PELICANS AT BIG BEAR LAKE, STANFIELD MARSH

We went up to the lake a few days ago.  I think this was the best time weather-wise, we have ever been up there.  High clouds  drifting in front of the sun kept the temps cool and the lighting was beautiful - the landscape looked lit with pastel colors and once in awhile it would light up with full sun with temps about 67 - perfect for hiking. 

Another trip is planned in a few days, after the weekend,  to go to another area we just discovered last year, Bluff Lake.   This time we will head out in the jeep because the whole way is dirt roads and after the winter who knows what condition they will be in.   I'm curious to see if the pelicans hang out there at this time of year.

Stanfield Marsh which isn't the main part of Big Bear Lake but across a road, still has a lot of water but the shoreline will definitely get bigger as summer goes on and water evaporates. 

A PAIR AT LUNCH

Until the Grosbeaks are hanging around more I'll post a few from the past once in awhile.   I have noticed so many times that when I'm playing music and my windows are open, the birds sing even louder.   I prefer to think that they are enjoying the tones or maybe they sense a "disturbance in their field" .  I love that phrase ...Disturbance in the Field -...which I recently read means anything that keeps us from realizing our need.   I guess this disturbance can either be chaotic or rhythmic but definitely noticeable that catches our attention and for the moment we aren't thinking of our "need"

                                                       Seeds are plentiful
                                                       Music so beautiful plays
                                                       Meal can wait  for now
                                                                           

SCRUB JAY ON JADE PLANT

                                                            Light at mid morning
                                                          Awake, alert, he listens
                                                          sounds of children near

                                                         AWAKE, ALERT, AWARE, AVOID

SUMMER GROSBEAKS

A quote I saw recently and like - no author was listed.

"Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be."

SWALLOWTAILS ARE BACK

We have seen them out in the yard lately.   I haven't been able to get my camera out in time to get photos but here are some from awhile ago when we were at
Mt. Baldy - which by the way...I am determined to go there sometime in the next few weeks before it gets too hot, to hike behind the old ice house that burned down years ago. 

I RARELY SEE HOUSE SPARROWS IN MY YARD

I took these awhile back.  They are  birds that prefer to hang out near restaurants and drive thrus - grocery stores, anywhere that people have food around. 

When I've read about them  at Wikipedia ....it is said they pretty much stay away from humans and feeds mostly on seeds, grains and bugs.  What !?!

Some one needs to set the record  straight and tell them to stop hanging out near the MacDonald's drive thru.   I do believe they love french fries.

............................

Then here is another description found at "All About Birds" ...someone is wrong - now who is it??

"Habitat of the House Sparrow
Some of the natural habitats that they live in include forests, meadows, grasslands, deserts, desert edges, woodlands, and more. The vast majority of their population lives in urban areas."

Personally I go with the definition at All About Birds.  Whichever one is right, who knows but I like them for their beautiful feather patterns.

NORTHERN FLICKER

Northern flickers  live in the west (I live in Southern California mountains) and  have a red shaft of color on the tail and then there are flickers who live in the east who have a yellow shaft.

The flickers  are some  of the prettiest birds that come to the yard around here.  I always put peanuts on the deck railing upstairs and keep peanut suet out also, especially in winter.   Some years there seem to be more of them but lately, the last few years I haven't seen as many.

CUTE SPARROW

Back to bird watching again - since I'm home more than I'm out.  

We made it through Mother's Day without snow which means.....we shouldn't have any more until late fall!  

We still aren't having all that  many birds coming to the yard - since spring brings out a lot of bugs.  I've gotten new plastic inserts for a bird bath.  I always find it fun to watch them take baths.

HOUSE FINCH

It's not often they land where I can get a clear pic of them. 

BIRD WATCHING YESTERDAY

Black headed grosbeaks this time of year come sporadically to the yard to eat seed.  The air is filled right now with a lot of tiny insects so for a lot of the day they are out eating bugs. 

This one stopped by for a bit yesterday.  There are still nuthatches, house finches, flickers and chickadees around.  I especially like when a flock of pigeons come to the yard because they pick up a lot of the seed that the other birds throw out of the feeders on to the ground.

He finally saw me taking his photo and then jumped down to the ground.

I learned something yesterday.  I was watching a squirrel up in a  cedar incense tree and she  was eating the bark of branches.  This is something I didn't know they do.  I thought they were all about nuts and seeds.  Cedar Incense trees have a really soft wood and they must supply some type of nourishment for the squirrels. 

In one photo you can see her "finger" start to pick off some wood.

So this is what I found when I did a quick research   

Squirrels use bark in their nests. When bark is removed from trees, the cambium layer with sugars and nutrients is exposed. Squirrels often eat that layer when other food is scarce, particularly in the winter. Chewing on bark can also maintain the health of a squirrel's teeth