I SAW THIS PARROT AT THE COUNTY FAIR A FEW YEARS BACK

He's kind of cute perched there with his fruit.

WESTERN BLUEBIRD

There weren't many birds out at the area we were at up in Big Bear yesterday.  Stanfield Marsh where I like to take bird photos is going through a dry spell and no water is in the marsh.  We are a couple thousand feet lower than they are in altitude and this year we got more snow than they did.  Our lake is looking great so I'm thankful that all the snow we got and I griped about helped fill our lake more.

Flash of blue and orange

Bluebird flying swiftly by

Vision sees beauty

SOME GEESE AT THE LAKE

 I'm enjoying this time of year - weather is beautiful and it feels good getting out.  The surrounding area around Hesperia lake looks pretty dry -  This lake is in the high desert.  

FIRST CHANCE I GET

 I'm going to visit the Bird Farm.  I always enjoy going there.    It's a few cities down the mountain from me - about a 40 minute drive but well worth the time.  Until I can go again I'll just post some older photos I'm not sure i ever posted.

I LOVE THE ANGLE OF THE LIGHT THIS TIME OF YEAR OVER AT THE LAKE

 

THE ONLY TWO FERALS THAT WE HAVE VISITING US DAILY TO EAT

 I guess the rest of them found their "areas" and just two of them are still here.  That big guy has been my favorite.  His name is "Bootsie" and as big as he is, he has a meow like a 6 week old kitten.  

They were out in the back yard the other day while i was refilling the bird feeders.  

They are at their water containers.

I STILL REMEMBER THE DAY

 Back in the early 2000's we visited Seaport Village in San Diego and was sitting in a restaurant which I can picture but can't remember the name.  We were sitting near the window looking out at the ocean when this bird landed on the window frame as if he was waiting for us to throw some food out for him.

Not sure why this came up in my photos today other than to remind me that I really NEED to go to San Diego again.  I guess because winter is coming I'm remembering all the places I want to go when we are dealing with cold weather in the mountains and I want a sense of spring or summer somewhere else.

And the rest of the birds are from our last trip to San Diego which has to be about 7  or so years ago.  I think we're due to another visit.

I'm putting these here again on this blog to remind myself and to hint to Mike that it's time to go again at least for one overnight trip.

A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AT THE LAKE

While walking down by the lake I noticed this plant.  The wind was blowing and this leaf flipped over in the wind.  I had tried to straighten it up for a photograph and realized it was best to leave it this way  and then I saw why - I looked closer and it was really beautiful.

IN MY ONGOING SELF EDUCATION ON FLOWERS I LEARNED A NEW NAME TODAY

 While over at Lake Gregory walking on the trail around the lake I took photos of this plant.  Once I looked it up it had a familiar name, one I have heard of before but never knew really what the flower looked like.  

Another day is lining up for a beautiful walk - not sure where but this time of year I have to get out every day because in the winter so many days I'm stuck inside.  

The rest of the photos are just random scenes around the lake.  

Evidently yarrow is a healing plant, wrote of in a story about Achilles.  

 Achilles was the bravest, handsomest, and greatest warrior of the army of Agamemnon in the Trojan War

 "A. millefolium. In Greek myth, there was an herb of such healing renown, the hero Achilles used it to treat the wounds of his men. Today, historians and botanists agree that the herb described in Homer's Iliad was yarrow. Centuries may have passed, but yarrow has lost none of its effectiveness"

Achillea Milliefolium - Yarrow