It's Fall at Skyline

This time of the year skies seem bluer, the air is cooler, the shadows longer, .... and ducks and geese are coming back!

Even the brush looks pretty!

Lichen and mistletoe living on a dormant California Buckeye.

This large beetle was blocking the trail for awhile.

Heron Lake is fairly natural, as the public is fenced off, and can't feed the waterfowl.

I took this video for the sounds of the geese.  They came flying in honking like crazy and kept it up as they swam around.  I think they were feeling joyous. 

Rector Reservoir Wildlife Area

Today, I did a little hike while the open house was going on back home.  The Rector Reservoir Wildlife Area is a little northeast of Yountville, and the trailhead is on Silverado Trail.

The first leg climbs steeply and gives good views of the vineyards and western skyline.

It was hazy, today, but a cold clear fall morning would be great when the vines are turning color.

On the eastern side of the ridge it is pretty wild.  That is part of Rector Reservoir below.

This is fairly rugged country! I read there are Prarie Falcons and Peregrine Falcons as well as Red Legged Frogs.

Yesterday at IBR

Yes, Kramer is still alive and well, almost always arriving during feeding time.  He is the master fish thief!

Below, are some of our Brandt's Cormorants.  They look sedate here, but cause more carnage to staff than any other bird we have.  I have had healing little wounds the past few months.  They are quick as lightning, strike like snakes, have a bill made of knives, but we love them anyway!

This is typical if the cormorant's head comes uncovered when handling.  Eye protection is a must! 

Skyline Park - Again!

Skyline usually has a surprise or two each time I hike there.  Here are a couple photos from last week.  Besides these, I also heard a Pileated Woodpecker in the same area I have seen them in the past.

A pair of mule deer.

California Sister butterfly.

Beaver Creek

Saturday was sunny, warm, and joyous.  Before striking out on a canoe trip at Beaver Creek, we went to "Pick of the Litter" where Gail donated much of her collection to charity.  All proceeds go to the Newport Animal Shelter (the items pictured were not Gail's).

It was a lovely paddle up the calm waters.  We saw 2 otters, cormorants, and great egrets.

We saw few people, but the first person we did see was a man paddling down the creek standing on a paddleboard (SUP).  It turned out we recognized each other.  He was Mike, one of Steve's and  Lorie's good friends.  Gail was impressed I knew someone coming down a creek in Oregon!

Beauty everywhere!

Shimmering Reflection



The end of the paddle, still dry and very relaxed.

The Sunday drive back to Napa was almost 600 miles, but one always gets a little lift at the sight of  Mt. Shasta.

Lorie, Aaron, and Kuba were gracious hosts.  Thanks for all you did for us!

Yaquina Head at Night

I walked out to the Yaquina Lighthouse  around 10:00 at night.  I was just starting to get dialed in on exposure times when it started raining. 

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Last week, I was in Newport, Oregon.  Gail had some business to attend to in Washington for a few days, but we were able to enjoy some of Oregon's beauty over the weekend.

We just had to stop at the "Mushroom House" in Sutherlin.  It was a real throw-back to the 60's.

The wet Oregon weather brought out this local on the walk out to the lighthouse.

It always seems to be spring on the Oregon coast.

The lighthouse is on a rugged headland with offshore rocks that provide refuge for seals, and resting and nesting areas for seabirds.

The lighthouse is the tallest in Oregon at about 90 feet.  It has been recently restored.

The docent at the top explains the working of the Fresnel lens.

This is looking up at the actual lens which is perfect enough to send light 19 miles with just a 500 watt bulb.

Only one at a time is allowed up to the lens. 

The stairway is most amazing as it is all cast iron originally supported only at the landings.  Because cast iron gets brittle with age, and the stairway was only designed for light traffic, it has been further supported and only six people are allowed up at a time.