Sunday, November 28, 2010

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

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

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.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

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

Saturday, November 6, 2010

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

Friday, November 5, 2010

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.



Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Male Blue Bunting
Laguna Atascosa NWR

Roadside Hawk
Falcon Dam

Roadside Hawk
Falcon Dam


Roadside Hawk
Falcon Dam

Friday, February 12, 2010

Blue Bunting
Obviously far from a good shot, but this Blue Bunting was found in the garden surrounding the Laguna Atascosa Visitor Center on the evening of Feb 12. That is a blurred out piece of vegetation causing the belly to appear pale.


Painted Bunting also found in the Laguna Atascosa VC garden on Feb 11.

The Laredo Amazon Kingfisher back on Jan 29.


Groove-billed Ani
Falcon Dam