Back in the Saddle Again

My pictures are back and all is well, thanks to the fantastic help of Ryan at NorthBay Computer Systems in San Rafael.

 

Since we were in Barcelona yesterday, here's another picture from my memorable visit to that city.

 

Shown is one of the many Human Statues populating Las Ramblas. They perform for change, standing motionless until someone throws them a coin, when they briefly burst into action. I highly recommend a visit to your friendly YouTube. Search under "Barcelona's Human Statues".

 

Trouble in River City

Actually trouble right here in Greenbrae. My computer crashed this afternoon! After a few phone-calls to my computer-guru and some suicidal thoughts, I was back in business. Except ---- I couldn't find my pictures. None.

 

So ---- I turned to my September 2003 Barcelona pix, did a little scanning, and, voila ----

 

This is a picture of two Gigantes (pronounced Hehantez) walking down the street, celebrating the La Merce Festival. The streets were full of these giants.

 

Snowy Egret

Another one from my recent trip to the Santa Rosa rookery. I love to observe how different the birds at the rookery (Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Black-crowned Night Herons) behave from the same species at the LGVSD Ponds. Small wonder, though. At the rookery their business is reproduction (mating, nest-building, egg-laying, and protecting and teaching the babies). At the Ponds all they do is hunt for food. At the rookery they are very active and noisy. At the Ponds they are quiet, and sometimes don't move a muscle, waiting for their prey to appear.

 

Family Values

Proud Canada Goose parents at the Ponds, not to be outdone by their Stow Lake cousins, showed off their triplets this morning, as the traipsed along the trail before me.

 

A Treat for Postcard-Lovers

Here's the Rustic Stone Bridge in Golden Gate Park, built in 1894. It stretches from the bank of Stow Lake to the island known as Strawberry Hill, the highest point in the park. Taking a picture of the bridge is a knee-jerk reaction.

 

Use Your Imagination!

Once in a while I allow myself the luxury of going over the top. Today, for instance. I inadvertently dropped a Kleenex to the floor. Looking down, I saw a face. "Camera, lights, action"!

 

The profile of a man's face, facing right. Pointed head, slanted eye, large nose, whistling lips. If you can't see it I'm sorry, but I cannot help you.

 

The Goslings Again

Feeding 101

 

Great Blue Heron Nesting

Great Blue Heron landing on her/his nest at Stow Lake. I could show a closer-up of the scene, but thought it would be more informative to have more of the tree in the picture.

 

Canada Goslings

Or are they Canada Goose goslings?

 

Taking advantage of an ophthalmologist visit in the City this morning, I visited Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park, in the hope of seeing nesting Great Blue Herons. But the little goslings stole (as "they" say) my heart. I took a dozen pictures, with and without proud parents, the attached shot being my favorite.

Perhaps a Great Blue Heron picture tomorrow.

 

Hmmm?

Walking back to my car, after coffee with Dick at Starbucks, the message on this Volkswagen caught my eye. I think it referred to Wolfsburg, the VW home, because that city's name appears on the insignia to the left of the word CABRIOLET. However, according to Wikipedia, the population of Wolfsburg in December of 2010, was 121,451. Not that small! Unfortunately I was unable to obtain any information regarding the other part of the equation referred to in the message. Don't miss the German flag on the windshield! What's going on here?