Nature Where I Live: San Francisco: Return of the Pelicans

Brown Pelicans & Cormorants on Seal Rocks

I haven't worked up such a sweat on my morning walk in a long time. What a great day to be outside. I can't remember the last time I actually felt hot outside. Biking through the park on my way to the beach I even glided through a scent cloud of petrachor, courtesy of sprinklers showering hot pavement. That will all be gone by tomorrow as temperatures slide twenty degrees downhill with a small chance of rain.

I suspect the beautiful weather we've had the last two days has had little to do with bringing in the pelicans, but today they were back. I'd love to know where they've been and what brings them here now. Is the fishing getting better here, or just worse wherever they've been? Will they even still be here tomorrow? (Finally, a question I can answer -- tomorrow.) [UPDATE: There were about half as many pelicans the next day, and none putting up with the windy conditions at Top-o-the-Rock....]

Waning Crescent This Morning

I saw the tree-trimmers going to work on this tall cypress last week, but only realized last night that the plan was for the tree's total removal. I snapped the photo on the left when I started my walk this morning at about 8:30, and by the time I returned around 11, all that remained was the photo on the right.

What's left the next morning. I gather they are removing a perfectly healthy tree because they're afraid the weather will knock it down, either into their own house or a neighbor's.

Female Anna's Hummingbird

This Allen's hummingbird was near Mallard Lake, but I hesitate to say it's Shady Allen since there are probably more than one of the species around by now. Years ago, another photographer showed me how to tell one bobcat from another by marks on their noses. I'd like to know the key for telling one hummer from another.

I think all that yellow in the background is some kind of acacia in bloom.

Here's a picture of the plant, Acacia longifolia, or Golden Wattle. Not to be confused with Swamp Wattle.

Mourning Dove Skulking Across a Log

Down by Elk Glen Lake there was this one random cherry tree gone wild, much like the one in the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Meanwhile, the small cherries near the Japanese Tea Garden have not yet flowered.

I was about to leave Elk Glen Lake when I spotted a great blue heron on the hunt and decided to stick around a while to watch. Some huge carp were flailing around, often near the heron's legs, but the heron paid them no mind. Too big to eat, no doubt. I wondered if the fish were spawning. Meanwhile, Google's AI bot has this to say: "While Golden Gate Park's lakes, like Stow Lake and the Chain of Lakes, are popular for recreation, there are no fish present in them, and fishing is prohibited," and, "The park management confirms that there are no fish in these lakes, making fishing a moot point."

The red-winged blackbirds were having a field day today. This one came swooping out of some nearby tules to land on the log and get a drink. It seemed surprised to suddenly encounter a great blue heron and a human.

It hurried down to the edge for a quick sip of water but quickly lost its nerve and zipped back into the tules.

Great Blue Heron & Tule Reflections

Hard to say how long I watched the heron on the hunt, but at no time did it make a stab at anything. I'd hoped it would go for one of the bullfrogs croaking nearby, but it didn't even go looking for them.

While I was watching the heron I was surprised to notice a large twinberry plant right next to me. An Allen's hummingbird briefly buzzed around it but didn't stop for a drink.