Nest Box Drama

 

Western Bluebird Approaching Nest Box, GG Park Bison Paddock

The warm weather seems to have energized the nesting activity of the tree swallows and Western bluebirds around the Bison Paddock nest boxes. Some of the boxes had no activity while others were being contested, with swallows and bluebirds alternately trying to take possession of the same box. I wondered if the contested boxes are superior in any way to the other ones, or what. Maybe seeing someone else take over a nest box is enough to make you want it.

And speaking of getting what you want, after striking out at Andronico's, Safeway, and Gus's, I finally found a couple jars of Maya Kaimal Kashmiri Curry Indian Simmer Sauce at the Whole Foods in the Haight this morning. Previously, we had found it only at Harvest Market in Fort Bragg. We like all their sauces, but the Kashmiri Curry no ka oi.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Fuchsia Dell

Nuttall's Woodpecker, Whiskey Hill
(Golden clouds of pollen were wafting off the branches of the Monterey cypress trees. I spotted another hummingbird nest on a high branch in one of them -- too high to photograph though.)

Every time the bluebirds left the box, a pair of tree swallows would try to take it over. The bluebirds managed to keep chasing them out.

Possession is Nine-tenths of the Law

There seemed to be a detente on the other side of the paddock, where the bluebirds had their box and the tree swallows were the neighbors next door.

Noisy Neighbors

The bluebird on the fence flew up onto a nearby tree branch, but still kept an eye on its nest box.

Tree Swallow

The tree swallows are definitely more hyper than the bluebirds.

Coming In/Going Out

Mt. Shasta This Morning

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Do Ya Puya

 

Townsend's Warbler Visits Turquoise Puya Flowers, SF Botanical Garden

Last March I photographed yellow Puya chilensis flowers ("sheep-eating plant") blooming in the botanical garden. This turquoise flowered species might be Puya berteroniana. The plant takes anywhere from six to twenty or more years to bloom, and the flowering rosette dies after putting on its show and fruiting out. Like its relative the pineapple, the flowering part dies but new "pups" (clones that sprout from the base of the plant) can grow to eventually flower again. If you want to check them out (in the Succulent Garden behind the Redwood Grove), the bloom lasts 2-4 weeks according to Google's AI, and I don't know when they started.

I didn't go specifically to see the Puya in bloom, but just to spend more time getting a feel for my new Z8 and 180-600mm (w/ 1.4X teleconverter).

One of the beds in the California Garden was full of this cup fungus.

I've seen a couple of fox sparrows the last few weeks, but they've usually been kicking up the leaf litter way back in the dark shadows of brushy foliage. This is the first one I've been able to photograph this year.

Anna's Hummingbird at Red-flowering Currant

Pollen Beak

I don't usually see song sparrows that are chill enough to lounge around on one leg.

Allen's Hummingbird About To Fly

Scrub Jay With Nesting Material

This turkey tail fungus appears to have been parasitized by another fungus.

Hand-holding the heavy Z8 and lens combo, I wasn't sure I'd be able to dial in some overexposure to compensate for the backlit hummingbird without fumbling the camera. Although it wasn't as easy as the lightweight Lumix, it was doable.

California Scrub Jay on Silk Tassel Bush

Northern Flicker

I swear I didn't add one iota of vibrance or saturation to this shot. I've rarely seen such a fiery gorget.

Just a slight tilt of the head, and it changes.

California Towhee at Home in South American Plant

Towhee Toes

This Townsend's warbler was surprisingly mellow. At first it landed and hung out for a while on a rock retaining wall just a few feet away from me, then fluttered up to the nearby Puya where it continued to rest a while.

I didn't see where the Townie finally went because my attention was drawn to this newly arriving orange-crowned warbler.

The birds reached deep into the blossoms to get the nectar, a drop of which you can see on this one's beak.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet on the Move

And Away!

I finally got to see an Allen's hummingbird nectaring on some flowers.

It was a very short visit.

I like the way the gardeners have let the California pipevine twine into the red-flowering currant bushes.

I headed over to Blue Heron Lake after leaving the SFBG. This was one of several ring-necked ducks hanging out together.

A coot dropped by to preen a little.

I wanted to photograph the Canada goose as it was standing on a rock, but I was too close to get it all in the frame when it reared up to fan its beautiful feathers.

I'm glad I cut off its feet rather than its head.

The Happy Couple

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Serenity Now

 

Forest in Fog, Mt. Tamalpais

I was hoping to set my trail cams and do a little photography afterward, but I arrived to find the gate being closed by a ranger who didn't know why the closure had been ordered. I later heard there was some street paving going on, but what a bummer to find the place closed after driving all the way up there. 

Another unusual event was the Mt. Tam webcam being stuck on an image from Monday (as of this afternoon, it's still stuck). I hadn't noticed the date when I checked early this morning, but I did wonder about how mildly hazy the city looked even though it was quite foggy and misty here at home.

Not wanting to just turn around and drive home, I decided to make the best of it and paid to park in the Pantoll lot, then hiked up with my trail cams. I had to leave my Nikons back in the car since they were too much to carry. After setting up the cams I hiked a slow route back through an enchanting landscape, taking a few phone snaps along the way.

I was surprised to find witch's butter so late in the season.

Mushroom in a Dewy Jungle

It was very quiet out there with no traffic or chainsaws, and surprisingly warm despite the fog and dripping woods.

I briefly followed an animal trail through the dewy grass. I couldn't say for sure who made the trail, but it was continuous, as if an animal's furry belly had dragged along to disturb all the dew in its path. 

This was a larger, more weathered, fruiting of witch's butter.

Yeah, I know, but it was worth it.

This is the stuck image from Monday, still live as of 2 p.m. today....

Mt. Shasta This Morning

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