Just Too Cute

Harbor Seal or Pacific Common Seal, Phoca vitulina v. richardsi. This seal pup was trying to make comfortable a little nest in the eel grass at low tide. It worked pretty well until a large wave came by and swept him back into the water.

Iceland Poppy Up Close and Personal

I love Iceland Poppies! They are always so brilliant and loud in seemingly flourescent shades of yellow, orange and peach and yet so fragile that the wind sends their petals fluttering down the street. Do you suppose the same thing is true of people? Hmm...? When I plant them, however, they typically last a flower or two and then slowly wither a way. Overwatering perhaps? Or maybe they just don't like the sprinkler system blasting them. Now there's a thought. Anyhow, hope you are all enjoying the new lunar year and that it is bringing you happiness, good health and bounty wherever you may be. If you're into awesome snacks, there's probably still time to head down to the local Chinese Grocery store to find some awesome seasonal snacks but you best hurry!

Aloe alooides

Aloe alooides, blooming in the front yard, and always really popular with the bees! It's like Springtime in California!

Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii, roosting on the neighbor's Eucalyptus tree. I thought I heard a thud so he may have had a small run in with the plate glass but, aside from a stray feather or two, he doesn't seem much worse for the wear. This particular hawk likes to hang out by the neighbor's bird feeder, where he occasionally snatches a dove for dinner.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, is a sea eagle, feeding largely on fish that it has caught or stolen from another bird.

Back from the Brink: California Condor

California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, is the largest North American land bird. It was nearly driven to extinction by DDT use, resulting in fragile egg shells that seldom survived to hatch. Since then, the ban on DDT and captive breeding programs have resulted going from 22 birds in 1987 to a little more than 400 birds today. The wild population still remain under threat from lead poisoning caused by eating carion left by hunters, that carion sadly laced with the same lead buckshot that killed it.

Last Halogen Flash for Pt. Loma Lighthouse

A last flash for the old halogen lights at the Point Loma Lighthouse before the halogens (taken 2/6/13) were replaced with brand spanking new LED lights (on 2/9/13).

Long-Beaked Common Dolphin

Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, pacing the boats in San Diego Bay. It's tough to tell the difference between these and their cousins, the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis. However, the long-beaked common dolphin is more frequently found in shallow coastal waters while the short beaked dolphin is found in deeper water along the edge of the continental shelf and along sea mounts.

San Diego AOS Awards for February 2013

Lyc Abou First Spring 'Peter Sobel My Delight' FCC 93pts

Paph Kemp Tower 'Sunset Valley Orchids' AM 81pts

Phal Brother Lancer 'Peloric' JC

Phal Mei Dar Blackberry 'Harlequin' HCC 78pts

Zgn Dynamite Peru 'Sunset Valley Orchids' HCC 78pts

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, part of a breeding project at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. These are pretty rare around San Diego these days, a victim of the growing population and urbanization of the grasslands. Cunicularia refers to rabbit, perhaps because of their habit of living in old gopher and rabbit holes. Their diet is primarily lizards, insects and the occasional small rodent.

Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata

Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata, getting a running start as it takes off across the water. San Diego Bay, California. These sea ducks are here every Winter but will return to Alaska around March.

What Did You Do on Superbowl Sunday?

Pacific Grey Whale, Eschrichtius robustus, spyhopping for the tourists. This one even opened his mouth and sported a toothy grin. Needless to say, the Grey Whale Migration happens every Winter, regardless of weather or the latest event, Superbowl or not, and the people that went out this Sunday were treated to a special view!

Grey whales are baleen whales, using their baleen combs to filter out krill, shrimp and small fish. Every December, they migrate annually from Alaska down through Mexico where they calve before returning north around March, young calves in tow. Grey whales once also populated the Altantic ocean, however, it is believed that human hunting has largely eliminated them from the Atlantic (as well as from the Asian coast of the Westerm Pacific where they is critically endangered).

Red Hot Poker

Red Hot Poker, Kniphofia hybrid, at the San Diego Safari Park. These are in full bloom right now and were just too brilliant and flashy to pass up. Sometimes also known as Tritoma, this genus comes from South Africa. While the Kniphofia flowers look like Aloe flowers, these plants have small underground bulbs and thin, grassy leaves. They have all the beauty of Aloes without the spines!

Turkey Vulture

Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura, in the San Pasqual Valley, looking down like it was thinking about pouncing. Decisions, decisions. Perhaps it was the hat?

Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura, peering down from up above where it was doing lazy circles. Did we look like carrion? Or maybe it wanted that nice Nikon Camera!

Western Fence Lizard on Marble

Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis. I really liked the contrast between the black lizard and the speckled marble.

Mallard on Rock

Mallard on rock, Chinese Garden, Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Cherry Blossoms in January!

