This shot came out *much* clearer! It’s a gulf fritillary.
#butterfly #butterflies #nature #photo
Tag: Photo
Went for a walk in the rain this morning.
Went for a walk in the rain this morning. It usually doesn’t rain much here after April, but we got a couple of hours of drizzle today.
Some of the local wildlife spotted at the gardens.
Some of the local wildlife spotted at the gardens.
I didn’t have much luck photographing #birds this time, but I did catch some good shots of this one. Though I’m not sure what it is. Maybe a warbler?
This #squirrel was one of three that scattered as I approached a trail junction. The other two hid. This one froze. It blended in very well!
And while I *saw* lots of #butterflies, this mourning cloak is the only one that held still long enough for me to get a #photo.
Some flowers and a tree that puts out deep red leaves in spring.
Some flowers and a tree that puts out deep red leaves in spring. It wasn’t labeled, but I think it’s a Krauter Vesuvius plum. Lit from the front the leaves are a deep purple. Lit from behind they’re this super-bright red.
#flowers #photo #nature #florespondence
Finally made it out to the botanical gardens up in the hills for a hike.
Finally made it out to the botanical gardens up in the hills for a hike. They’ve actually stayed open this whole time by requiring reservations to limit the number of people on the grounds at a time. (Also face masks, distancing, and closing off benches and some sections.)
Ironically there were more people there than I usually see. The limits must be against an increased demand due to the fact that they were actually open!
#nature #signs #bench #trail #closed #hiking #mask #photo
Doves always look silly to me when they’re in the middle of turning their heads.
Ducks at a city park
Ducks at a city park that’s recently re-opened the walkways and open space, though facilities and playgrounds remain closed.
1. Join me for a drink?
2. OK, ducks can’t read.
3. Three ducks ignoring a pigeon.
Some photos of the park facilities and warning signs:
Sorta Open. Maaaybe. If You’re Careful.
Here’s a seagull I saw skimming along the waves
On another note, here’s a seagull I saw skimming along the waves on that walk.
#photo #ocean #gull #birds #nature #beach #seagull #flying
Thinking back to the last “normal” weekend in southern California
Thinking back to the last “normal” weekend in southern California before it became clear that covid-19 was spreading locally & closures started.
After a busy Saturday & Sunday morning, I went out for a calming photo walk at the beach.
Not many people were there. I’m not sure if it was just not warm enough yet, or people were starting to keep their distance already, or if they were just all at the other end where there was a kite festival.
#photo #beach #SocialDistancing #california
Indian Hawthorn flowers in bloom
Indian Hawthorn flowers in bloom. The empty lot is the greenbelt under a set of transmission wires. Hawthorns will grow as bushes, and make up a *lot* of hedges around here, but they can also be trained to grow upward and pruned into trees. There are several spaced along this block at the same stage of growth.
A black phoebe on a fence.
A crow on a street lamp
American Pipit
There were at least two, possibly three or four of these birds hopping around the grass next to a bike path. They weren’t easy to spot at a distance.
This bird’s new to me: apparently it’s an American pipit, also known as a buff-bellied pipit, a small ground-nesting insectivore. I spotted several of them walking around in the grass next to a bike path that’s just been closed down, though I could see them from the sidewalk with a zoom lens.
Lily in the spotlight
A common House Sparrow
A common House #Sparrow perched on what looks like bougainvillea. It sounded like there were a lot of them in there, but I could only see one.
Some more house finches and a hummingbird.
Some more house finches and a hummingbird. Hummingbirds always look weird to me when they’re perched.
#photo #birds #finch #HouseFinch #hummingbird #nature
On Photog.Social
Finch (in grass) on Flickr
I must have seen over a dozen house finches on a very short walk today. I assume there’s a nest or several in the area.
Hummingbird on iNaturalist
Finch (on wire) on iNaturalist
Finch (in grass) on iNaturalist
A dove spotted this morning.
A dove spotted this morning. I just walked around the neighborhood and most of the birds I spotted were on cables like this.
Might be a mourning dove, turtle dove, or collared dove. If you happen to know, feel free to chime in at #iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40535563
Finally recovered enough from the flu to get out for a walk in the neighborhood (while that’s still an option).
Finally recovered enough from the flu to get out for a walk in the neighborhood (while that’s still an option).
I think this first bird (possibly a goldfinch?) was trying to practice social distancing, though the crow in the third photo seems to be doing a better job. The house finch was such a bright red that I thought it had to be another kind of bird until I looked at the photos.
#photo #birds #nature #finch #HouseFinch #goldfinch #crow
Some parts of the marsh are colorful this time of year. Others…not so much.
Some parts of the marsh are colorful this time of year. Grass has grown, wildflowers are starting to peek out. Others…not so much. But at least the wooded parts look less bleak than the open ponds.
Another shot of wildflowers from the same hike
Another shot of #wildflowers from the same hike, closer to the parts of the marsh with water. The purple/white flowers are wild radish.
This one works better when viewed at a larger size. I think I like the yellow fiddlenecks shot better because it works at a smaller size too.
