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...it Beautifies Everything it Covers.
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The Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinches are tiny, stub-billed songbirds with long, pointed wings, and short, notched tails.
They are most common in California and Texas, with pockets of local populations throughout the rest of its U.S. range.
Lesser Goldfinches feed in weedy fields, budding treetops, and the brush of open areas and edges. Depending on food availability, they may concentrate in mountain canyons and desert oases, but they are also fairly common in suburbs.
The oldest known wild Lesser Goldfinch was a male, and at least 7 years old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 2015.
(Nikon D500, 300/4, 1/1000 @ f/4.0, ISO 360)
- edited to taste
Went out this morning looking for Butterflies but came up empty handed. I did spot a Bee looking for flowers and followed him to this one. Snapped a shot and it made my day a bit better.
The summer heatwave has descended upon my neck-of-the-woods. Seems most wildlife is smarter than this human… they are seeking shelter from the sun before I even get out there. Guess I’ll have to skip that second cup of coffee in the morning and try for an earlier start : )
The Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains; a place of comfort for one’s soul.
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and Nevada’s Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily in Nevada.
Elevation: 14,505′
Area: 39,612 mi²
Highest point: Mount Whitney
Length: 400 mi
- Wikipedia
(Nikon, 14-30/4.0 @ 30 mm, 1/4 Sec @ f/20, ISO 100, edited to taste)
Take Up the Most Room in Your Heart.
- Winnie the Pooh
Went out this morning looking to capture some birds in flight; maybe not Eagles or Hawks, but something impressive. Somehow I got waylaid along the path and ended up chasing Butterflies… Life is Good : )
(Nikon, 500mm, 1/2500 @ f/5.6, ISO 800)
Got away for a few days of bliss in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Nice to be with nature.
Hope you are Enjoying the Weekend !!
(Nikon, 24-70 @ 33 mm, 1/200 @ f/20, ISO 400)
It's one of those Southern California days where it rains just enough to make streets… and roses, wet : )
Have an Amazing Monday !!
(Nikon D500, 300/4.0 + TC 1.4, 1/500 @ f/8.0, ISO 2000)
Its sprinkling in Southern California today. Most of the local news reports will be about wet roads causing vehicle collisions. So I thought I’d put a bit of positivity out in the Flickr Universe : )
(135mm, 1/5000 @ f/7.1, ISO 1600)
Spring Makes Everything Young Again
- Anonymous
Think I’m Going to Fact Check that Quote… the mirror says otherwise : )
Found this Bloom on my morning walk. Had to go back later to take a photo as my pooch wasn’t in the mindset to hold still while I played with my camera.
The Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family. The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world.
(Nikon, 300/4.0 + TC 1.4, 1/000 @ f/10, ISO 280)
...Long After Our Footprints in the Sand Are Gone
It was a fine September Morn the day I spotted this couple strolling on the sand… Life is Good.
Its amazing what can be found when you roll up your sleeves and go mucking around in the archives section of your hard disk. Dumped 2500 photos and then this image popped up. Polished it up a bit and this 2014 Pic of Utah Rocks looks good as new : )
Sort of looks like ET and Drew Barrymore having a sit-down with Elliot : ) Some Movie Buffs may remember the 1982 Film.
(Nikon D610, 24-70 @ 70 mm, 1/800 @ f/7.1, ISO 200, edited to taste)
Heard a commotion while visiting the local park this morning. Investigating, I saw Father Goose noisily chasing off a Doberman Pincher who was trying to make friends with a Canada-Goose Family.
The Dancing Queen pictured here was one of the goslings who wanted to play with the Doggie... Life is Good : )
The Canada goose is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and its migration occasionally reaches across the Atlantic to northern Europe.
Like most geese, the Canada goose is primarily herbivorous and normally migratory; it tends to be found on or close to fresh water.
(Nikon D500, 500 mm, 1/2000 @ f/8.0, ISO 1800)
Processed to Taste
...and of course, Raindrops on Roses : )
- Just a Few of My Favorite Things
Have a Fabulous Day Cause You Deserve it !!
...That Every Day is the Best Day of the Year
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Found this little critter hoping around in the bushes looking for breakfast. He found a tasty morsel. He’s was happy… and so was I : )
(200-600 @ 600 mm, 1/1600 @ f/6.3, ISO 800, edited to taste)
...but the Journey that gets us there
The Eastern Sierra
Dusted off an old image cause it’s a shot from an area I love. The heat and health issues kept me from getting there this summer, but I can reminisce and hope that I’ll make it out there in the fall.
Hope your Summer, and Winter for those Down Under, is going great.
(Nikon D7000, 17-55/2.8 @ 17mm, 1/250 @ f/8.0, ISO 110, edited to taste)
Watching the sun rise and light the Sierra Nevada Mountains is a spiritual experience for this old guy… God Bless America !!
(Nikon Z6, 24-70/2.8 @ 70 mm, 1/200 @ f/20, ISO 320)
Laguna Beach and the Pacific Ocean… a Favorite Place when not crowded.
Have a Fabulous Weekend, Cause You’ve Earned it !!!
