We're continuing our tour of California. We just, and we mean just, beat a snow storm as we made it out of the high sierra over Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park. We had planned on camping at Mono Lake, but the predicted heavy snow and 80 mph winds pushed us north and back across the Sierras as we headed west to the north coast. Out in the northern redwood area we were greeted by temperatures dropping into the low 30's and lots of rain for a few days. We headed down to Oakland to spend Thanksgiving with some of Nova's friends which gave me time to go through some photos from the trip. Below is a very disorganized selection of photos. Nova will surely have some to add when she has a chance. We head back out on the road tomorrow.

Red-tailed Hawk

Bakersfield, CA

Marbled Godwit
Arcata Marsh, CA

Marbled Godwit

Arcata Marsh, CA

Marbled Godwit & Willet

Arcata Marsh, CA

Marbled Godwit & American Avocet

Arcata Marsh, CA

Gray Jay

Big Lagoon County Park, CA

Western Screech Owl

Big Lagoon County Park, CA

Burrowing Owl

Bakersfield, CA

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Clear Lake State Park, CA

Acorn Woodpecker & its acorn stash

Clear Lake State Park, CA

Lower Yosemite Falls & stars in the moonlight

Yosemite National Park

Coyote

Yosemite National Park

Northern Harrier

Bakersfield, CA

Long-tailed Weasel

Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, NV

Mono Lake, CA

The drive through Redwood
Legget, CA

The Owl Cafe

Cloverdale, CA

We spent a day or so in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. Cold camping, but incredible trees. It is hard to imagine a tree this big, even when it is in front of you.

Base of a Giant Sequoia

The Tail (or so I call it)

Giant Sequoia & other trees

yet another Sequoia

climber on Moro Rock

Nova in the Giant Sequoias.

That little bright speck between the two trees is her hat.

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Falls at sunrise

The highest falls in North America

We're currently camping in Yosemite National Park. We cannot imagine a more beautiful place, but camping is a bit rough this time of year. Sunrise in the Valley has been beautiful with mist rising out of the meadows as the sun hits the granite cliffs which host the highest falls in North America. We're running ourselves ragged during the day and currently sitting in a public room with a stone fireplace and free internet, but are ready to head for tent and the cold.

Death Valley National Park-beautiful but stark.

Sage Sparrow

The Racetrack

Teakettle Junction

The Racetrack before a storm

Sunrise

Apparently these rocks move by themselves over the playa. No one has ever seen this happen.

Trying some new effects

Ferruginous Hawk

Prairie Falcon

I'm enjoying the opportunity to spend time in Salt Lake City with old friends Jerry & Sherry Liguori. We got out for a bit today looking for early wintering raptors. Although it naturally clouded up on us we did see some of the western species I was hoping for and got a few shots off. There was also a good number of waterfowl in a marsh in the valley. Riveting post, I know

Northern Shoveler

Black Rosy Finch




Arches National Park, Moab Utah

After working with the owls at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory this spring and summer and doing raptor counts in Nevada this fall we have some time to travel. Nova is currently back in NY, but will be coming back in a few days and we will be traveling to the CA coast.
Meanwhile I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Moab. Utah so I figured I'd through up a few shots from Arched National Park yesterday. While taking landscapes a flock of ~60 Black Rosy Finches came and fed within about 20 feet of me. Just amazing country. We hope to start updating the blog regularly again now that we're between jobs.