Nature Where I Live: San Francisco: Blue Sky, Blue Herons

Great Blue Heron in Eucalyptus Tree, Golden Gate Park

Today was the second time my walk has taken me to the beach since the Upper Great Highway was permanently closed to cars. I still look both ways before crossing since trouble could now strike from either direction in both the southbound and northbound lanes. That is, cyclists, skaters, scooters, and what-have-you might be zipping south in the northbound lane and vicy-versy.

Also, beach sand is being trucked from the northern part of Ocean Beach (in front of the Esplanade) to replenish the southern part. Those trucks are way too big to step in front of, and they use the formerly northbound lanes whether they're going north or south.

One other note about the closure is that sand is already building up on the road at Noriega Street, creating a dangerous (or, if you prefer, adventurous) situation for folks cruising through there on wheels.

Looking south from the Cliff House late this morning I saw a sea lion surfing a couple of swells as it swam south. It never broke the surface, but you could clearly make out its shape inside the swell. Sea mammals call it "getting beyond tubed."

I also watched maybe a couple dozen willets get chased off the beach by two small off-leash dogs being walked by one presumably clueless person. The willets flew south to escape the pooch-person, and so I waited for the interlopers to reach the willets again and send them back my way. It didn't take long, and the willets were duly chased off the beach again. They even came back toward me, but this time, instead of returning to the beach, they gave up on feeding and flew out to Seal Rocks. They made a good call, because a commercial dog-walker showed up, letting a dozen or so pooches run free right where the willets like to feed.

Along the Breakwater Between Noriega & Ortega Streets

Song Sparrow on Cornflag, North Lake

The Murphy twins were occupying Golden Gate Park's southern windmill today, but one of them perched half-way down one of the blades instead of taking its usual spot at the top.

I stopped by Blue Heron Lake and caught another heron doing this ecstatic neck-extension move a few times.

While I was watching the herons I noticed a turkey vulture soaring overhead. It's not uncommon to see them over the city, but I always take a special pleasure in seeing these emissaries-of-the-wild here.

The heron that was doing the ecstatic neck-raise also reached out sideways a few times with its feathers fluffed. It would then clap its beak one time and withdraw.

One of the herons flew out of its nest and landed in a eucalyptus tree right behind me. It was surprisingly well-camouflaged in the dappled light, even standing out in the open. When I took my eyes away, it always took just a second to find it again, and I wondered if people were passing by without noticing it was there.