While waiting for Callie and John to arrive at Nira campground for our trip along Manzana creek, I was thrilled to be able to watch a hummingbird in the process of building a nest in the large sycamore tree under which I had parked my car. The nest was facing toward the Manzana trailhead (don’t know where north was). When the hummingbird was not there, I had extreme difficulty in locating the nest if I walked away and came back. The nest could appear like fluff or lichen caught on branches - it was extremely well camouflaged, even though it was at the edge of the tree in dead branches.

(Hummingbird Nest - Nira Campground, May 11, 2008)

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After 15 consecutive days of solid work (and sitting), it was really good to get out on the Fire Followers SBBG trip on May 5th (especially with the leaders “extraordinaire” whose handouts are greatly appreciated). I have visited Highway 33 north of Ojai less than five times, and each time I go, I am struck by the beauty and wonderful flower displays. Some of the terrain reminds me a little of some seen in Namibia - where I described it in my “Scrapbook” site, as being drawn with a broad sweeping brush. However the vegetation is very different, where at the higher altitude, fir and pine are found that would never be seen in the higher areas of Namibia.

(Zaca Fire burned vegetation on west side of Highway 33 - May 5, 2008)

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“I don’t want to leave and go home”, said one of the trip participants after a wonderful, interesting SBBG trip to Figueroa Mountain. It is not an uncommon feeling after each trip to the mountain — which I have visited many times this year (along with other areas). This year has more free time and it is also a good time to visit outlying areas before the price of gasoline becomes prohibitive.

(Tufted Poppies, Sky Lupine - March 18, 2008)

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The Saturday trip to Santa Barbara Island was my second trip to that remote small rock of an island in the Channel. On the last trip (July 2007) I took my bulky bird lens — this time I wish I had not left it behind because of the extremely rich fauna. Santa Barbara Island is further from the mainland than the other islands, and seems to be affected by the weather more than the other islands. Rainy weather seems to be worse on this island. Thus flower viewing is only possible in the calmer months. Because of less than normal March rain this year and the usual higher winds further out to sea, the flowers dried out faster and there was not much to see. Hence it must be difficult to schedule a visit ahead of time to get the best of both the weather and the moisture.

(Baby Brown Pelicans - April 12, 2008)

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This year, as in 2002, I am taking my vacation in small chunks, usually a day at a time, visiting some of the magnificent areas in Santa Barbara county. In 2007 and 2006, I took short trips to San Francisco, camping along the way at some wonderful places - plus one or two day trips. The remaining years in-between were generally vacation-free, or spent on home repair.

(Anacapa chain of islands - March 31, 2008)

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