Wildlife

Brown Pelican fishing for lunch at Fasmosa Slough

My life has been fairly quiet this summer, so I've attached some photographs of birds I've taken at the Famosa Slough and, of butterflies in my daughter's back yard in Clairemont (a neighborhood in San Diego.)  Please note that I'm a beginner, when it comes to nature.  After carefully matching my photos to those of others on the Internet, I've added captions under each.

Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird

Gulf Fritillary in Clairemont, San Diego, CA

  I searched the Internet for hours looking for a match to the photograph of the butterfly to the left.  It has such a distinctive head, I believed that somewhere there might be a photo.   Then, last night, as I reviewed another group of pictures of butterflies.  There was the match I was looking for, a Gulf Fritillary.

Fiery Skipper at Famosa Slough

Monarch in Clairemont, San Diego CA

Same Monarch with open wings

Black-crowned Night Heron

After hearing other bird watchers speak about the Black-crowned Night Heron, I've been looking for it for quite some time.  When I finally spotted the bird yesterday as I walked near the Famosa Slough, it seemed like I was the one being watched.

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Mission Trails Regional Park

On Friday, I went to Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego with my San Diego grandchildren and my daughter from Cardiff.   As we walked into the entrance to the Visitor's Center, there were automated recordings of the sounds of the animals found in the Park.  When we came through the door, a young man approached us to see if we needed any assistance.  It was evident that the main focus of the Center was education.


I was amazed that my 5 1/2 year old grandson remembered everything about the Center from his class trip in June.  And, I mean everything.  He was so happy to be there as he went from  exhibit to exhibit.  As we went up the ramp to the second floor, he practically danced.  As we reached the second floor, there were some exhibits that interested his sister, age 9.  She took the time to examine everything.  He, on the other hand, made a beeline for a video and stayed there taking it all in.  His mother, who later joined us, advised me that his field trip was for all the kindergarten children in his school, a total of 60 children.  So, I surmised that he had not had the opportunity to see the video that day and was happy to have it all to himself on Friday.


We returned to the Main Floor and went out the glass doors to view the Fortuna and Cowles Mountains (shown above).  The children weren't as interested in the view as I.  My grandson had his magnifying glass in his pocket and was soon examining the leaves of the plants along the walk.  Before long, his mother met us there and continued the tour with the children and I took my leave for an appointment in San Diego.


I enjoyed going to the Mission Trails Visitor's Center and would like to hike one of the trails someday.

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Bird Watching

When visiting my son and daughter-in-law in Redondo Beach, CA in early June, I discovered a Hummingbird's nest.  I took a picture of the empty nest to show how small it is.  Later the Hummingbird returned.  The second picture shows the bird sitting on the nest.  A while later, my son told me that three birds hatched and the children enjoyed watching the small birds from their window.

                                             



I was at the Famosa Slough in San Diego recently where there was little bird activity.  Then, I spotted what I think was a young Great Blue Heron right in front of me.

The Heron shown at the left below was just hanging out.  Then, along came another Heron.

After a few minutes, the second Heron took off, followed by the first.   They landed in a little island in the center of the Slough, where it appears to be nice and quiet.

Walked to the Famosa Slough twice this week.  On the first trip, a bird popped out of a fir tree about a block from the Slough.  The bird just stood on the cement wall long enough for me to whip out my camera and take its picture.  The bird was a Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk.  I had been looking for a hawk for my photo collection and was so surprised that it lingered long enough for me to take four photos.  Then, just a quickly, it popped back into the fir tree.

Juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk

On Saturday, I returned to the Famosa Slough to attend a monthly Nature and Bird Walk.  I benefit from these walks because the bird watchers usually can identify a bird for me, since I'm such a "newbie."  I usually pore through pictures on the Internet to match the image I've photographed, but sometimes, I just can't find anything similar.  That's where these experienced bird watchers are such a resource.   Also, they are gracious and quite accommodating in helping a "newbie" in identifying birds.

On each visit, I had been watching for a Night Heron, but never found one.  However, this time, the tour leader pointed out a Juvenile Night Heron.  I had to take the photo through a chain link fence.  I've learned that you can't wait for perfect circumstances.

Juvenile Night Heron     

We proceeded to the other side of West Point Loma Blvd to see what we could find.  At the end of the property near the "8" (a major highway) were several Great Blue Herons, Great White Egrets and Snowy Egrets.  They were seemingly oblivious to the highway traffic nearby.  While I watching them, I spied a very small butterfly.    

As we returned to the east side of West Point Loma near the chain link fence, the Juvenile Night Heron had departed and in it's place was the "territorial" Snowy Egret that I wrote about months ago.  He apparently has no problem protecting what he considers his property.

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Busy Memorial Day

First, let me say a huge "Thanks" to all our service men and women, active and retired.  We are grateful for your honorable dedication to protecting our nation.   Also, our prayers are for the families who have paid the ultimate price to ensure our safety.


On Memorial weekend, one of my New York daughters and her daughter visited the family in Southern California.  After a weekend of various activities, on Memorial Day, the San Diego part of the family went to the San Diego Zoo.   It was very crowded, but the weather was perfect.

One of the children chose the Monkey Trail for our first stop.  There were two volunteers telling interested visitors all about the Orangutans.  As we left there, I found this interesting pair (picture to the right).

Then, on we went to the Flamingos.  I've never been there when they were having their babies.  Apparently, they create mounds to hold their egg and they all sit together in a community setting.  Apparently, both male and female take turns sitting on the mound.