The Cherry Blossoms were the earliest blossoms in the Japanese Garden at the Huntington Gardens. When the wind blew, the petals fluttered down like raindrops.

Porcelein Wall Sculpture

Sway 2012 by Calvin Ma at the City of Brea Gallery Opening last Saturday. Incredibly detailed down to the minutest lines on each shingle and faces in the ears. All that and eerily dark. The dual shadows are a nice finishing touch. What does it mean?

Swish with Pizzaz

A Veiltail Koi gracefully arching through the water at the Huntington Lily pond.

Lipstick Miscue

Koi with a lipstick-like marking. I did a double take when I saw this koi going by, thinking it reminded me of a bad lipstick day for a gal rushing out of the house. What's a koi to do anyhow?

Allen's Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin, San Marino, California, hopping off of a perch on a large Aloe species. This cute little hummingbird is quite a singer. However, it is known for its deep-swooping courtship ritual that the males do in mid-air, creating a "verrrrip" sound as the air moves through their feathers at high speeds. It can be identified, relative to the similar tawny orange colored rufous hummingbird, by the irridescent green patch of feathers on its upper back.

Foggy, Rainy Weather in Southern California

Interstate 5 traffic during a foggy, rainy night. The cold front left; however, after a small spat of warm weather it's beeen replaced with wet, foggy weather.

Picking the View Side of the Plane to Oahu

Aerial shot Maui (foreground) and Hawaii (background) on a cloudy day. When flying to Hawaii, the direction of approach will vary somewhat depending on the direction of the wind and where you are coming from. However, most of the time, whether coming into Hawaii from Northern or Southern California, the planes will fly in toward Oahu from the Southeast. Thus, the left side of the plane will view Maui and the island of Hawaii first and then fly over the low planes and hills of Molokai before approaching Oahu over Pearl Harbor and landing on the reef runway. Depending on the winds, sometimes the plane will loop out over the ocean and fly over Hanauma bay, Koko Head and Waikiki approaching in the opposite direction. However, the majority of the time, when flying to Oahu, the left side windows are your best bet. When leaving, chose the opposite. Nothing, of course, is guaranteed.

Why is a Killdeer So-Named?

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus, giving me a cautious look as it keeps its space from the goofy photographer with the big lens! Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. Killdeers are not named because they murder bambi in cold blood; they are named after the sound of their piercing call. This is a somewhat common way to name birds, particularly for many shorebirds, such as the Kerwit, Curlew, and Godwit.

Passing American Wigeon

American Wigeon, Anas americana, in flight. Sadly, it was flying away rather than posing for pictures but it's still a decent shot. Ducks are tough to ID from the underbelly but luckily the ID book has undershots and, given the number of wigeons in the park at the time, it seems like a good guess.

Hare Brained Idea?

The Black-tailed Jack Rabbit, Lepus californicus, is a true Hare, bearing it's young fully formed, with eyes wide open, and without a nest. Cottontails, on the otherhand, build nests for their young, who are born with their eyes shut. The Black-tailed Jack Rabbit is typically a low-land rabbit, favoring flat open areas and valleys. These rabbits bear several litters per year with up to 8 kits (baby rabbits) per litter.
These two rabbits appeared to be a pair, one keeping watch while the other attempted to hide under a bush. Rabbits are preyed upon by all sorts of predators including coyotes, owls and hawks. They typically rely on their speed (they can outrun a dog), thick brush and the pervasive cholla cactus as cover to escape from predators.

The Impeccable Curlew

Long-Billed Curlew, Numenius americanus, hunting for worms and small crustaceans in the tidals flats along the Tijuana Estuary. They theoretically sense the small creatures under the mud via tiny, sensitive bristles at the tips of their beaks, pulling them up out of the mud for a quick feast.

Renanthera Kalsom 'Red Dragon'

Renanthera Kalsom 'Red Dragon'. These grow into nice bushy plants about 3-5 ft tall and put forth bushels of flowers in you have the sun, humidity and space for them. The latest generation of Renanthera hybrids are a little bushier and shorter than the old Queen Emma types that would grow 30 ft. up a tree like a vine. Admittedly, those old hybrids were amazingly beautiful but a little tough to appreciate when they are blooming 20 ft. up in the air. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I did indeed get one of these although San Diego is not ideal habitat, given our low humidity and cooler Winters.

Where Do Bananas Come From?

Banana Tree, He'eia State Park, Hawaii. Just in case you wondered where those bananas in the store come from, shown above: bananas ripening on the 'tree'. Bananas are actually herbaceous (closer to grasses than to trees) even though they are called Banana trees. If you cut across a banana trunk, you'll find annular rings of soft, porous, sap-filled, grass-like layers similar to cutting across a large stalk of grass. These are apple bananas, named aptly for their slightly tart granny smith-like taste and firm texture.

Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail View

Makapu'u looking back towards Hawaii Kai, Koko Head Crater and Hanauma Bay, Oahu, from the cliffs along the Makapu'u lighthouse trail.

Hoya deykeae

Hoya deykeae blooming at Kawamoto Orchids. A real favorite with the honey bees! I dare say I have a new found appreciation for the beauty of Hoyas!

Thank you in Hawaiian

Thank you = Mahalo (Pronounced Mah Hah Low)
Thank you very much = Mahalo Nui Loa (pronounced Mah Hah Low Noo Ee Low Ah)
You're welcome (closer to "no problem") = ‘A‘ole pilikia* (Pronounced Ah Oh Lee Pee Lee Kee Ah)
* Note that Pilikia means troubles
Alternately, "He mea iki" - (it's a small thing)

Hoya tsangii

Hoya tsangii, blooming outside of Kawamoto's Orchid Nursery in Honolulu, Hawaii. I was fascinated by the cute little furry umbels on this plant, each flower with a glistening drop of nectar. In was highlighted by the rays of the morning sun, making it particularly attractive to both myself and the bees.

Stout Moray -- Waka utsubo

A small Stout Moray, Waka utsubo, hiding in a crevice in the reef outside Queen's Surf at Waikiki on the Island of Oahu. This little moray will evenually grow to be about 3 feet long but, for the moment is just a tiny 6-8 inches.

White Mouthed Moray

White Mouthed Moray, Gymnothorax melealgris, or Puhi in Hawaiian, at Queen's Surf Beach Park on Oahu. The water was a bit cold and a little bit cloudy with particulates from the recent rains so I had to get a little closer to take pictures of the fish. The bigger morays, such as this one, have a nasty habit of lunging out of their hole if they feel threatened. Add in the waves sloshing me back and forth over his hole and it made for a little excitement. There is a little bit of a balance between getting a decent picture and staying far enough away so as to not get bitten. The closest land analogy would be that of trying to get a closeup of a snake that would periodically coil up and rattle at you.

Hawaiian for beginners

Hawaiian lesson for the day:
How are you? = Pehea 'oe? (pronounced Pay Hey ah oy)
I am fine. = Maika'i no au. (pronounced My Kah Ee No ow)
Maika'i = excellent, well, awesome

Little Blue Heron

A Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, feeding on fish and crustaceans in the Mission River.

American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, flying low along the water in the Mission River Preserve. While frequently found in the interior of North America, these birds are less common visitors near the ocean. This one was found in a group of four birds. They were located about two miles inland from the mouth of the Mission River. I've only seen them there two or three times, as they tend to avoid the ocean on their annual Winter migration.

Mike the Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, patiently guarding the feeder from his perch on my apricot tree. Even though the apricot tree no longer has leaves and in spite of the feeder emptying out while I was visiting Mom for the holidays, my faithful hummingbird was there on his favorite branch waiting for me to refill the feeder when I returned. I think I'll dub him Mike. Of course, I'm open to nominations. I don't suppose Mike will mind one way or the other.

Kualoa Regional Park, Oahu, Hawaii

Kualoa Regional Park, Oahu, Hawaii. An overcast Winter day at Kualoa Regional Park highlighting the jagged, razor sharp, eroded lava cliffs caused by millions of years of rainfall as the warm, humid tradewinds rise along the slopes of the Koolau Range on Oahu.

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, at the Mission River Preserve, San Diego, California. These adorable ducks spend the Winters in San Diego every year and can be easily recognized by their large, shovel-like beaks. They spend their summers throughout North America all the way up through Alaska and Winter in the Southern states down through Mexico. I love the way the feathers on their head glow a deep purple when the sun hits them just right, their big gangly beaks that seems too big for their heads and those funky lemon-yellow eyes.

National Bird Day - An Avocet Afternoon

American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana, feeding in the shallows at the Mission River Preserve in San Diego, California. What better way to spend the afternoon on National Bird Day than to go out and watch the migratory waterfowl at the Mission River Preserve in San Diego? As if they knew, the birds were out in full force! There were ducks, herons, egrets, grebes, cormorants and two types of pelicans plus gulls galore! The annual Winter waterfowl migration to San Diego always makes Winter days a whole lot cheerier.

San Diego AOS Awards for January, 2013

(Clowesia Alaena Laryson x Ctsm Bound for Glory) 'Sunset Valley Orchids' AM/AOS 82pts

Mormodia Lime Tiger 'SVO II' HCC/AOS 77pts

Mormodes Nitty Gritty 'Sunset Valley Orchids' HCC/AOS 78pts

Foggy Day

Foggy day in La Jolla. The marine layer is a regular occurence along the California coastline and it adds to a rather eerie effect as you gaze down the pilings into the fog.

Happy New Year

Fireworks over Waikiki. Happy New Year!!! Hope you have a good one.