Wind Check

 

Cliff House Wind Check: 39.2 MPH

I went down to the beach yesterday, and I'm still finding sand in my ears. 

Early morning started off innocently enough, with just the usual breeze, but by mid-morning the forecast winds began to arrive. Toppled garbage cans lined my walking route, and I heard the wind slam a door shut on 16th Avenue, followed by the sound of shattering glass.

Once I got home from my morning walk I wasn't so sure I even wanted to go for my usual bike ride. But I did want to experience the powerful winds. And when I remembered the hand-held anemometer I'd stowed away in a knick-knack drawer I knew I had to take it for a ride to the beach. When I got there, I struggled against the headwind despite being on an ebike. I sure was glad I'd ridden up to Mt. Tam on Monday instead of Tuesday.

Windy City

Wind Tracks on the Ocean

Gale at the Beach

(music by The Mermen)

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Cam Check

 

High Tide on Coyote Creek

I probably wouldn't have stopped on my way to Mt. Tam yesterday if I hadn't spotted the American Avocets foraging along the shore of Richardson Bay near Coyote Creek. The Black-Necked Stilts are still around, but seeing avocets in this area was a new sighting for me. They were unafraid of my presence and fed just a few feet away, scything their bills back and forth but not snagging anything I could see. Well-camouflaged Willets foraged for critters in the saltgrass, moving about on foot while whistling Wigeons nibbled on plants from the water.

The holiday auto traffic was fairly heavy on Panoramic Highway, but I had decided not to wait to go up today because of the forecast of heavy winds. Yesterday was a gorgeous day for a bike ride. On reaching Mt. Tam my odometer showed I was about 50 miles away from reaching 10,000 miles. Next month I'll have had the ebike four years. Estimates for battery life are all over the place, but mine still seem to be fine.

On the hike up to the cams I spotted the biggest jackrabbit I've ever seen. It was a sprightly hare despite its size and galloped off in the direction of my cams, then finally zoomed up the hill and out of sight after allowing me a quick photo. 

When I reached the cams I was excited to find a crime scene -- Band-Tailed Pigeon feathers in a pile -- next to the little creek. The cameras appear to have caught an attack from maybe a Cooper's Hawk, but it happened too fast, and the image is too weak, to be sure. The other interesting capture was an animal I can't identify. If we had Pikas, I might have guessed that's what it was. If you have any ideas, drop me an email (jwallphoto at either gmail or yahoo).

American Avocets & Black-Necked Stilt

American Avocets on Richardson Bay

Feeding Avocet Showing Curved Beak

Willet in the Pickleweed and Saltgrass

Male Wigeons on Coyote Creek

Jumbo Jackrabbit

Crime Scene

Band-Tailed Pigeons Drinking from Creek @ 8:11:07 a.m.

Fleeing Pigeons & Crime Scene @ 8:11:45 a..m.

100% View of Blue-Circled Bird
(Is it a raptor or just another pigeon?)

Another Angle: The Attack Happens Fast

Homage to a Bandie

Unknown Creature Zooms Up the Creek

100% View of Unknown Creature

Panoramic Highway, Feb. 20, 2023

Panoramic Highway, Feb. 20, 2012

High Tide Along the Mill Valley-Sausalito Pathway

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More Winter Surf

 

Ocean Beach, Feb. 17, 2023

Reaching the steps at 14th Avenue and Mount on my walk Friday morning, I could see a corduroy ocean. Countless swells were marching in lines toward the beach, and the wind was blowing offshore. Probably going to be good surfing conditions, but I was just far enough from home that I didn't want to turn back and get my camera. 

I could see the ocean pretty much the whole way as I walked down Noriega Street, but when I finally got to the beach I knew I was going to have to come back with a camera. I watched for a little while, then walked back home and returned on my bike with the FZ80.

Steps at 14th & Mount

Zoomed In View With Lines of Swells

Bottom Turn

Ship Spotting & Surf Photography
(Container Ship President Kennedy; the APL is for American President Lines)

Frame Capture from Last Clip in Video Below

Guy Paddling Out Gets Sucked Over the Falls
(Frame capture from same clip; it happens almost too fast to catch in the video)

Surfing at Ocean Beach, Feb. 17, 2023

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