 
They seem to fight and quibble a lot.  I guess they were protecting their nest.  When one of the birds stood, we could see the egg.    What an education for the children. 

     From there we ventured to the Giraffes.  The children enjoyed feeding them.  Another great experience.   Then we walked to Elephant Odyssey.   After checking out the animals, we had a delicious lunch at the Sabertooth Grill.

Then, on to the sky ride.  That is always fun.  When we debarked, the next step was having the children pile into the little photo booth to get their souvenir pictures.  This was followed by the "elongated" penny machine.

At that point, we took the tour bus so that our guests could see the whole zoo, which is large.  We sat on the upper deck so we could see everything. On the ride, we passed the Polar Bear Exhibit and enjoyed the Bear's swimming exhibition.  The guide/driver told us that the Polar Bear's skin is black and his fur is really translucent.   Would not have known that!

Our fun visit lasted eight hours and we didn't see everything, but we learned some things, such as seeing the cast of Orangutan's foot, the Flamingo egg, and how to feed the giraffe.  When we usually visit the zoo, the children pick one spot in the zoo, which they would like to see that day.  That's what makes a membership such a great idea.

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FACEBOOK

I’m so excited.  Today, on the first day of its IPO (Initial Public Offering), I purchased one share of Facebook stock.  I put the bid in and clearly expected it to be ignored because I was only buying one share, where most people buy much, much more.  Before I knew it, I had received a “trade confirmation.”  Yahoo! (no pun intended).
          

 I heard on the news that Institutional Buyers were expected to pick up a great amount.  I don’t know about that because some of the news statements said the earnings for the first day were a disappointment.  Some experts were advising beforehand that the little guy couldn’t get in on this because of Institutional Buyers.  But I beat the odds.
         

True, I paid $40.40 from my meager trade account.  The stock closed at $38.23.  So, initially, I lost but I don’t care.  I wanted the experience of buying in on the first day of offering….all one share of it.  I’ve wanted to buy on other businesses' first day of an IPO, but my timing, as well as spendable cash, was out of sync each time.
          
Professionals put my kind of buyer in the “Fools” category, but I’m a happy fool.
        

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Strange Bird

I returned to the Fomosa Slough (a local wetland) to see if I could get a picture of a mother duck and her little ones.  They were out of range of my camera yesterday.  The mother was wisely keeping the little further back in the property.  As the reeds and plants are growing, some of the birds are not as visible.  As I spotted them near tall, dried reeds, there was a Great Blue Heron almost blending in with these reeds.  I was able to get a picture of his great lift-off.  

                                                              

I was attempting to get a picture of the mother duck and her babies when I heard a commotion.  As I neared the main road where the Snowy Egret spends most of his time, acting like an overlord, I spotted something dark in the water.  The Snowy Egret was giving it all his attention as well.  Out of the darkness popped up this strange bird.  With it's long neck, I suspected that it was a swan although I've never seen a black swan.  Then as he dropped deeper into the water and popped up again, I thought it looked like a small "Loch Ness Monster."  This bird could swim under water a good eight feet.  I think he decided to move since the Snowy Egret seemed annoyed by his presence.  At another visit, I noticed the Snowy Egret chasing a Little Blue Heron.  That is why I suspect he thinks the property is his.  I watched as the strange black bird moved across the property to a quieter spot.

                                                                              

Well, what do you know?  It isn't a small Loch Ness Monster.  The bird started to shake his wings to dry off.  It was a Cormorant.  I've seen them on a large rock at Sunset Cliffs (San Diego), but I've never seen one alone.  After spending time in the water, he had to dry his wings as Cormorant wings aren't waterproof.   WOW, those wings are some size.

                                                                    

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Migrating Birds

Today started off with the usual "May Gray" (overcast skies).  I've been waiting for blue skies to take some pictures.  By 1:00pm, the skies started clearing and we ended up with a "partly cloudy" day.   Our mornings have been cool, warming up when and if the sun pops through the clouds, and then, quickly cooling off again by late afternoon.  So, today I ventured out to the Formosa Slough to see if I could find some migrating birds.  Up until now I hadn't seen any so I thought I was missing the opportunity to spot any of these birds.  Even the local hummingbirds are no where to be seen.

While there weren't many birds, I did get some pictures.  I'm a real "newbie" so I have to research each bird I find.  When I compared my pictures to ones on the Internet, I discovered that I had found some birds migrating to more northern areas.  Great!

There were two Northern Shovelers.    
The Male has the dark head.  The picture to the right shows him exhibiting his plumage, perhaps in a courtship mode.  

 
The Famosa Slough is divided into two sections separated by West Point Loma Boulevard in Point Loma in San Diego, CA.  When I visit the slough, I usually check out the northern section to see what birds I can find.  Today, I spotted a Great Blue Heron. 

 

When I crossed the Boulevard to the southern section, I found a seemingly older Heron.

  As time went on, he simply looked like a tired elderly statesman.

I've never seen a Great Blue Heron so relaxed.  

Then I spotted what I thought was a duck.  I detected an unusual bill, like that of a goose.  The closest goose I could find on the Internet was a Greater White-fronted Goose.  But, I'd appreciate a Birders identification.

Finally, the last bird I found was a Common Tern, white with a small black cap.  The male and female are similar in appearance, though the male has a larger bill than the female.  It soared around and then, without warning, just plopped into the water. got his prey and was off in a flash.  It landed just like a person doing a belly flop when diving.  The picture of the plop area shows just how fast it was.

 

PLOP

This is a fun hobby.  You might want to look into it, if you have the time.

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