Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna. The hummingbird feeder is full of hummingbirds feeding on sugar around dusk, as they stock up on energy to survive our cool February nights. While there may only be one or two hummingbirds at the feeder during the Summer, during the Winter there may be four or even as many as six hummingbirds sitting at or hovering around the feeder at any given time.

The Last Thing a Mud Goby Sees...

Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, San Elijo Preserve. This is the last thing a mud goby ever sees in his sad, mud skipping, invert eating existence. The egrets wade in the shallow water, waving their feet in little semi-circles above the mud. The moment one of those little gobies so much as twitches, bam. Bird food. This egret would catch the gobies in the tip of its beak and then toss them up like little peanuts, catching them in its gullet (a photo for another post).

My Trusty Ukulele

This post is for Hanny. I bought this hand made tenor a long, long time ago in Hawaii. It was apparently made by Joseph N. Souza III, rather than his quite famous luthier dad, under the Kau Wela brand name. It sounds better than any other tenor I've had a chance to play, including the Martin tenor...not that I would necessarily know. Joe Souza III is apparently a fireman with Ladder 17 for the Honolulu Fire Department; however, he appears to have also learned to make a real nice Uke from his Dad.

Why Did the Turkey Cross the Street?

Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo variety intermieda (Rio Grande Subspecies), Santa Ysabel, California. As we were driving back from Santa Ysabel where we had partaken in some warm slices of apple pie and hot cocoa, we saw a huge flock of wild turkeys just to the right of the road. We pulled over and I walked back to try to get a shot of the flock. However, they were rather camera shy, choosing to fly across the street instead. I was a little worried that one would fly up just as a car was going by but they seemed to be keeping an eye on both me and the cars at the same time! Multi-tasking turkeys indeed!

Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans var. semiatra, taking a close look at me at the San Diego Botanical Gardens. The Black Phoebe is the only predominantly black flycatcher in North American and generally lives near water or in otherwise wet areas where there is mud available to build its nests with.

Striped Blowpipe Bamboo

Striped Blowpipe Bamboo, Bambusa dolichoclada, in the late afternoon sun at the San Diego Botanical Gardens. This species is native to Taiwan and the variegated variety makes a great yard accent although it will spread fairly quickly.

Spooning Turtle Style

Red-Eared Slider Turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, out enjoying the sun. It is native to the Southern U.S. and Northern Mexico but has since naturalized in many other areas where it outcompetes the native turtle species becoming, in some instances, an invasive species.

Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest cat of all? The cat was dipping his paws into the pond, in the vain hope that he might catch one of the turtles way out in the middle of the pond without getting wet.

Roxburg Fig

Roxburg Fig, Ficus auriculatus, San Diego Botanic Gardens. These figs are native to Southeast Asia. They are used for jams, jellies and curries in India and in salads in Vietnam. The figs start off reddish purple and then turn greenish as they mature.

A Great Day for Hummers

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, enjoying some geranium nectar on a sunny, 80 degree, San Diego day.

Marbled Godwit with an Itch

Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa, with an itch. You ever get that itch that you just can't reach? Imagine if you had to scratch with your feet! This marbled godwit was taking a break from hunting for crustaceans and worms in the sand and was happily resting on one foot until...that itch came about...

Happy Valentines Day to You and That Special Someone

Two California Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, in breeding plummage. These two are looking a little cozy. Wishing you and that special valentine all the best! -A

Endangered Peregrine Falcon Off-Limits

Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, taking flight off of a National Park Service off-limits sign. It seems somehow appropriate that an endangered bird would be perched on an off-limits sign. The area in back of the sign is a nesting area for snowy plovers and California Least Terns in the Spring.

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. Miles of beach, birds, the wind and the sound of the waves.

Sea Lions Snuggle

California sea lion pup, Zalophus californianus, sprawled out with his buddies and his mom, on flipper touching each one just to be sure they're there. How do you tell the difference between a sea lion and a seal? If you go back to my previous post of a seal, you'll see that seals have little holes for ears but sealions have these cute little flappy ears like a dachshund. Also, sea lion feet still face downward allowing them to walk on them. Seals more or less squirm across the sand or rocks. Thus, you'll see sea lions further up on the rocks than you will normally find a seal. Still, it's amazing where either of them will pop up (on top of buoys for example or quite a distance up rocky shorelines). Finally, if you see them from a distance, sea lions will be sprawled all over on top of each other and are really social. Seals tend to like a bit of space between each other and will actually claw at other seals that get too close. As it turns out, both the seals and the sea lions are pupping right now so you can make quite a photo safari of the whole event!

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.