When I captured my first full frame picture of a bird (Towhee), a good medium-format photograper at work remarked that I must have been close to the bird and used a long lens. I said yup – 500mm – and was less than ten feet from the bird. Distance has always been the challenge, especially with non-shorebirds, such as those on More Mesa that tend to fly away at the slightest disturbance. Shorebirds often circle around and come back to the same stretch of land. Creeping slowly forward and standing still have become habits that paid off a little with this weekend’s photos of mostly migratory shorebirds.

(Bonaparte’s Gulls at Goleta Sanitary District – click image for larger picture)

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To conserve gas, I usually plan one round-trip per day for any outings over the weekend. During the week, I telecommute, and therefore feel a little less bad about weekend trips, not having a hybrid.

(Clark’s Grebe – click image for large picture)

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In 2002, when I first started learning about the wildlife in the surrounding areas (I had been practically chained to a computer till then), I asked about the best place to see wildflowers – “Figueroa Mountain” was the answer. I have been going there each year since 2002, usually much earlier than April. On Saturday, eventually found the time and energy to visit for the first time in 2007. Although the flowers were not as profuse as last year, there were still many varieties to photograph.

(The road to Figueroa Mountain, still covered in fog – click for larger picture)

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This afternoon, traveled north of Santa Barbara to a favorite canyon that I visit each spring, for flower and butterfly photography – only to find that there were hardly any flowers. There were just a few poppies and lupine flowering in scattered locations, and very few butterflies. The rainfall this year is the lowest since the late 1890’s.

In order not to waste the time and gas spent in going to the canyon, decided to return via Alisal Road, another favorite place. There too, there were very few flowers and a just few more butterflies. Birds were singing all along the road, but did not have my bird lens – definitely required for the high and far trees on this road.

However, there are wonderful oaks in the area, and thought that a session of oak photography was called for. Many trees are covered with lichen. Lichens growing on trees do not harm them; they use the trees for physical support. Lichens normally grow on trees where there is sufficient light and air circulation, and since they are sensitive to air pollution, prefer air-pollution-free areas.

(Funereal Duskywing seen briefly along the road – click image for larger picture)

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Visited GSD briefly to view the reported Canada Goose nest. Indeed there was a Canada Goose sitting on a nest constructed in the crossway between two ponds – on the rocks and surrounded by a heavy chain. The male was sitting not far from the nest.

(Canada Goose nesting – click on image for larger picture)

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