The Sassy One

 

Allen's Hummingbird in Cattails, Metson Lake

Many of the hummingbirds I noticed today were Allen's (Selasphorus sasin). There seem to be many more around than even just last week. Apparently they are eager to get started with nest-building, as at least three Allen's hummers were collecting cattail fluff at Metson Lake today. Selasphorus is Greek for "bearing light" or "carrying flame," and the specific epithet, sasin, comes from the Nuu-chah-nuth (Nootka) name for hummingbird.

Metson Lake

Townsend's Warbler in Cypress Near Elk Glen Lake

Red-masked Parakeet in Neighbor's Oak Tree

The parakeets don't come around as often as they did before the oak was trimmed of much of its concealing foliage.

Snoozing Ruddy Duck, Blue Heron lake

The duck drifted very close to shore before waking up and paddling back out toward the middle of the lake. The ruddy ducks are always sleeping when I bike past the lake. They are diving ducks who mostly feed on invertebrates, but I've yet to see them in action.

American Coot Eating Birdseed, Blue Heron Lake
(Check out those coot feet!)

This Anna's hummingbird was so tiny that I wondered if it was a juvenile.

I was surprised to see a house sparrow dive into this tree cavity. I've never seen one use anything but the eaves of houses and apartments, and Mission-style slate roofs.

Song Sparrow on Cycad Frond

Diaphanous Inky Cap

Fuligo septica Slime Mold Near Bison Paddock

Sunday's Moonrise With Sutro Tower
(I tried to check out the blood moon at 4 a.m. today, but it was obscured by clouds.)

The container ship HMM Nuri heading into the Golden Gate this morning.

I walk up Noriega Street pretty much every week, but other than Papa Mak's, La Playa, and Devil's Teeth, I never knew about these places.

When I saw this from the Cliff House I thought it was a whale carcass. It took a minute to realize what it actually is.

San Francisco Wallflower, Erysimum franciscanum

I just noticed these guys growing in the Balboa Natural Area. I don't think they were there last year.

I shot this yard series back in 2006-07, showing it in spring, summer, fall, and winter. I always thought it was a wasted yard, and I briefly had some guerrilla oaks growing in there (until the owner gave the whole yard a buzz-cut). I used to walk past the yard every day on my way to the Forest Hill Muni Station when I worked in Oakland.

I walked past the same yard on Sunday on my way to hike through Glen Canyon Park.

The hike was fine, but I found nothing much to photograph. I'd hoped to spot a coyote and/or great horned owl.

This nest belongs to Jackie and Shadow, the most famous bald eagles in the country. In this screen-grab, the eagle on the left had just flown in with a fish, which the other one got up to eat, showing two eggs. (The first two eggs were eaten by ravens a few weeks ago.)

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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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