FOR FUTURE SKETCHING REFERENCE

 Saw this at Oak Glen at the nature walk area.

LOOKING BACK AT THIS GUY

 I like the way he struts and he has cute feet.

These were taken on a trip years ago to an area where we visited Arroyo Grande in California.  The roosters rule the back side of town near the creek and every trip I've ever taken there I make sure to stop and photograph them.  This one just seemed to like hanging around for his photos.

AMERICAN COOT BABIES

 Every year we take a few trips over to Hesparia lake around this time of year in hopes of seeing the coot babies again.  We have never timed it right other than the time I got these photos. 

KIMBERLY CREST HOME

 We made a visit recently to a beautiful place in Redlands and i took a lot of photos.  Here are a few of the koi I enjoyed while relaxing near this pond.  

I HAVE FOUR SONS

 One of them absolutely hates lizards, reptiles of any kind and snakes - hates them with a passion.  I, on the other hand, love them and even certain snakes.  My youngest son had snakes and sometimes would bring them in and place them on my bed when I would be reading.  I never was afraid - in fact it was kind of fun to interact with them as well as having something in common with my kid.  I'm thinking that's why my second son, hates reptiles.  The youngest probably pulled some not so nice tricks on him.  

As with birds, any time I am in a pet shop I photograph bearded dragons.  

I MISS THE FERALS

 Being retired and having a lot of time to do whatever, I would spend hours during the week watching them play.  I really don't want them taking over the deck again but they were fun to watch.  We had ferals for about five years here and they eventually found their forever homes somewhere. Others in the neighborhood also liked them as they kept rodents away.  

BEAUTIFUL NORTHERN FLICKER

 Which reminds me I need to put out some more Suet for them.  They always hang around for the high protein Suet.  What a pretty bird.  I see them here often.  

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A DOG FACE

 Back on 2/11, I was walking around our local lake and sat for a moment on a bench.  I looked down and there was a lot of different bark pieces left over from a tree that had been chopped down.   I was just letting my vision roam when looking down again I saw this and picked it up.  i think it's cool.  Kind of wish I had brought it home.   And later when looking at the photo I realized the connection - ...A dog face in bark - a dog barks...

i guess the face in the bark was just waiting for someone to notice it.

There were quite a few pieces lying around but I wasn't about to check each one and now I wish I had.

 

WESTERN BLUEBIRDS YESTERDAY

 I was taking a break from a hike and found a bench to sit on - I saw movement kind of far away but only had my sunglasses with me.  I had to trust that I could get some pics and it was only after I took them that I saw what kind of birds they were.

WHILE UP AT BIG BEAR LAKE

 We were walking through an area called STanfield Marsh when we would see these western bluebirds, fly up from the ground and perch on these very thin branched wheat looking bushes.  There were many of them - it must be the season for them up there.  The marsh has little water in it now - mostly just close to the little island out in the middle.  A few years back the whole area was beautiful with lots of water. 

The whole marsh is quite a walk if you leave from the bridge area and go across to behind the houses where there is a road that leads up to the hwy.  We finally took it and it was a good work out because some of the wheat looking plants are taller in some areas and the marsh bed is  damp from snow that melted and sunk in.