Nikon Z6, 24-200 @ 24 mm, 1/15 @ f/18, ISO 100, edited to taste)
...Make Margaritas !!!
- Jimmy Buffett
One of my favorite Birds came to a local park to feed. Gotta Love these noisy guys cause they remind me to put on some Jimmy Buffet music... and Smile !!
Have a Great Weekend !!!
The wild parrots flying free in Southern California today are descendants of wild-caught parrots who were imported into the United States before importation was banned and somehow either escaped or were released intentionally.
These birds were well versed in survival skills and able to establish themselves in areas where exotic plant-life is plentiful.
Wild parrots have been documented in Southern California since the 1960s and there is strong evidence to suggest there may have been wild parrots as far back as the 1940s. One thing is certain -- several events have contributed to the status and distribution of wild parrots in California today.
With their personal origins a mystery, these naturalized parrots have banded together to make the skies over Southern California their flyways, the wires their playgrounds and the trees their homes. Steadily increasing in numbers with the passing of each spring, the successful adaptation to the urban environment by these pioneering parrots gives testimony to a promising future.
...Like Sunshine and Fresh Air are Hard to Beat
(Laura Ingalls Wilder)
One from the Archives:
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The Allen's Hummingbird
In early spring, a narrow strip of scrub and chaparral along the Pacific Coast starts buzzing with the sights and sounds of the coppery and green Allen's Hummingbird.
Males flash their brilliant reddish orange throat and put on an elaborate show for the females, swinging in pendulous arcs before climbing high into the sky and diving back down with a sharp squeal made by their tails.
These early migrants mostly spend the winter in Mexico, but some stay in southern California year-round. Allen's Hummingbirds breed in a narrow strip of habitat along coastal Oregon and California.
Male and female Allen's Hummingbirds use different habitats during the breeding season. The male sets up a territory overseeing open areas of coastal scrub or chaparral, where he perches conspicuously on exposed branches. The female visits these areas, but after mating she heads into thickets or forests to build a nest and raise the young.
The Allen's Hummingbird is a remarkably early migrant compared with most North American birds. Northbound birds may depart their wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding grounds as early as January when winter rains produce an abundance of flowers.
Like other birds, Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down.
The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was at least 5 years old when she was captured and rereleased in California during banding operations in 2009. She was banded in the same state in 2004.
(Nikon, 300/4.0 + TC 1.4 (420 mm), 1/400 @ f/16, ISO 2500, edited to taste)
Venice is an enchanting city that casts visitors under an intoxicating spell. It's dreamy and romantic, with an undercurrent of mystery and drama.
Photo of a gondola on the Grand Canal… a place that fills your senses with sights and sounds of daily life in Venice.
Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces.
The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.
From the 2004 Archives
(Canon PowerShot S400, 1/200 @ f/2.8, ISO 50)
Edited to choice
The rain stopped this morning, so I headed out to see what I could find. Always feel lucky when there's something to photograph that doesn't require driving on Southern California highways.
Life is Good : )
(Nikon, 24/70 2.8, 4 sec @ f/22)
Listening to the Rolling Stones this afternoon.
Have a Great Day Flickr Friends !!!
She's a Rainbow is a song by the Rolling Stones and was featured on their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request. It has been called the prettiest and most uncharacteristic song that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote for the Stones.
Let me say 1959 was a fabulous year; 45 record sleeves adorned bedroom walls, and Mel’s Drive-in and real American Graffiti were alive and well.
“Come Softly to Me” was a favorite tune at the time, and though it didn’t make it to the 1973 “American Graffiti” soundtrack one could hear this tune coming from 100's of compact transistor-radios that were all the rage at the time.
"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song recorded by The Fleetwoods, composed of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel, who also wrote it.
The original title was "Come Softly” but was changed enroute to its becoming a hit. The owner of Dolphin Records was responsible for the title change. He thought that "Come Softly" might be too obvious and considered risqué, so he had it changed to "Come Softly to Me."
Recording the song at home, the Fleetwoods sang it a cappella with the rhythmic shaking of Troxel's car keys. The tape was then sent to Los Angeles where the sparse instrumental accompaniment was added, including an acoustic guitar.
Released in 1959, the single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in April.
(Nikon Z6, 70-200/4.0 +TC 1.4, 1/4 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, edited to taste)
A look-back at the lovey Greek Isle where one can feel the salty air and taste delightful wines. Brings a smile even after all these years.
(2009 Arcives)
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Mykonos is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades. The island has an area of 85.5 square kilometers (33.0 sq mi) and rises to an elevation of 341 meters (1,119 feet) at its highest point.
There are 10,134 inhabitants according to the 2011 census, most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, which lies on the west coast. The town is also known as Chora (i.e. 'Town' in Greek, following the common practice in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town).
Mykonos's nickname is "The Island of the Winds" due to the very strong winds that usually blow on the island. Tourism is a major industry and Mykonos is known for its vibrant nightlife.
In the morning, you can get a sense of local life and buy seafood delights at bargain prices by visiting the fish market, which is near the Old Port of Mykonos Town. If you just want to relax in the sun while enjoying the cool sea breeze, taste some local appetizers and sip a glass of wine by the waterfront – most restaurants have plenty of available seats during the day.
