

 

Monkey?

I see images wherever I look. Should I see a shrink?

 

Boston Marathon

A very sad day.

 

This Morning at the Ponds

I love to see different species of birds congregating while not paying each other any heed. Here we have a Pelican with breeding season knob on the bill, three ducks (probably Mallards) and a couple of the ubiquitous Canada Geese.

 

Reflection

Reflection

 

Squirrel

I was taking pictures of Great Blues and Turtles at Stow Lake, when this squirrel approached my, wanting to be photographed. I have never been able to refuse a request from a pretty face. Attached is the result. Cute, huh?

 

Carettochelys Insculpta

Yesterday's Stow Lake visit yielded more photo-opps than just Great Blues. A gardener alerted us to a couple of very large creatures, which turned out to be Pig-nosed Turtles. I had seen Western Pond Turtles at the lake before, but this was a first. Should I become a herpetologist?

 

Great Blue Herons

Today was the day of my annual pilgrimage to Golden Gate Park's Stow Lake. There to look for nesting Great Blue Herons. The trip was made possible with the very welcome assistance (driving and banter) of my friend, Bob T.

 

My picture may not win any prizes, but how often do I get the opportunity to catch three Blues in one photograph? The birds were quite far away and my lens is only 250mm. Quite a thrill!

 

Note that the birds on the right are standing in a nest. My guess is that they are fledglings, while the bird on the left is a parent.

 

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung and with it the breeding season. Quite timely, here's a couple of Mergansers at the Ponds, displaying their beautiful plumage. I can see the attraction! By the way, that's Joe in front, with Susie bringing up the rear.

 

Moth

I spotted this gal/guy on the stairway leading to my digs yesterday. My Audubon insect guide was no help in trying to identify my visitor. With Google's help I found a website displaying some 3,600 pictures of moths. After a few minutes I got dizzy and gave up. Here's the link http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/gallery?page=106 Good luck!

 

Chariot

Here's the replica of a chariot, part of the Terracotta Warriors exhibit. The first emperor traveled in this type of chariot, and one like it transported his body when he died. All this 2,200 years ago!

 

This morning, energized by all this history I sent a special E-mail to Kim Jong Un, North Korea's "Dear Leader". In my message I suggested he adopt some of China's First Emperor's actions. Doing so, would guarantee Kim a well-deserved, and important, place in history. I haven't heard back from the dictator yet.

 

This afternoon I finally got to see China's Terracotta Warriors exhibition at the Asian Art Museum. From the Qin dynasty, these figures date back to 221-206 BCE! My picture shows one of only nine generals excavated. The museum was the most crowded I have ever seen. Everybody was using their iPhones! And so did I!

 

A Man and a Woman

A man and a woman at Tennessee Valley Beach.

 

Spiderweb

Spiderweb on rainy morning at the Ponds.

 

Krakow, Poland

While rummaging through my archives, I ran across this picture of street-musicians which I took in Krakow. What a contrast from yesterday's Cuban group! But I'll let you make your own comparison!

 

From my Archives

No, it's not the Buena Vista Social Club! Instead it's the street-band, Grupo Los Pinos, playing for tips, in Trinidad, Cuba. One of my all-time favorite vacation spots.

 

Another Deer

I guess that I will always remain a city boy, amazed and thrilled every time I see a deer from my kitchen window. This one appeared yesterday, eating the grass still wet from a light drizzle.

 

Pelicans

American White Pelicans at the Ponds this morning. Note that they all sport a knob on their bills. This is something that appears before the breeding season. Amusing myself, I thought how funny it would be if, at a certain time of year, humans would develop a growth on their noses! It doesn't take much to make me laugh. Even at my own stupid humor!