Lunch and other things

Some weeks are just not very exciting, but fairly expensive.  For example - last week.  Tuesday: took the car into SLO for tune-up and also managed quick trips to Costco and Wild Birds; Wednesday: dentist appointment; Thursday: hair cut and color; back to SLO for a podiatrist visit; and finally Monday: a visit from the plumber.  $$$$$

I did manage to take a few pictures while I was doing all that running around and spending money!

 A blue heron looking for lunch

 A road running about to find a lizard for lunch



 Two otters lunching together in Morro Bay

 A zebra (who lives on a ranch near us) lunching on tree bark

And a sunset just because I like the colors. 

And speaking of lunch, we tried out a new barbeque place in Paso - smoked chicken with beans and cole slaw....pretty tasty!  (We passed on the fried pickles and friend green beans - maybe next time.)



End of the Summer in the Garden

My garden is not very pretty now.....but the birds do love it! They hang from the sunflowers stripping the seeds from the heads, and flit about the cosmos and coreopsis getting the small seeds. 

And there are a few colorful cosmos left.

Every season has it's beauty!

Stalking the Reclusive Roadrunner

This afternoon, my two photographic assistants and avian aficionados, Casey

and Owen

helped me stalk the wily roadrunner who had wandered into our yard.

In a feeble attempt to escape, he hopped into the nearest oak tree, where he tried to blend into the foliage.

Ha!  He thinks he's camoflaged.

But we sat in the grass and kept him view for quite awhile.

Owen volunteered to make sure he didn't leave the tree.

And that was our afternoon's excitement here at Spanish Lakes!

Friday Evening

Some shots from our back yard this evening:  hungry hummers, acorn woodpecker at the feeder, and a visit from Owen.

In years past we've had as many as 13 or 14 hummers that come to our feeder (see photo below - taken in 2006), but this year we've spotted only 4 (maybe 5)  visitors - it's hard to tell because they move so quickly!    Besides the feeder, they have been enjoying the honeysuckle and sage in our yard.

And of course our day wouldn't be complete without a visit from our dear friend, Owen.

Mr. Woodpecker has to work at his free meal, as he's a bit too big to fit on the perches at the feeder.

Hope everyone's weekend is off to a good start!

Rescued Owl

This great horned owl was injured and rescued by Pacific Wildlife Care - I've never seen an owl up that close before!  What huge eyes they have!  His handler said that he exerts 30 pounds of pressure with his talons! 

Leaving the Nest

I was looking out my window today and saw a wonderful sight.  Mama and Papa Bluejay were getting their little ones (not so little anymore) ready to "leave the nest".  The youngsters looked like they were testing and exercising their wings.  I think the parents were trying to encourage their brood to take to the skies!   I watched for a long time, then went to fix lunch.  When I returned, they were all gone.  Whew!  Another brood raised!

No one can see me in here!

When is mom coming back?

Okay, this is it, from now on you'll have to find your own lunch!

What, you all want some more?

I think we're supposed to flap them up and down!

Okay children, it's time for you to go!  Spread those wings and fly!

Geococcyx Californianus

That's the scientific name of one of our resident birds....the Roadrunner.  Sometimes called a Chaparral Cock.

I enjoy watching our resident roadrunner.....he (or she) doesn't show up too much, and always seems to be in a hurry, but if I have my camera ready, I can get a shot or two before he (or she) scoots off.  I followed one up the hill into the oak trees the other day and found out that they will fly up into the trees.  Like the cartoon character, the roadrunner prefers walking or running (up to 17 mph.), and is one of the few birds that can catch and eat a rattlesnake!

I really love their jaunty topnot!

Busy Bluebirds

Well, raising a brood of bluebirds is no easy job!  Mom and Pop Bluebird have been constantly looking for tasty morsels for their hungry babies!  The babies are very vocal, and whenever one of the parents brings back a bug or worm, they're right at the door, mouths wide open!  There are at least 4 babies.  I watched them for about 30 minutes yesterday evening....they are very good parents - flying out to look for food, and bringing a variety of offerings back to their noisy offspring. 

This is a nice, big juicy flying thing....I'll bet my babies will like it!

Okay, which one got the last bug?

Open wide....you'll love this fat worm!

I just can't seem to fill them up!

Guess we'll have to keep this up all night!

Blue Birds At Home

Once again Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird have chosen our birdhouse in which to raise their family!  They have bypassed the "real" bluebird house for the ornamental birdhouse, but this is the 3rd year they have used it, so they must like it!  The eggs have hatched (we peeked in) and mama and papa are extremely busy taking turns bringing home yummy birdy snacks for the hungry babies!