Ospreys, Ospreys, Ospreys

This morning I drove up to lake Berryessa to look for raptors, mainly. I have an emarrassing confession - what I thought were eagles on my last trip were mostly, or all, ospreys. My feeble excuse is that last time, I was in a car with no binoculars or telephoto lens, with two non-birders.

My first stop was for this condo with an upstairs and downstairs.

I be checked out by this osprey.

Nearby was this pair who opted for a more retro unit.

I would say they were safe from casual human contact.

A few miles down the road was this cute starter home.

Here we have government assisted housing. The couple who call this home, were circling overhead, and did not wish to be stigmatized by the paparazzi.

The proud owners of this hilltop mansion opted for a gated community.

It's tough keeping up with the Jones's. Adding on is a necessity.

A little bit to the right, Honey.

In-coming!

Yes, we are a proud couple - we will not foreclose!

A gravel BLM road led me along the northeast shore of the lake. I followed it for about 5 miles.

A beautiful area this time of the year with no one around...

except more ospreys. Check the meat-hooks on this one!

Finally, some ospreys who don't need PG&E to build a good home.

They did add a decent amount of old nautical rope, though, to juxtapose the yin with the yang.

Life is good.

The trusty Previa being clutched in nature's bosum.

Focus, Bob, focus.

What about me, I'm a bird, too!

Just to prove that I am secure in my masculinity, I'm ending with a couple shots of flowers.

Red bud.

Zim Zim Falls

Last summer, I hiked up the dry, scorching Zim Zim Creek, in the far northeastern corner of Napa County, and thought it would be a beautiful area in the spring. This past Friday, I returned to the area in style in Dan's '74 Cadillac with his friend Roger. I shared a house on Mt. Veeder with Dan back in 1974 when we both worked at Napa State Hospital. Roger grew up in the Ozarks, without electricity, and never saw a doctor or dentist until he went into the U.S. Army. He was the only student in his grade at his school of 12 students.
On the way to Zim Zim, we saw several bald eagles nesting on poles near the road. Of course I didn't bring my good camera and telephoto as I knew we would be crashing through brush, etc. I hope to return later in April on my own for a little followup on the eagles and osprey around Lake Berryessa.

Lupine and oaks along the trail.

Roger likes to hike alone off trail, hates it if he knows someone else is within ten miles, but will stop and talk to anyone he meets, as Dan put it, like a hound dog who just found a fresh pile of turds.

Here, the falls are in the distance, and there is no trail. We fought our way across steep hillsides and through thick brush.

Dan, getting closer.

Roger approaches the foot of the falls where there is a great swimming hole.

The whole area was burned over a few years ago. The lupine and poppies contrast with the charred trees.

Back to the Caddy for refreshments and the long, but cushy, ride back to Napa.

Another Day at the Napa/Sonoma Marsh

It has been a few weeks since I was last able to check out the marshland. It is in its spring glory with green grass and mustard. It is so peaceful and unpopulated out there, I am appreciating this area more and more. This is known as the Carneros Region to you wine lovers.

I had to stop and say hi to this Red-tailed hawk who thought he was "hot stuff".

I decided to check out the inside of this hay barn and was not disappointed.

There were two Great Horned Owls up in the rafters huddling together.

Then another flew into the barn near the others. They sometimes hunt during the day.

Out on the ponds were groups of Bufflehead Ducks. Here is a male and two females.

Here are a pair of Mallards. Wild waterfowl are very tough to get close to. I think I am going to have to work on a portable blind or camo.

I saw several American Kestrels, hovering and diving.

This Raven was part of a group engaged in aerobatics.

A pair of Canada Geese. The one in front may actually be a Cackling Goose which looks just like the Canada Goose, but is a dwarf replica.

There were numerous Great Egrets today.

We love the green hills and mustard in March, knowing full well everything will be brown by May.

A pair of American Wigeons and a Bufflehead in back.

Two pairs of Cinnamon Teals.

Another Great Egret rounds out the day. It is a thrill to see such a variety of waterfowl and raptors in one place. Hasta la vista, Baby!

Pelicans of Santa Barbara

Brown Pelicans are wintering in Santa Barbara in large numbers. In fact there were an estimated 3,000 in the harbor not too long ago. I was able to slowly slide on my bottom sideways to get close enough to a group of about a hundred for some photos... until, that is, a group of people walked right through the middle of them.

The pelicans with white on their heads and throats are entering their third or later year. The pelicans that are all brown are entering their second year. the ones with red on their necks and pouches are breeding males.

Preening the feathers to stay waterproof.

Head throws are thought to be a form of interflock communication.

It's amazing how something so awkward on the ground is so graceful in the air. I would love to spend more time taking pictures of pelicans skimming the water in formation, and looking for subjects with a less distracting background. My recreation time was very limited on this trip, and I'm learning as I go along.

The Maloney's Tree

Dusk

Dawn

Birding in Santa Barbara

While in Santa Barbara the past two weeks, I was able to do a little bird photography around my parents home. They have a bird feeder that is like a non-stop movie - better than most TV, anyway.

White-crowned Sparrow

California Towhee

Acorn Woodpecker

Band-tailed Pigeon (or flying rats, as Grandpa calls them)

Western Scrub Jay

House Finch

Golden-crowned Sparrow