Finding Nemo...

This is a Percula Clownfish in a carpet anemone. Now why would Nemo ever want to leave a home as spectacular as that?

Manini - Convict Tang

Manini, or convict tang - so named for their stripes, are the cows of the sea. Large schools of them drift over the reef, cleaning the coral of algae as they browse. These were off of Waikiki beach on Oahu.

Wahiawa Rainstorm

The island of Oahu in the Hawaiian island chain has two major mountain ranges, the Waianae range and the Koolau range. The erupting lava from the two volcanic chains created a plateau between, known to the Hawaiians as Wahiawa. It is known for its cool, moist climate. This picture was taken during one of the frequent showers as the sun peaked through.

Godwit Ducking

This is an odd picture. Just as I snapped, the Godwit plunked his head into the water after some sort of food (PLUUNKKK). No head. Normally I'd toss a picture with a missing head but there was something about the play of the light over the water and the ripples from his head ducking into the water that was beautiful in an eerie sort of way. Basically, I liked it. Hope you like it too.

Samurai

Is this a Samurai? Or is it just some wild painting I found pasted on a window? Either way, I thought it was really cool so I'm sharing it. In reality, the painting was pretty sun faded and pastel but I gave it a little color boost just for fun. Hope you enjoy it.

Surfing Sunset Beach

Another shot from a wonderful sunny day at Sunset beach on the North Shore of Hawaii. That's got to be a total adrenaline high, slicing though those waves.

American Coot or Cooties and Mud

I've been seeing migratory birds in Mission bay as I drove past on the way to school every day. I finally couldn't resist it any longer and stopped to take a peek and take a picture or two. Unfortunately, my trusty Nikon was at home so that left the not quite as fleet footed but much more portable pocket Cannon. I figured I'd try a video. So, tonight, I bring you the American Coot! A.k.a. cooties and mud. It looked like they were pulling up bog plants and perhaps worms and invertebrates. You decide.

Requests

If any of you viewers out in cyber-land have preferences for what you want to see out of the wayward photo libraries (more fish, more birds, more surfers, etc.), feel free to send in your requests and I will, to the extent that I have anything worthwhile stashed away, attempt to please. Please keep it G-rated. ;-P

Boiling Carp!

It's random picture day! I need to get going with the homework so I quasi-randomly chose one of my folders and scanned for the first of my pictures to catch my eye. Voila, I give you "boiling carp!" [That's just a bunch of carp! Ar, Ar...grin]. Actually, these are Koi in the Koi pond at the Dole Plantation in Wahiawa, Hawaii. When you purchase and toss in Koi food, they literally boil out of the water. The kids have a blast and I dare say I had fun too. Happy Monday...

Hawaiian White Spotted Toby

Here is a really short video of a pair of Hawaiian White Spotted Toby, Canthigastor jactator, that I shot off of Waikiki. They were being shy and trying to hide under this really large coral head. The video is short because I was skin diving and, by the time you get down there, start the video and focus on the fish, it's time to go up for another breath. Still, they're kind of cute. Hope you like them.

Body Surfing: Twist and Turn

This gal was body surfing at Sunset Beach, Hawaii. She and her friends were doing really cool 360's at the peak of the wave. After looking at the angle of her legs requires to do that 360, I can understand why I never did one of those. Still looked like fun though!

Humu Humu Nuku Nuku Apua'a

This used to be the Hawaii State Fish, the Humu Humu Nuku Nuku Apua'a. At least before the legislature de-instated it. They couldn't agree on a new fish (politicians!) so it will have to do for now. This shy humu humu (reef triggerfish, Rhinecanthus rectangulus) is ducking into a hole in the reef off of famous Diamond Head. He would go into the hole and, if I waited, would pop out to see if I was still there trying to take his picture. He would then duck back into the hole. Cute little guy.

Hawaiian Moorhen

This is the Hawaiian Moorhen or 'Alae 'Ula, Gallinula chloropa sandvicensis. The name refers to that bright beak. It is a Hawaiian variety of the Common Moorhen. I found this one posing for pictures in the bog at Waimea Audobon Park on Oahu, Hawaii.

Sanderlings

I snapped this picture of Sanderlings at Sunset Beach on Oahu, Hawaii. They were running up and down the beach. For the most part, the surfers and the sanderlings paid no attention to each other. They ran right by me allowing me to get some really nice pictures. Amazing that these little birds can fly all the way to the Arctic where they spend the Summer and breed and then make it all the way back to Hawaii for the Winter. Seems like a long way to fly for such a little bird. I have no idea if they land somewhere along the way.

Sunset Beach Surfing

There are some amazing surfers at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, and some really big waves. I caught this guy right in the middle of the curl! Wow.

Anole on Bromeliad

I found this little Anole posing out in Wahiawa on an orange bromeliad (possibly a Bilbergia if I saw the right ones in bloom).

