Caturday: Testing the new camera

I haven’t taken a huge amount of photos as I’m still learning my way around the camera. However, we did manage to go to Martinez on a bird hunt. We got lucky and there were a few birds we didn’t see last time. One nice thing about the camera though is that it seems to work well in low light and so it makes it easier to capture the pointy eared people. It also takes better action photos than the last one, so Pepi looks good in mid run.

Tito's closeup
Tito’s closeup
Miss Jenny's blue peepers
Miss Jenny’s blue peepers
Titanescu's stinkeye
Titanescu’s stinkeye
Here's Pepi having a run.
Here’s Pepi having a run.

As for the birds, here are a few. The fall migration is beginning to kick in, so we’ll try to make regular trips out there to what drops in to visit.

Teeny weeny itty bitty lizard. It was only about 3 inches long, including the tail.
Teeny weeny itty bitty lizard. It was only about 3 inches long, including the tail.
Black-necked stilts
Black-necked stilts
Napping Black-necked stilt
Napping Black-necked stilt
Western Sandpipers
Western Sandpipers

I was amazed to see a green heron fishing. The last time I saw one was in South Florida in 2001. The photo isn’t as good as I would like, but I’m happy to have seen it.

Green heron with a fish.
Green heron with a fish.
Alhambra Creek flowing out to the Carquinez Strait.
Alhambra Creek flowing out to the Carquinez Strait.
Footbridge over the creek
Footbridge over the creek
Looking across the marsh with a sunken ship in the water.
Looking across the marsh with a sunken ship in the water.
Sparrow on a bridge
Sparrow on a bridge
Old boat
Old boat
Snowy egret hunting for supper
Snowy egret hunting for supper
Found it!
Found it!
Snowy egret posing nicely
Snowy egret posing nicely

While we’ll make regular trips out to the marsh, I’m hoping for a trip back up Diablo and another trip to a botanical garden. The weather has warmed up again though, so it might be a short wait.


Increase your website traffic with Attracta.com

Share

Caturday: Happy cats, a goofy mutt, and funny birds

The cats are happy because the air conditioner has been off for a few days. The weather is cooler than average. From 109 a few weeks ago to 70s and low 80s now. Go figure. I don’t mind at all. Anyhow, the cats are glued to the windows and the floor by the screen door. We’re all happy with the change.

Speaking of the pointy-eared people…

Tito keeping me company
Tito keeping me company
Miss Jenny doing a pin-up pose
Miss Jenny doing a pin-up pose
Happy Titan hogging the sunbeam
Happy Titan hogging the sunbeam

The goofy mutt? We were off at the arboretum when she suddenly went nuts snarling and growling.

Note the raised hackles
Note the raised hackles

What was she snarling at? Why, the enemy of course.

Yeah, seriously. This is what she was growling and snarling at.
Yeah, seriously. This is what she was growling and snarling at.

After that, we took her home because we wanted to go to the shoreline and pooches aren’t permitted. Once we got to the shoreline, we saw plenty of birds putting on a funny performance.

Night time
Night time
Daytime
Daytime
Twinkle toes
Twinkle toes

There were three beautiful white pelicans that landed on the water to feed.

White pelicans
White pelicans

They provided plenty of entertainment. I’ve put the pelicans and other birds in a slideshow that includes a lovely white swan butt.

As a parting note, I’m sure you remember us describing how Titanescu bangs and scratches on the wood paneling or tv box. Well, here’s the raccoon version.


Increase your website traffic with Attracta.com

Share

John Muir’s farmhouse in Martinez, CA

I’m one of those people who posts or more often re-posts pictures of beautiful scenery on Facebook, from National Parks to gardens and villages in bucolic settings. In fact these pictures are everywhere to be found, from web pages to commercials, because truth be told we can’t get enough. They are just about as universal as John Muir’s name and yet, many people do not connect it to the man and his legacy. Maybe it is this familiarity with the name that is partly to blame for this ignorance.

John Muir
John Muir
John Muir's home located in Martinez, CA. It was built by his father-in-law, Dr. John Strentzel
John Muir’s home located in Martinez, CA. It was built by his father-in-law, Dr. John Strentzel

I read yet another article today about oceans’ levels rising as a result of climate change, which included two videos depicting such changes as Icelandic glaciers melting and oceans’ temperature changes over the course of the last fifteen years. I’ve got a pocket French dictionary somewhere that I bought almost exactly forty years ago. Fifteen years. Some social mores don’t evolve that fast.

In the midst of one of the cruelest fire seasons, and before another El Nino reshapes the aftermath, I am still  optimistic about what conservation efforts at every level will achieve. Almost 120 tears ago outside his house in Martinez, Muir planted a Sequoia sapling which has been suffering from a vascular disease caused by a fungus. But while it may eventually perish, the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive successfully cloned it to ensure its re-incarnation when the time comes.

The giant sequoia (tallest tree) planted by John Muir near his home.
The giant sequoia (tallest tree in photo) planted by John Muir near his home.

The same goes for great ideas, great notions such as those Muir worked hard at expressing. I think one of his greatest notions had to do with his own path. He chose to do what he loved and became a major voice for conservancy, heard well beyond these borders. He could well have been successful exploring industrial pursuits and accumulated wealth, but ultimately his chosen works benefited many more people, in ways some haven’t yet discovered.

Rudha-an here is a slideshow of the rest of the site.


Increase your website traffic with Attracta.com

Share