A Bit of Fence and a Rock

My photography blind at the Burris ranch is in an old garden area set aside from the pasture by an old beaten down sheep fence that is topped by two strands of barbed wire. For those of you that know what kind of fencing this is you probably already know that it isn't the prettiest fencing around. It isn't what I normally like to photograph birds on anyway. Recently I did photograph some quail on it and it's ok, but it isn't as nice as an old wooden fence. So I found some old redwood split rail fencing and wired it up to the wire fence and now I can at least get a few more images that aren't on wire. The birds were landing on both the posts and the rails today. I also have been getting a few images at my new water feature that as it starts getting warmer the birds will be using more and more. Today a few of them came in for a drink and landed on the biggest moss covered rock in the set up. There is always something I can do or change to shake things up a bit.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris,

Waiting for Spring

Oh the weather outside is frightful. But, you're so... We have been getting the most unspring like weather. On Saturday we woke up to and inch and a half of snow and it has been raining on and off since then with some patches of sunlight thrown in.

God's light and love to all,

chris

The Coast

Friday I made a quick trip over to the coast after doing some wildflower photography in theLittle Lake Valley. I made a nice loop trip by going up to the little town of Laytonville and the heading across the coastal range via the Branscomb Road. Once I hit the coast I went down Highway 1 . Westport Store with it's great snacks was my first stop along the way with a few more at favorite places like the Fingers, Kabisela and MacKerricher SP. When I hit Fort Bragg I grabbed a polish dog for a late lunch at Harvest Market and then headed back on Highway 20 to Willits.
Highlights of the trip were the Harbor Seals, Black Oyster Catchers along with the Ravens and Turkey Vultures soaring along the cliffs. It was a beautiful day on the coast.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Little Lake Valley

The Little Lake Valley is home to a profusion of wildflowers every spring. With that in mind I staked out a few spots in the afternoon yesterday that I wanted to photograph this morning. When I arrived at my chosen spot it was foggy with just a little bit of sunshine. It was still beautiful though just not what I had anticipated.
God's light and love,

chris

Almost a No Photography Day

This blog is delayed by a day as blogger was down. Today I did a lot of office work. Scanning images and file work. I went out to the ranch to clean and restock the feeders. While I was there I thought I would try a little photography. It was unsuccessful as they were working in the ranch yard with a nail gun. Every time the nail gun would fire off the birds would bolt. When I was coming out of the blind I happened to look into the pasture down at the bottom of the hill and this horse with the flowers caught my eye.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Leapin' Lizards Two!

Yesterday I wasn't really pleased with how my images of the Western Fence Lizards came out. I realized that because I was so excited to be photographing them again that I was working with them in lighting that was way too harsh. So today I set out to create some images that were more lizard worthy of them. I feel that I did a great job.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Leapin' Lizards!

It's great when the lizards come out in spring. They provide so much excitement when they scurry out from underfoot and you think it might be a rattlesnake! Actually I like them because they follow the sun. If you watch one for a long period of time they will follow the sun around a rock to stay in its warmth. They are expert sun bathers.

This morning I photographed the birds and then headed down to Ukiah to take my Mom in for some eye surgery. Did you know that your eye lid can curve downward and irritate the cornea? Well I guess it can. So they stitch it back up into place. When I got back from Ukiah I stopped by Lake Ada Rose and spent some time stalking the Western Fence Lizards among the rip rap on the dam's face. It's pretty cool how many color variations there are among the fence lizards. They range from almost black to light brown with a Herring Bone pattern.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris