A dark and gloomy day at the refuge!

As a storm is blowing in, the low cloud cover should have helped duck and geese hunters today. There weren't too many raptors visible, but the Western Grebes made up for it! They are goofy just in how they are! Beautiful also. A wayward blackbird sang to me as I left, waiting patiently until I had the right photo before flying off to his friends!

Lots of hunters at one end and lots of ducks at the other.

Another poser.

Harriers were hunting today - perhaps the wind distracts their prey from the normal watchfulness and makes it easier to capture them? All I saw were successful hunters.

Don't know if this kestrel ever got food, but he entertained me for quite a while hovering over the ditch.

And now for the Grebes!

Stretching leg after napping!

Pied Bill Grebe and Western Grebe.

Optimistic young hunters.

Love the grasses and cattails.

Water Walker!

A couple more from the refuge

The rising mist amongst the grasses in the morning light - the hard stare of a wild being deciding whether to stay or fly away - opportunities to revel in nature!

Not everything is as it seems!

Experimenting with several of the images from the refuge visit, and having a lot of fun in the process. Too easy to get stuck in a rut!!

A wonderful morning at the refuge.

Despite goose hunting season being open, lots to see at the refuge.  Kingfishers - male and female, Great Blue Herons, Avocets, Kestrels, hawks of various kinds, and a Grebe or two.
Included here is a sequence of the GBH catching and swallowing a fish!

Female.

Kestrel classic.

American Avocets

Male.

Sequence!

Mendocino views

During our California trip we wandered around Mendocino remembering the many times we had been there before - perhaps in other lifetimes :-).

Friends!

Remnants from the past watching the sea.

Enchanting!

Hunter's Moon over Mount Olympus

Couple of shots from last night as the moon rose over Mount Olympus.

A couple from around the new place.

The woodpecker has been visiting for quite a while now - but this is the first time I had the camera close enough to get a photo.
The moon is from last night - a wonderful, windy and warm fall evening sitting out on the back deck.

Hwy 1 views

We love Hwy 1 travels - as long as we are not in a hurry! Going slow allows us to enjoy the sights that she has to offer. Here's some of our views from last weeks trip.

Coast beings!

Two of my favorites from the California trip - I expected ravens but not the burrowing owl.

A couple of follow-ons

Here's a couple of shots that I like - looking up the stairs at the lighthouse and looking down at swirls of surf!

Morning Walk

We're staying about 2 miles from the Point Arena Lighthouse (by road). I walked across the meadow nearby the restaurant earlier this morning and enjoyed the light and shadows. I very much wanted to see a deer - male or female - and sure enough, both showed up.
The wind was very cool and sharp - from the North - so hot coffee was waiting when I got home!

A beautiful big boy!

Naked Ladies on the hillside!