Some birds spotted on a hike yesterday morning: a California Towhee (the mature one perched on top of a bush) and a bushtit (looking very birb-like). A whole lot of the latter were flying back and forth between the trees on either side of the path, barely stopping long enough for me to point the camera in the right direction.
Images
Desert Cottontail
This rabbit was right next to the trail and darted out from cover as soon as I got too close to it. Then I tried to get a photo where you could actually see something of its head other than its ears, and waited, and waited, and waited until it finally ran off the rest of the way.
Mourning Dove
I swear I’d lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on…wait, there it goes…
I swear I’d lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on…wait, there it goes…
Northern Mockingbird
Pelican Cove, just past the point with the lighthouse
Pelican Cove, just past the point with the lighthouse. Unlike other parts of the preserve, there’s a trail here that lets you hike down to the (rocky) beach. Of course then you have to hike back up again.
I don’t know what kind of rock this is or why it looks like layers of thin pastry (or maybe a sponge), but it certainly looked interesting!
Flapping Finches
I startled a group of around four or five finches on a lawn and they flew up to the nearest cables.
–Pixelfed
Coastal hike at Vicente Bluffs Reserve
Coastal hike at Vicente Bluffs Reserve, on the peninsula southwest of Los Angeles.
#nature #ocean #california #hiking #flowers #cove #coast #florespondence #photo
I saw this squirrel a few lots down the street while I was out walking.
I saw this #squirrel a few lots down the street while I was out walking. It paused. I paused. I got my camera out. It stood up to look around. I kept my camera out. Then it slowly ran down the street almost but not quite in my direction until it passed about 4 feet away, then paused in the shade before continuing on its way. I think it started trying to determine whether I was a threat or not, and then whether I was likely to give it food or leave it alone. #nature
Two birds spotted while hiking the trails on top of the coastal bluffs
Two birds spotted while hiking the trails on top of the coastal bluffs southwest of Los Angeles. First a lesser goldfinch, which took me forever to actually catch on camera (there were 3 or 4 of them flitting around and not stopping for very long anywhere!) and a black phoebe that was perched a few yards from the trail.
#birds #photo #nature #finch #phoebe
This hawk was riding the updraft above the coastal bluffs.
fleabanes and horseweeds (blooming, edge of path)
Green and purple flowers at a botanical garden. I can’t remember what the plants are, …
Yeah, I realize my explanation for why I’m out here is a bit Farfetch’d, but it’s the truth. You wanna make something of it?
Yeah, I realize my explanation for why I’m out here is a bit Farfetch’d, but it’s the truth. You wanna make something of it?
A swallowtail butterfly, photographed using the classic technique of desperately following it with the camera…
A #swallowtail #butterfly, photographed using the classic technique of desperately following it with the camera and clicking the shutter when I hope it’s pointing vaguely in the right direction to at least catch it in frame and it probably won’t be in focus anyway but with luck it’ll at least be identifiable and…hey, not bad!
(Otherwise I’ve basically given up trying to actually aim at butterflies when they’re flying.)
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Sign at a local bar/club/lounge on a partly cloudy day.
Sign at a local bar/club/lounge on a partly cloudy day.
This is the same place that proclaimed “We missed some of you!” when they reopened after the winter pandemic surge shutdown.
I think they’ve mostly been doing “patio” dining in the parking lot, but inside gathering spots have been slowly reopening over the last month or so as case rates plummet in California and vaccination rates climb.
Found these two together at a Pokemon Go gym. Seemed appropriate.
Found these two together at a Pokemon Go gym. Seemed appropriate.
Anita Donut
Yeah, I could use one too, but it turns out they don’t have any at this time of day.
Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve had a donut since last March. I used to only have them when someone brought a box in at work, or occasionally I’d stop by a donut shop on the way to work. Neither of those have happened for a while.
And that’s that!
Chasing Hawks
Three smaller birds tried to chase away a pair of hawks from an electrical tower. One of them flew off while they chased it. The other waited a bit, then flew off to join the first one circling farther away.