LIVING IN A FREEZER

A few days before the freeze came I took these photos while walking the lake.  Four days ago we got an inch of snow - no big deal, right?  Well it was really more like ice and very little melt has gone on.  We've been watching cars trying to make it up the road and sliding back down.  I think today it has gotten better but I haven't been out yet.  I would rather have a foot of snow than less than an inch of ice.  On our street we get very little direct sun this time of year so there is not much melting going on.

MORE PISMO BEACH SEAGULLS ON THANKSGIVING MORNING

An enjoyable morning standing on the pier and seeing the reflections of the seagulls - it was a beautiful morning and so many people were out enjoying the  November weather.  I took way too many photos of the seagulls and will post a few more later.

THANKSGIVING DAY - PISMO BEACH MORNING

This pelican was hanging around the pier and a couple of guys fishing off the pier offered him a treat so he was being very protective of his snack while people walked by.  He went after one guy but only scared him and made him jump away.

WHILE ON A PLANE TO SEATTLE

I was looking through their Alaskan Airline Magazine that they have available to read and I saw this photo.  Luckily I had my camera within arm's reach (it always is) and I was able to snap a photo of it.  It makes me feel like I'm at the pier in Avila which I will be again soon.  Tomorrow I will be where this red dot is!

AND NOW THERE'S FOUR

Have a great weekend!

EGRET AT THE COAST

I love her stance.  This was taken one morning when we were staying in Pismo Beach - last Thanksgiving week 2015.  We will be there again this year and I will be up early to go out on the beach and get my "fix" of photos.

FLYING IN TANDEM

Seagulls can learn and remember what works for them.  One thing they do is stamp their feet in unison to mimic rainfall so as to trick earthworms to come to the surface.  A little bit of  info I read on the net.

I love to learn things in one or two sentences - then - this info will remain with me and a few years down the road if I see them stamping their feet I'll still remember why they do it.

Our night was cold last night and I slept with the window wide open with only one light blanket on me.  I woke up freezing thsi morning, jumped out of bed and closed the window and put the heat on for a bit   I love this time of year.

This time of year the colors and the way the hills are lit - is so pretty.

NOVEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY THE SEAGULLS RETURN TO THE LAKE

Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time photographing them in flight.  We are getting colder weather coming from the North so our nights will go down into the 30's.  I hope to get out in awhile to go to the lake for a brisk walk.  We have winds but so far nothing to keep me away from walking.

While Mike throws out duck food I try to catch them coming in for a landing.

SPARROW

We are still have very mild weather here in the mountains and I enjoy seeing what birds come by.

TODAY I LEARNED (stealing a phrase from Redditt)

This is what I learned today - that a honey badger is an amazingly intelligent creature.

SOME MORE CENTRAL COAST COWS

I hope the recent rain helps the central coasts' hills to turn green again.  It's a beautiful place after the rain.

HAPPY COWS

These are the Happy Cows of San Luis Obispo County ... Love this scene.

PISMO COWS #2

As I said before in prior post so fortunate to have these photos - because the only ones I have of this day and these cows are what I posted on a different blog right after I took the pics.  The rest of the photos from my trip were lost when my computer crashed.  If I hadn't blogged them I would not  have the photos as a reminder of the beautiful day up in this area.

MOM AND BABY AT THE CENTRAL COAST -

I don't think I put these on this blog before and if I did it's been years. 

I have a whole series I want up so I can refer back to them for sketching.

This was on a trip up to Arroyo Grande/Pismo area of California.

This was in an area where there were "view" lots for sale and they sat behind a security gate which was open when we drove by one day.  I am so glad we went when we did because now the gate is closed to the public. 

The views were beautiful and it was at a time a lot of the mother cows had given birth to their babies.  

I'm so thankful I got these pics.  

SPARROW STOPPING BY FOR A DRINK

I always enjoy when the birds come by for a drink and stay for a few photos.  I like the "bokeh" effect on the background which was not done on purpose and I only saw it later.  I didn't even know what the word meant until someone mentioned it on another of my photos and I had to look it up.

So - in case you have never heard of it here is the definition:


Bokeh is the official name for a specific photography effect.  The name actually comes from the Japanese word for blur or haze.  Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of out of focus blur in a photograph.

PIGEON POOL

Looked out my window the other day and this pigeon was trying to take a bath.

VERY CUTE VIDEO OF JAPANESE WHITE EYES

THERE WAS A WHOLE GROUP OF AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS

We were up in Big Bear at the lake yesterday, near an area called Boulder Bay.  It's a beautiful area with a small park and expensive homes and up until this year the water level was fairly high.  I was surprised to find it so low but apparently the pelicans loved it.  There was a group of them - about 10 or more - eating something in the water - they traveled in a group and would duck their heads at the same time and then come up to swallow.  As I was watching them - I could see this guy fly in from way across the lake toward where I was so I caught him in flight.  The light was perfect.  I'll be posting more photos from this day later but this was my favorite.

EVERY YEAR I INTEND TO PLANT SOME AND NEVER DO -NEXT SEASON I WILL

A BIRD I SAW RECENTLY - A BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND DOVE

FEMALE BLACK HEADED GROSBEAK

This time of year we get quite a few of these birds in the yard.  I always tend to see more females around than males.   After they have had their babies - I hear the most delicate softest sounded chirping comes from the trees as the babies get older.

The bird baths I make are simple - a pot with a plastic insert which just happens to fit the opening.  This insert happened to be plastic serving dishes I bought from the dollar store.  Most of the time I buy one without sections that are the plastic trays you put pots on to catch the water.  This way I can put several pots out with water for them.

THIS IS "BOYFRIEND"

Who hangs around the house outside and loves "mama cat."  He is the most polite cat of all the ferals that have come around.  We make sure he has food and water as do a lot of other neighbors.

GULLS HANGING AROUND VASHON ISLAND, WASHINGTON

When we were in Washington we took the ferry to Seattle but stopped at Vashon Island on the way.  The grandkids were calling them "Seattle Penguins" which had me laughing.

Here are a few of the "Penguins" we saw that day.

On closer inspection I believe this was the same gull in all the photos.

CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK - MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA

I was visiting and staying with my sister and her husband in San Luis Obispo and ended up staying for a week.  It was a great vacation and they took me all over the place - All the coast towns.  In Morro Bay I saw this Pelican and bought it and then gave it to them as a thank you gift for all they do for me.  Whenever I see this photo in my files it makes me want to get in the car and take another trip to the area.

The store where I bought this is filled with all kinds of fun things.  I'll definitely make a trip back there some day and the great thing about it, is it is near the ice cream shop where I get the best peppermint milk shakes.


The bird picture behind the pelican is also a painting I gave to her awhile back.  I've always liked it.

SCENES AROUND THE LAKE

Western Bluebird, not sure of the next one and then a robin - small new building near San Moritz lodge where I suspect since they rent out the area for weddings - the wedding party uses this building to get ready.

CHICKADEES LOOK SO GRUMPY

I often feel so "judged" when a chickadee looks at me.

LISTENING IN - RAVEN TALK

DRAGONFLY AT THE LAKE

How is your spring going?

I saw this dragonfly the other day at the lake, the same day I saw some bullfrogs.  I have been walking the lake path for almost three years now and have never seen a frog.  I was really excited when I heard their bullfrog croak.

WHEN I WAS RECENTLY IN WASHINGTON

I spent a lot of time out in the yard watching the grandkids on the trampoline or in the garden - and also watching birds.

It was early one morning when I saw this junco finding his breakfast.

I LOVE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE ANIMATED PART

A FEW BIRD PHOTOS FROM MY RECENT TRIP TO PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON

I had a nice time recently in Washington for the last week.  My daughter in law was at a salon so dropped me off so I could sight see for an hour or so.

First thing I saw was this seagull.

Besides the seagulls I found some house sparrows.  One seemed to be waving at me but he was probably getting ready to scratch his face.