Kingfisher

 

Belted Kingfisher, South Lake

I veered off my usual walking route this morning to check out the Brocken spectre happening at Grandview Park. Then down along the Sunset Greenbelt, a first-of-season Devil's Coach Horse Beetle crossed my path. Later at Mallard Lake I saw my first-of-season Cedar Waxwing. A little farther along at Elk Glen Lake, I once again encountered the mangey-tailed Coyote that I saw on Friday in the Oak Woodlands near McLaren Lodge. 

Fast-forward to my bike ride when a hoot from the woods drew my attention to a snoozing Great Horned Owl west of Chain of Lakes. Finally, a chattering Kingfisher caught my attention as I passed South Lake on my way home.

In other words, another pretty good day of nature observation in San Francisco.

Brocken Spectre at Grandview Park

Raven & Brocken Spectre

Devil's Coach Horse Beetle

When I tried to move into a better position, the cedar waxwing (which appeared to be flying solo instead being with its flock) flew away.

While I was waiting to see if any cedar waxwings would return, I watched a tiny Anna's hummingbird nectaring nearby.

The coyote was on a mission, trotting right along, heading west.

I didn't notice the mangey tail until I saw the photo, and I doubt the coyote recognized me either.

Rounding Elk Glen Lake, a Great Blue Heron stood beside the trail and didn't fly away as I approached, so I couldn't resist snapping a photo.

When I got home I decided to take my full-frame camera with me on the bike ride. I'd seen robins feasting on Cotoneaster berries yesterday and hoped to find them joined today by cedar waxwings.

No waxies showed up, although I did hear a flock high in a eucalyptus tree on the west end of Middle Lake.

Why the robin made a difficult reach for a berry despite having easy ones right in front of its beak, I have no idea.

I'd just packed up after photographing the robins when a hoot from the woods got me to unpack it all over again.

Maybe its hoot was just its way of signing off for the day.

Kingfishers don't like being watched.

I was able to luck out with a few frames as it skedaddled to a new location.

Eventually, though, it returned.

Almost immediately it dove and caught a fish.

Either it was just toying with its food, or it took a bit of doing to get it in position to finally send the fish down the hatch.

Dahlia Dell

Bicycle Dell
(This was the scene at the west end of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival on Sunday afternoon. The east end had probably ten-times more bike parking.)

Sunday Morning's Sunrise

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