On Monday, October 22nd, I stopped off at Goleta Slough mouth at Goleta Beach at 5:15pm for 20-30 minutes before the CCBER seminar at UCSB at 6pm. The low-tide waters of the slough mouth were occupied by many different birds; it was quite an active scene. However, the light was not that great but did get pictures of White-faced Ibis, Bonaparte’s Gull and Bufflehead that are not seen in the summer months at the slough.

(Bonaparte’s Gull – Goleta Slough mouth – October 24, 2007)

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A good resource “CIMSS Satellite Blog” was discovered today – worthy of a post.

The latest entry on the CMISS blog includes “an animation of GOES-11 visible channel images shows large smoke plumes from the California wildfires being advected a significant distance (over 1000 miles) westward over the Pacific Ocean.”

• CIMSS Satellite Blog Link

This weekend, I had hoped to go to Figueroa Mountain and environs to photograph more fall colors, plants, seeds, etc., but decided that 50+ mph winds were not conducive to photography — or for driving on Chumash Highway or through Gaviota Pass. Just as well: a fire broke out at the foot of Figueroa Mountain.

I am thankful the Zaca fire was not accompanied by Santa Ana winds; I feel for residents to the south today.

More links

• Earth Observatory
• MODIS Active Fire Detections
  

I enjoy many kinds of music, in particular a number of different sounds produced by African artists. At the top of the list of my favorite African musicians are Lucky Dube, Jabu Khanyile, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hugh Masekela amongst many others.

Sadly today it was learned that Lucky Dube was killed in a hijacking in Johannesburg. I have listened to his music (on and off between others) for over 20 years, the last time being over the weekend while driving in the back country when I heard one of his most famous songs “Together as One” (about Apartheid) on SB public radio.

In tribute, a photo of Lucky Dube from his site:
http://www.luckydubemusic.com

A very big tree has fallen, a tree bigger than the oak. A tree whose branches swing with great whistling music all across the world, a tree that stands tall and rubs shoulders with others, a tree that provides perfect shade filled with love and affection, passion and emotions. -Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti

Africa will miss the detribalised Lucky. And the rest of us, who are lucky to still be breathing, we should keep the flag of oneness, resilience and excellence flying, which Lucky Dube represented. Lucky was one of the shining lights in Africa. – Tosin Ajirire

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Both “Bad Behavior” and “Akismet” plug-ins have been activated to deal with spam on this blog. Hopefully, things will improve, and time will not be wasted dealing with this irritant.

Santa Barbara Back County
Photos of flowers and birds of fall are being compiled into another Flickr slideshow. Most impressive, was the gorgeous display of reddish-brown Buckwheat on Figueroa Mountain. Slideshow link below – which will be updated until winter.

• Fall Wildlife Slideshow
  

(Buckwheat – October, 2007 – click on image for larger picture.)

More Mesa
More Mesa was visited briefly for fall flowers and birds; some of this information was used for the October News on the More Mesa web site. No extensive observations, but some fall flowers and birds were photographed. Links below (More Mesa Slideshow link was posted to SBCounty Birding not too long ago.)

• More Mesa September News
• More Mesa Slideshow

(Savannah Sparrow – More Mesa – October, 2007)

New Brodiaea
“A brand new wildflower species has been recognized” – Lara Hartley was one of the first to photograph it. See photo and story links at link below.

• Brodiaea santarosae

A wonderful new book, full of information about the uses of plants by the Chumash People of Southern California was recently published. It is the product of almost thirty years of research, some of it derived from more than 300,000 pages of notes written by John P. Harrington.

An excellent review was written by Matt Kettman of the Santa Barbara Independent:

• Chumash Ethonobotany by Jan Timbrook

It was after reading this review that I signed up for both a lecture by Jan Timbrook at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and a field trip in the Santa Ynez Valley.

During all three activities – reading the book, listening to the lecture, and participating in the field trip, one is struck the depth of knowledge, professionalism and attention to detail by Jan Timbrook. The book is one of those books one can read and reread before going to sleep, a plant at a time, and each time learn something new.

Included in this post are some of the photos taken on the field trip.

(Indian Hemp/Dogbane – October 6, 2007 – a very rare plant in the wild)

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