Zen Fountain

 

Allen's Hummingbird in Waterfall at Mallard Lake

I brought along my new camera microphone on this morning's walk and decided to put it to use at a little waterfall that empties into Mallard Lake. The sound of trickling water was conducive to meditation and reminded me of those little Zen water fountains you can buy.

Hummingbirds in the Waterfall

I've been watching these flowers come into bloom over the last few weeks near Elk Glen Lake, but today was the first time I saw a hummingbird come to feed on them.

Red-tailed hawks were screeching, turning in the wind, and dive-bombing each other while also being dive-bombed by ravens, above Grandview Park.

A female Western bluebird was hanging out at one of the nesting boxes at the Bison Paddock.

A male was nearby as well. I thought I saw one of the first tree swallows of the season soaring high above the paddock, but none came down to check out the nest boxes.

There were many finches twittering in the trees and flying down to feed in the paddock.

Around my feet, honeybees were visiting the mustard blossoms.

They appeared to be gathering pretty good hauls of pollen.

The bluebird is perched on a pokeberry bush that was popular last spring, but so far there's no sign that the plant is still alive and ready to make a comeback this season.

The Great Highway's red-shouldered hawk was on its light post again today. . .

. . . but had a hard time keeping its balance in the strong winds.

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Beach Hazard

 

Sanderlings on the Run, Ocean Beach

I figured it would be pretty close to high tide when I reached the beach this morning, but I was surprised by the huge surf. If I'd remembered to check the weather forecast before leaving home I'd have known that waves were expected to be 14-19 feet, with the occasional "sneaker" wave topping even that.

A group of sanderlings was gathered in a somewhat protected area bounded on all sides by water that was just deep enough to keep people and leashed dogs from intruding into their space. The only thing they had to worry about was the occasional sneaker wave that pushed up the beach far enough to temporarily shrink their dry refuge.

No sign of any western snowy plovers where they formerly gathered between Noriega and Pacheco. 

Looking Down Ortega Street

I know, it's hard to tell how massive these waves are without a sacrificial surfer in there.

There were zero surfers, of course, and even the pelicans, which often make elegant use of the updrafts on wave faces, kept their distance from the thundering breakers.

Toil & Trouble

Serene Sanderlings

Even with its eyes closed and its beak tucked under a wing, a sanderling is always ready to run for higher ground.

Safe Within the Moat

A Beautiful February Morning at Ocean Beach
(The white square in the distance is the Cliff House.)

Note the sanderling on the left that appears to be screaming.

Beach Buddies

The red-breasted sapsucker continues to work the Mediterranean buckthorn at South Lake. I'd often figured all the holes in a given tree were made by several sapsuckers over many seasons, but this single bird is creating quite a tapestry.

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Cherry Plum Blossoms

 

Townsend's Warbler, SF Botanical Garden

I struck out on finding an unusual migrant that was reported yesterday in the Botanical Garden, but the bird activity around the pond in Children's Garden was a nice consolation on a beautiful Saturday morning.

I started looking for the migrant (a summer tanager) where all the commotion was coming from, hoping it would enjoy hanging out with all the robins feasting on berries. If it was still in the area, I didn't see it (nor did anyone else I spoke with). 

I was surprised to find a great blue heron hunting in the little pond. It can't be an easy spot to fly into and out of with those big wings. I didn't see it make a strike, but it rested unperturbed by the few human passers-by.

Steller's Jay in the Willows

The Allen's hummingbird was being chased by a larger Anna's hummer when I first saw it. Once it alighted on this branch, though, it seemed to be in an acceptable location since I didn't see it get chased off from here.

Such a beautiful bird in such a tiny package.

A female Anna's hummingbird dropped by to collect cattail fluff for her nest.

I didn't think to watch where she went once she'd gathered enough of the seedhead fluff to fly it back to the nest.

There were many yellow-rumped warblers around, as usual.

I don't have my glasses on when I'm shooting, so I sometimes raise my camera just to see what a bird is. A couple of times I thought I was finding a pine siskin, only to realize it was another yellow-rumper.

But at one point, a pine siskin did come close enough for a shot.

Several birds, mostly robins, were bathing in the pond, but this Townie must also have jumped in, as he spent quite a while preening afterward in a thicket of branches.

Preening Townie No. 2 of 4

Preening Townie No. 3 of 4

Preening Townie No. 4 of 4

A local song sparrow ate whole cherry plum blossoms...

...while an Anna's hummingbird just sipped the nectar.

The Townsend's warblers were also apparently feeding on the nectar.

A northern flicker's calls were going unanswered from deep in a thicket of willows and other plants.

* * *

Kelp Crabs

 

Tidepool Still Life

I hadn't been to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in the month of January since 2011, so I thought I'd check it out. Much of the reef at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve was actually closed, as it always seems to be when I've visited the last couple of years. They close it for the harbor seals, and keep it closed even when there are no seals present. Just south of there, Moss Beach Cove is the next best thing, and that's where I ended up.

The very first tidepools I encountered were full of kelp crabs, maybe half a dozen in a couple of small pools. I must have been their first visitor because they'd been calmly going about their business until they saw me. Then it was scuttle this way and scuttle that way, trying to wedge themselves under rocks too small for the job. By the time I left a couple hours later, after finding much beauty but little of critterly interest farther out on the reef, the crabs had evidently found some worthy hideaways.

Sea Glass & Limpet Shell

Kelp Crab in a Pool with Coralline Algae

I wish I'd been sneakier because it looked like a couple of the crabs had been munching on seaweed just before they spotted me and scuttled for cover.

This old shellback has some coralline algae growing on its distinctive carapace.

A couple of the crabs only had one large pincer arm. I wondered if they lost the other one in battle with other crabs, or in some other way.

I was interested in this golden-colored turban snail because it was actually occupied by the mollusk rather than a hermit crab.

I didn't realize it was a snail until I picked it up, and then I watched it for a minute after I put it down. This is the snail coming out of its hideout, grasping the rock with its gastro-foot, then pulling itself upright again.

All the kelp crabs were about as close to shore as they could get without climbing up out of the water. Farther out, I didn't see a single one.

I saw a couple of these tiny pink shells, but this one was occupied by a hermit crab rather than a snail.

Limpet in Colorful Surroundings

This purple shore crab had moxy.

Although it did finally retreat from the top of its rock. I was surprised the great blue heron, or a gull, or even a black turnstone, hadn't made a meal out of it.

I can never resist photographing sea anemone tentacles.

My second small abalone shell of the day.

A mossy chiton, bedded down for the duration.

This looked mighty suspicious, and when I gently tried to pick up the little whelk or dogwinkle or whatever it is, my suspicion was confirmed. It had probably drilled a hole in that little limpet in order to devour it.

Hermit Tracks

Gastro Tracks

A Ridiculously Green Anemone

I envied my sister for being at Hanauma Bay today, but Moss Beach Cove was pretty nice too, even without a snorkel.

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