On a cool, overcast, but unfortunately rainless day, I stopped by the Coronado Butterfly Preserve to view the overwintering Monarch butterflies. The light was so dim, that it appeared that the butterflies were as gray as the eucalyptus bark.

However, in a photo taken at a high ISO 800, slow shutter-speed 1/40 sec, F-stop of 5.0, the closed sides of the butterfly wings can be seen to be very pale orange. (Tamron 200-500mm, 1.4 extender) The dark edging of the wings together with the very pale orange probably merged into a blurry gray from a distance.

The butterflies should remain resting on the eucalyptus trees until about February, at which time they should slowly start to disperse. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity on a sunny day at that time to record the energetic flutter of bright orange weaving in and out of the gray-green eucalyptus leaves, as the Monarchs leave on their various journeys.

Here’s wishing that 2008 will be happier and filled with the optimism of many and better ideas spreading and being accepted around the world to rescue this ailing planet.

(Overwintering Monarch Butterflies - December 28, 2007)

Links of Interest

• Coronado Butterfly Preserve

Mon@rch has a wonderfully interesting Wordpress blog - many bird close-ups for learning bird identification features, stories about youngsters helping and learning, and many other birdy stuff - all-around great stuff.

His latest posts are quizzes about bird eggs, that many may find interesting.

• Do you know your Bird Eggs? [QUIZ 1]
• Do you know your Bird Eggs? [QUIZ 2]

I have not posted for a while, thus a bunch of pictures have accumulated — mostly the normal birds — and are all addressed in one post, oldest pictures first.

Goleta Slough
Pictures from Goleta Slough/Beach (and one day along Atascadero Creek) were taken during small slices of time over a number of days, usually as stop-offs on trips elsewhere. Amongst the normal Fall/Winter birds, were others less usual: Hooded Merganser, Glaucous Gull, Pacific Loon, and White-faced Ibis. The latter pictures of the Ibis were luckily taken before the slough mouth was opened. The trapped water was edged with many birds, providing opportunities for close-ups often late afternoon.

After the slough was opened, most of the birds congregated at the side of the mouth further away from joggers, dogs, etc. However peace was not guaranteed, as one more adventurous biker cycled to that side of the slough and his dog had a field day with the large number of birds.

• SLIDESHOW: Goleta Slough/Beach
  

(White-faced Ibis - Goleta Slough mouth - December 06, 2007)

Oso Flaco Lake and Ocean Beach Park
I visited Oso Flaco Lake to hopefully see White Pelicans, but according to the Ranger, they had left. The Lake was not too wonderful for duck photography, because they were mostly grouped along the edges of the lake, with the largest groups on the southern side where they were silhouettes against the sun. While I was walking toward the beach, I encountered a Pipit hunting (bug/seeds?) amongst the vegetation growing in the sand. Then again, at Ocean Beach Park, there were a number of Pipits. The Oso Flaco Lake photos include flora pictures of species still flowering.

• SLIDESHOW: Oso Flaco Lake and Ocean Beach
  

(American Pipit - Oso Flaco Lake - December 15, 2007)

Callie’s Photo Show
At lunch time today I traveled to Yankee Farm environs for the first time, to view Callie’s photos and see Jill’s wonderful home and the Yankee farm. Please click on the photo of one of the most beautiful photo arrangements, adapted for a season’s greeting.

• SLIDESHOW: Callie’s Photos

(Callie’s Photo Show - Click on image for larger picture.)