Beneath the Cliffs

I don't think I could ever get tired of this place.

Lonely Bird

August Night Sky

Avian Fauna

Lots of things going on in the Bird World right now and it's nice to be able to capture a glimpse of that magical world.

Spring Color

Nobody told me that all these Spring migrants would bring so much color to the area. What a nice surprise. Yes, that is a badger and badger cub looking right at you beneath the brush.

into twenty twelve

The Impaler

Logger Head Shrikes are rarely seen in Ventura County these days. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation from development theses little ferocious birds are going the way of the dodo in parts of California. Today was my first confirmed sighting. Shrikes are Impalers, in that they impale their prey to branches, barbwire, etc and then start to feed.

Birds pictured:

Logger Head Shrike 

Northern Harrier

Greater Roadrunner

Observed but Not Pictured:

Says Phoebe

Black Phoebe

American Kestrel

White Tailed Kite

Red Shouldered Hawk

Rancho Sierra Vista November 2011

Analog Autumn

Was rummaging through some old negs and found these.

All images were taken during various states of different Autumns throughout the past few years.

Top. Malibu Creek (notice the big Blue Heron perched atop one of the branches)
Mid. Upper Sycamore Canyon
Bot. The old Ap at Satwiwa/ Rancho Sierra Vista

Satwiwa

Last night I went over to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Newburry Park to check out Eric "Medicine Wind" Alvarado play his flute and talk story, and it was a truly powerful performance. He told stories of his Hopi ancestry and of the origins of some of his songs while playing his many flutes out amongst an ultra blue sky. He also spoke of the inter-connectedness of all beings, which I have always believed in and is why I started the Birdman Tribe, and he spoke of the dire need for peace today. As the sun set he continued to play and it was as if he was communicating with the natural forces all around us; birds chirped along with him, an owl soared gracefully around us, a young girl spotted a bright blue-orange shooting star, and the clouds whirled around majestic Boney Mountain in the background. I'm really glad that I chose to go and I will be attending the next few programs that the Satwiwia cultural center puts on throughout the summer. For more information and schedule go to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's website.