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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