Video of the Moorish Idol

Here is a video of the Moorish Idol posted the other day. This is my very first video posted to youtube and, therefore, a test. It's not the best but it gives you an idea of what it's like trying to photograph fish while you're being shoved around by the surf.

The Moorish Idol was on the reef off of Waikiki, Hawaii. The red barred fish to the left of the Moorish Idol is a Moana, a type of goatfish that is native to Hawaii. The green fish with black stripes in a manini (a type of tang). There were also several other tangs that shot through the video.

Red-Billed Leiothrix

Here's a picture of a Red-Billed Leiothrix that was eating food put out on the lawn by the owners of the Tree House Restaurant (formerly Paradise Park) in Manoa Valley on the island of Oahu. The Red-Billed Leiothrix was introduced from Asia and is moderately people friendly (i.e., you can get close enough to see it). This one had to compete with a bunch of Moa (Hawaiian Chickens), turtle doves and ring necked doves to get any food.

Moorish Idol

This Moorish Idol was photographed off of Waikiki in an area that is now a marine preserve. Moorish idols live on small crustaceans and use their long snout to poke into small crevices for food.

American Anole

There was a cluster of beautiful yellow flowers on a bush arching over the Waimea river, visible from the bridge. The flowers look like they are in the pea family. Upon closer inspection, an American Anole was also lounging beneath the flowers, perhaps waiting for passing mosquitos or bees attracted to the flowers.

Red Coris Wrasse

Here's a picture of a really pretty Red Coris Wrasse I saw in Hanauma Bay today. The water was really rough and murky so the picture doesn't quite do it justice but it was a beauty.

Rare Hawaiian Duck (Koloa)

A mated pair of rare Hawaiian Koloa native ducks, Anas wyvilliana, splashed down while I was watching the fish in Waikiki. There were not at all afraid of the many tourists watching them and proceeded to browse off of the seaweek on the breakwater making for quite a siting!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays Everyone! Bert put on his very best antlers for the occasion, and as opposed to some of his antlered cousins, Bert really does fly. Merri Crisimassu. Felis Navidad. Mele Kalikimaka. Wishing you all the very best for 2008.

An Old Dog

A picture of a pretty old dog in Font Vieille. He moved his head a little to look my way and pose but that was the extent of the effort. Just an old dog's life.

Bunting It

I give up. I looked through a bunch of sparrows, finches, bobolinks and Buntings, all with those little squat conical beaks. Frankly, they are all starting to look the same. If you're a bird person, let me know what this little guy is. Until then, I'm calling it a Bunting for lack of a better excuse. The little yellow patch on the forehead should be a clue but ironically, none of the birds had quite that coloration. So I give up. Hints and name donations will be graciously accepted.

Pea Family

I saw these gorgeous flowers at a nursery the other day. I didn't catch the name of it as I was in a hurry but I'd guess that they are in the Pea Family. Funny, we don't normally think of Peas as trees but some of them get pretty big. This one looked like a type of coral tree, possibly a yellow form.

Flying Kite

Found this White Tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)at Mission Trails Park the other day. This was taken with a 500mm lens so, needless to say, the Kite was being a little camera shy. Try as I might, this was as close as it would let me get. I like to call these "hover hawks" because I see them hovering close to the highway waiting for ground squirrels to pop out of their dens. Outside of hummingbirds, they are the only other bird I have seen actively hover.

Cinnamon Teal

Just saw a new duck (well new to me anyhow). It's a Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera. It didn't let me get close enough to get a really nice picture but this one's not too bad. They are a beautiful orange-brown color. This one was napping on a little island in the river.

Pondweed

Here's a picture of pondweed or Potamogeton. It was blooming at the neigborhood nursery. Notably, it is pollinated by wasps. Fascinating.

Happy Holidays

Here's a picture of a Vascostylis I snapped at a small orchid symposium. It's so seldom that most people get to see the huge variety of orchids outside of the things they carry in the grocery store, I thought this would be fun. The parents of this (Vanda x Rhychostylis x Ascocentrum) are from Southeast Asia.

Prickly Welcome

Hahah! Prickly Welcome indeed! I couldn't resist the pun. Actually, I thought the little Barrel Cactus Welcome sign at the San Diego zoo was attractive, well done and rather catchy (no pun intended). I wouldn't want to have to weed around those babies though. Owwww. Happy Hump day.

Flash Ducking

Hummingbirds are amazingly acrobatic when they want to be. This is a picture of one doing a rapid move to the right to avoid my flash. It was quite a quandry between staying for food and ducking my flash, I'm sure. This is an Anna's Hummingbird, one of the 7 or 8 that have declared my feeder home.

No Hummingbirds!?

I looked out my window and poof, no hummingbirds. I looked up and there was this huge red tailed hawk (not shown. The picture is a goshawk from Denali) looping around and even hovering. I find it hard to imagine that a big old red tailed would be eating teenie little hummingbirds. Just a mouthful of fluff. However, they must be on the menu or at least the hummingbirds think so. By the time I grabbed the camera, the hawk had moved on. Rats.

