Be Here Now
I’ve been struggling to finish up the next installment of my retrospective on our trip to Washington last month. (Not struggling because it is unenjoyable, but because I can’t seem to decide which images to share… I’m terrible like that when it comes to making up my mind.) Meanwhile, ever since we returned home, the lure to be outside for large portions of the day grows stronger and stronger. Spring is in full swing and the sight of deer peeking out of tall grasses and the sounds of birds singing their best courtship arias are hard things to resist. (Not to mention the bevy of awesome insects that have arrived and promise a new discovery nearly every day!!) I promised myself that I wouldn’t share any of my recent pics until I’d finished with the tales of our trip — BUT WHO AM I KIDDING??? Some things just need to be shared… especially with friends. I hope you enjoy and be sure to click on the images for embiggened viewing!
The Coast Range Newts (Taricha torosa torosa) are one of my favorite annual phenomena. Though they live in the area year-round, they are only easily observable at the end of Winter and through Spring when they leave their moist terrestrial hide-outs to congregate in the seasonal creek and breed. As they are extremely toxic, the adults have very few known predators, but CaliforniaHerps.com states: “Southern California populations have suffered population declines due to habitat loss and alteration caused by human activity, and from introduced predatory mosquitofish, crayfish, and bullfrogs, which eat the non-poisonous larvae and eggs. Breeding ponds have been destroyed for development, and stream pools used for breeding have been destroyed by sedimentation caused by wildfires.”
This has been a banner year for them thus far and their numbers seem very healthy… which makes me very happy!
Storksbill (Erodium), also known as filaree or heron’s bill, is a non-native that grows rather prolifically here in the canyon.
Its small flowers aren’t very showy, but as with anything in nature, a closer look reveals all kinds of intricate beauty.
I never tire of looking at (and photographing) clouds. The sky on this day was doing some crazy things and I was fascinated by the organic shapes being created…
Does anyone else see a face on the right?
Yup! It’s gotten warm enough for the rattlesnakes to be out basking again. This curled-up juvenile Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) was about the diameter of an English muffin when I spotted it behind my house last week.
A few days earlier, I saw a curled-up full-grown adult — closer to a medium-sized pizza in that case. *grin*
The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) population this year seems to have grown. I have no good way of knowing exactly how many might live in this canyon, but I do keep track of how many I’ve seen together at the same time. Last month, I trumped my high count (by several!) when I saw a group of nineteen foraging together.
I really, really, really, want to know what this deer is saying… any guesses? *big grin*
As I mentioned, this is definitely a fantastic time of year to be out if you enjoy studying arthropods! The native Convergent Ladybeetles (Hippodamia convergens) were some of the first insects to start gathering in the lush grasses and new vegetation. [Whoops! I initially mistyped that these were a non-native species.]
As you can see, they are well on their way to creating the next generation. 
Earlier this week, I stood watching the sky long after the sun had set. At first it was all dark blues and purples, but then something shifted and I looked up and saw this…
Can the sky really be that color, I thought? Yes, yes it can…
OK, yes, I know this is a picture of a blurry bird… but, I have a fondness for such things and I especially like this one.
*** Super extra-credit bonus points to the first person who can tell me which bird species this is! ***
For those of you for whom Spring has arrived, may you have the time to appreciate all the wonders it has to offer. And for those who are still patiently awaiting an end to cold and wet weather, may the anticipation make its arrival all the sweeter.
Fantastic shots of Spring. That little newt is quite amazing. And the red sunset is really unbelievable. We don’t get sunsets like that out here in NY, some nice deep oranges and purple but rarely a dark red like that. That would stop me in my tracks as well. Lucky that you had your camera with you, although I imagine you almost always have it with you these days. Good thing. 🙂 B
Awww, thanks so much for the nice words, Ben. The newts are indeed amazing and the kid in me just wants to pick them up and pet them — good thing the grown-up in me understands that they are lethally toxic! Hmmm… the sunset was supposed to look hot pink… I guess monitor colors really do vary widely, eh? *grin* Nevertheless, it was spectacular and we do sometimes get skies that are deep red (usually just as the sun is about to slip below the horizon). Yes, I try to take my camera with me whenever I go out for a walk. There’s almost always something beautiful waiting to be photographed… It never fails that the few times I have left it at home, I end up kicking myself for it later. 🙂
Wonderful renderings of your gorgeous dot on the planet Harsi. I adore the newts as you already know. As for the bird, the only one I can think of that color is a flicker. Lovin the gray of today xo
*DING DING DING* Right you are, lovely lady, it is indeed a flicker! In addition to winning the admiration of birdwatchers’ everywhere, I promise (later tonight) to finally send you a few of the beautiful photos I took at your house last weekend. 🙂 I am loving the gray weather too, but apparently the newts are not so happy about it. When Ez and I went for a walk a few days ago, we had to really look hard to come up with a mere half-dozen. I’m guessing once the sun is shining again they’ll be back to swimming around, mating, and being their newt-y selves.
so happy to hear that your vacation went well Harsi- and I love each one of your photos, most especially that very cool newt! We had a small migration of salamanders one evening but within two days snow covered the ground. Spring has been so very slow in arriving here, and my shutter finger is getting more than a bit twitchy 😉
Hello Cindy!! “Salamanders then Snow”… Doesn’t that sound like a great title for a book? 🙂 I’m always fascinated by your tales of wildlife, especially in the winter and early spring months when your weather is so vastly different from mine. I’m sure you’ll be out there clicking away soon enough, but until then, it’s a good thing that you are able to create wonderful “new images” using your Photoshop skills and impressive collection of archived shots. Take care!