A DAY OUT IN BIG BEAR

He was really little but  M saw him first.  We were walking along the footbridge enjoying the pelicans across the water when he  saw him - and he saw us at the same time.  I wonder if lizards get use to people walking near them.  He seems almost to freeze at some point and just give in to getting his photo taken.

There were so many pelicans yesterday -  they were all on a little island area where what water was left surrounded the area.   Stanfield Marsh aka Baker's Pond is definitely a seasonal pond and since we are into August there's still water but probably by October the pond will have shrank quite a bit more.  Some years it has been so dry and empty of water that the ground has cracked and just looks like a drought  ridden field.  Just a few months ago the water went under the bridge and close to the road.

 First time in days we felt fairly cool while walking as it was only in the mid 70's, compared to 90 plus we had for days.  

On the way back along the footbridge a few pelicans were flying so I was able to get some photos of them.  All this open land not long ago was under water.  i like seeing what grows when the water has evaporated.

Today the peaceful feeling of yesterday is filled with the sound of more big trucks trimming trees above the Edison lines and chipping the branches.  The last two years has had more activity by the power company than since we have been here in seven years.  It's actually a noise that is welcome because that means when Santa Ana winds come in the fall and then snow in the winter, more care has been taken to avoid trees falling on power lines.  Last year was unbelievable how much damage was done in winter.

FOG FOR DAYS - RAIN FOR DAYS ...AGAIN FOG - AND SNOW COMING SOON

Spring when will you bloom? At least here where I live. 

So here are the last pelican photos I'll post.  I still want to get back to the lake where they are breeding to see if they are still there and to find what we saw in researching them,  a place called Pelican Lake which is nearby somewhat to this lake.

So on this foggy day while I'm still waiting for a break in the fog I'll just post some more pics.  I look back at photos i took last year during this March week ....from the 13th to whatever ...and the weather was gorgeous, sunny skies, blooming trees and this year it's totally different.  But then nothing is ever the same - every moment is a new one. 

 and some of the houses we drove by when we were leaving the lake with all the gulls on it.

A FEW MORE PELICANS ....NOT PENGUINS....

Today's pelican pics ..

I really enjoyed watching these guys and I love the first pic - it looks like he is already setting the stage for a little mating to go on - ...he's bold and beautiful and I'm guessing the one he has his wing around might be a female ...or male... who knows but it is mating season for them or then again ...I just caught him stretching which he probably is doing.

The structures below I think are some kind of high desert museum but I have never seen any access open to go into them 

POSTING MY FAVORITE PHOTO OF ALL TIME

The day was September 4, 2006 and I was up in the central coast area to wait for great niece Hannah who was trying to come into the world that day.  Her mother's labor was long and Mike and I decided to spend some time driving around the area and stopping at a few of our favorite beaches while waiting for the phone call that Hannah was here.

We stopped at Shell beach, a beautiful area near the Tri-City beaches and sat for awhile.  I noticed the pelicans on a cliff and zoomed in and got my most favorite photo ever.

I know I have posted this before but I think it's been a few years back.  Just seeing it reminds me of the happy day and also it makes me feel good looking at it.