Mixed Bag

This morning there was frost when I arrived at the blind. It was chilly but I knew it would warm up. Today there was little activity at the feeders. The Sharp Shin Hawk was out and about and the birds were very skittish. I did manage to take a few images of a Goldfinch and a House Finch. I left the blind early today and I wandered around the pasture looking at a few of the late wildflowers. I saw my first dragonfly of the season so that was pretty cool. I then photographed a few California Poppies and then I headed home.

God's light and love to all,

chris

Escape to the Coast

Today was a tough day for Jay. He has been sick all week and today he had to take his SAT Test. Lenore and I got up early and drove he and his friend Aaron to Laytonville High School. We dropped them off and then headed over Branscomb Road to the coast. There was a great low tide and we wandered the shoreline in the sunshine. We photographed a few spots and then headed down to Mendocino for some clam chowder and cobbler on a deck with views of the ocean. It was a great day together.
We hope Jay did well on his test.

God's blessings to all,

chrs

An Educational Commercial: Introducing Shorty

Today when I was photographing birds one little House Finch kept visiting the feeder and I decided to nickname him "Shorty". Shorty reminded me a lot of the classrooms I have taught in and visited over the years. Shorty made do without just like classrooms all across the United States do. He was functioning just fine but, he would be a lot better off if he had his tail feathers. So many school classes are the same way. The school and teachers make do with what they have. They would be a lot better off if they had just a little bit more.
Last night I attended open house at Willits High School and I got to see an excellent example of how people can help out with that little extra for the schools. In Laura Herman's Science class there was a brand new computer. The computer is set up so students can go online to research Science questions as they come up in class. Laura proudly told us that she got the computer from "Donors Choose". Teachers can make requests for things they need in the classroom from Donors Choose. People and corporations can provide either the items needed or they can donate money towards that cause. So instead of ending up like Shorty schools and teachers can have some of the things they need.
If you are interested in helping out or making a donation check out Donors Choose at

http://www.donorschoose.org/

Thank you and God bless,

chris

Mellow Yellow

This week I have been really busy with appointments and what not and it has been difficult to get out and do any photography. Especially when the lighting is at its best. I finally managed to get out to the Burris Ranch this morning. I picked up some Yellow Gorse a.k.a. Scotch Broom along the way to use for perches. The birds were not active hardly at all as the presence of a Sharp Shin Hawk seemed to be putting a damper on the festivities. The hawk was just waiting for a chance and its' shadow passed over the feeders several times and all the birds would get really quiet and then all of a sudden disappear in a flurry of wings. So opportunities to photograph were a little slim. I worked a little more on my new water set up and then headed out.

God's light and love to all,

chris

Succulent

While scouting for some landscape locations along Orr Creek today I came across this succulent growing on the side of the cliff.
God bless,
chris

Pine Siskin

Today I went out to the Burris Ranch to work on setting up a small water feature to photograph at. While I was there I figured I might as well put some time in at the photo blind. Here is a Pine Siskin that came to the feeders while I was there.

God's light and love to all,

chris

The Sign Says...

I have passed by this sign on the fence post countless times. Last week I decided that I was going to stop and take a good look at it and I never did. Today the traffic was pretty much nonexistent and the lighting was soft and light so I stopped and created a few images of it. It's a pretty cool sign.

Go's light and love to all,

chris