(Canon PowerShot SD 880, 1/640 @ f/2.8, ISO 80)
Ten and 42 were cleaning out the basement. It's the kind of job they both enjoy. Forty-two likes getting things in order; 10 loves poking through and thinking up new uses for all the stuff 42 wants to throw away. Like this hoopy thing, which is (sadly) not a hula hoop. It's the slightly bent top support from our old over-bed mosquito net. But as soon as 10 picked it up, she became quite determined to do this photo.
It was not easy. Forty-two went along with it, but she was getting some fed up with all of 10's demands.
It ended badly.
But that will be tomorrow's photo.
Caught this Guy doing what he does best… Made me Smile : )
A bird born to run, the Greater Roadrunner can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the Desert Southwest. Roadrunners reach two feet from sturdy bill to white tail tip, with a bushy blue-black crest and mottled plumage that blends well with dusty shrubs. As they run, they hold their lean frames nearly parallel to the ground and rudder with their long tails.
Roadrunners have evolved a range of adaptations to deal with the extremes of desert living. Like seabirds, they secrete a solution of highly concentrated salt through a gland just in front of each eye, which uses less water than excreting it via their kidneys and urinary tract. Moisture-rich prey including mammals and reptiles supply them otherwise-scarce water in their diet. Both chicks and adults flutter the un-feathered area beneath the chin (gular fluttering) to dissipate heat.
Greater Roadrunners eat poisonous prey, including venomous lizards and scorpions, with no ill effect, although they’re careful to swallow horned lizards head-first with the horns pointed away from vital organs. Roadrunners can also kill and eat rattlesnakes, often in tandem with another roadrunner: as one distracts the snake by jumping and flapping, the other sneaks up and pins its head, then bashes the snake against a rock. If it’s is too long to swallow all at once, a roadrunner will walk around with a length of snake still protruding from its bill, swallowing it a little at a time as the snake digests.
Based on banding records, the oldest roadrunner was at least 7 years old.
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
(Nikon, 500mm + TC 1.4, 1/2000 @ f/5.6, ISO 2000)
one of those moments - when a day ends and one begins ... another of my favourite things. To all a great beginning of the week!
Listen to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4_ghOG9JQM
To all my contacts I apologize if I dont comment on all but I am OFF - will do my best.
Don't use my pictures on websites without prior authorization! They are protected by Copyright All rights reserved◄PLS DO NOT USE THIS PHOTO FOR PROMOTIONAL, ETC NATURE .. thank you.
Hard to believe... but it's that time of year again. I'm putting another notch in the belt of life. Hoping 78 will bring me a year of peace, happiness, and of course, photography.
Oh, My Doc told me to stay home, wear a mask, and I’ll live longer. I’m taking the Doc’s advice. He says it’s okay not to wear the mask when I’m drinking and eating; I’ll drink to that… Life is Good 😂😂
(Nikon Z6, 24-70/2.8, 20 sec @ f/22, ISO 200)
The “June Gloom” (what Southern Californians call foggy spring mornings) turned into light showers this AM. So I went searching for Roses. Lucky to find this one holding steady in the wind. Got the Shot… Life is Good : )
Nikon, 200-500 @ 500 mm, 1/500 @ f/7.1, ISO 720... edited to taste while listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" is a song written by John Fogerty and released in 1971 from the Pendulum album by Creedence Clearwater Revival. The song charted highest in Canada, reaching number one on the charts in March 1971.
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The Bewick’s Wren
If you come across a noisy, hyperactive little bird with bold white eyebrows, flicking its long tail as it hops from branch to branch, you may have spotted a Bewick’s Wren.
These master vocalists belt out a string of short whistles, warbles, burrs, and trills to attract mates and defend their territory, or scold visitors with raspy calls. Bewick’s Wrens are still fairly common in much of western North America, but they have virtually disappeared from the East.
The severe declines of Bewick's Wren in the eastern United States coincided with range expansion in the House Wren. It is suspected that the House Wren, which frequently removes eggs from nests in cavities, was directly responsible for the decline. The increased availability of nest boxes may have helped the spread of the House Wren, and therefore the decline of the Bewick's Wren.
Courting Bewick’s Wrens normally form monogamous pairs. While they’re setting up house and even after the female has begun incubating eggs, the male and female often forage together. This may help the male prevent his partner from mating with another bird.
A young male Bewick’s Wren learns to sing from neighboring adult males while he is coming of age in his parents’ territory. The songs he develops differ from his father’s, with a note changed here, a syllable there. The melodious signature he acquires between the ages of about 30 and 60 days will be his for life.
A Bewick’s Wren’s life starts off perilously. House Wrens may eject eggs from its nest; both eggs and nestlings can become lunch for rat snakes and milk snakes, and domestic cats go after nestlings. Adulthood isn’t safe either: mature birds can fall prey to roadrunners, rattlesnakes, or hawks.
The oldest recorded Bewick's Wren was at least 8 years old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 1986. It was banded in the same state in 1978.
(The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
(200-600, 1000 @ f/6.3, ISO 2500, edited to taste)