Duck Soup

Another picture from the Bay. It's been storming out. Windy, cold & rainy so this is from November. There were ducks everywhere. Most of these are Ruddy Ducks. It took me a while to realize that the telltale blue beaks were gone because it's winter. Go figure. There was one Western Grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis, in the middle.

Most Profuse Egrets...

Hahah. So much for the corny title, huh? The big white bird with the black legs is a Great Egret, Ardea alba. While once profuse, nesting in huge colonies, they were hunted for their beautiful plumage. Their numbers have since recovered somewhat but are now hampered by dwindling wetlands and human encroachment. They are still quite a sight to see. The smaller egret with the orange legs is a probably a Snowy Egret(note black beak vs orange beak for Cattle Egret), Egretta thula. These are a little more frequent.

Great Blue on the Prowl

Here is a Great Blue Heron that was prowling through the eel grass for a tasty meal. I was so close I had to zoom out to get the whole bird. They are magnificent!

Blue Orchids

Blue Orchids are very rare. This is C. Ariel var. coerulea 'Bodante', one of the "blue" Cattleyas. It's a good grower, blooms well and is livening up the greenhouse for me.

Oh La La

A little picture from Marseille. I love the color of Mediteranian! Blue, blue, blue. Makes me wish I was there!

Have Faith

This little hummingbird was waiting for his turn at the feeder while it was raining in torrents outside. Through all the wind and all the rain, he was there patiently looking on.

Cheery Little Hummingbirds

I seem to have a little case of bronchitis, probably from all the dust and pollution in the air from those fires. While I was sitting in the kitchen sipping chicken soup the hummingbirds were there keeping me company. It was windy and rainy out and the feeder was whipping to and fro and, through all of that, some seven Anna's Hummingbirds were sucking food for all they were worth. They are amazingly tenacious little guys, considering their size.

Our Flag in the Oddest Places

Someone had placed a flag in an old pole that was sticking up under the highway. I liked the symmetry of the piers and the lighting so I snapped it. It is figuratively ironic relative to world opinion these days. We do pop up unannounced on occasion.

Bufflehead

Well, of all things to call something, Bufflehead is not the most attractive of names. However, Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), is what this little duck is called. He also Summers in Alaska and has found his way down to San Diego for the Winter.

Brants

There was a huge flock of Brants, Branta hernicula, grazing on eel grass in the San Diego River the other day. The last time I saw these, I was in Alaska in June. It looks like they followed me down for the winter. They were pretty tame and let me get close enough for a decent batch of pictures.

Black-Necked Stilts

Found these black-necked stilts, Himantopus mexicanus, feeding in the shallows yesterday. They are very similar and perhaps related to the black stilts in Hawaii (which are endangered).

Shooting for the Moon

This gives a little meaning to shooting for the moon, or in my case, shooting the moon! Wow, if you look good you can even see the craters and their rim shadows on the edges. Amazing stuff. Imagine the asteroids that did that!

Passing Agave

The neighbors are landscaping their yard. They just put in this really cool Agave. Nasty sap on those things but they are certainly pretty...

Hummingbird again with Flash

For you photo buffs, I figured I'd try the hummingbird again but with a flash. Wow, what a difference it makes!

Where's Bert?

The feeder ran out for a little bit and I suspect Bert the hummingbird has found a new home. However, Bert was quickly replaced by four new hummingbirds and a small family of finches. Without Bert chasing them all away, the population has grown a bit and the feeder now goes empty in about 3 days rather than in a week, like it used to.

Mosquito?

So, is it a mosquito or a fly? I found this little mosquito wanna be sipping nectar on a flower (which is far better than biting me anyhow).

Red Breasted Nuthatch

Here's a picture of a Red Breasted Nuthatch that was hanging out along the path along the mudflats outside of Anchorage. The nice paved walking/jogging path seemed a little out of place but it was quiet and there were a few photogenic birds around so who was I to complain.

Demon Duck

Here is a picture of the Demon Duck, aka Duckergeist, himself. I will not vouch for what mischief he is up to with that beak of his.

Iguana

An iguana basking in the sun. It was a little cool today, a much appreciated change from the hot fire-laden winds. The lizards where out in the sun to take advantage of whatever solar heating they could.

Torch Happy and the Tall Man

Torch Happy and the Tall Man are having fun with the tourists but hey, it was Halloween and all. Oh, okay, so it was actually homecoming but pretty close to Halloween (one night off). You have to love the evil grin on the guys face. What was he thinking anyhow? And the tall man? I'd stand a little further back from those torches if I were him!

Blue Orchids

This is a picture of Cattleya Blue Grotto 'Takasaki.' If this doesn't look truely blue, you're not color blind and it is not a bad color reproduction. True blue is very rare in orchids and a coerulean blue, as with this flower, is what is typically called blue. It is a rare genetic mutation that causes the general lavenders and yellows to be replaced with this blue-lavender which is called a coerulea form.