Today's walk report: 042514

Walk and stroll...

First the stroll, which is basically me wandering around the property here looking for photo ops, pulling weeds, etc. Most of these shots were taken yesterday and today.

Scarlet flax (Linum grandiflorum).

Scarlet flax (Linum grandiflorum) and Baby's breath (Gypsophila).

Again.

Needs ID.

Paper wasp on Salvia apiana (white sage.)

Papaver rhoeas, aka, Shirley poppy and some sort of Coreopsis.

There was also a Pink Grapefruit tree installed.

Gilia tricolor, aka, Bird's eye.

Clarkia unguiculata.

Bee in Eschscholzia californica.

More Gilia tricolor.

Bee on Clarkia unguiculata.

Bee in Eschscholzia californica.

And today's walk...

I was alone again on the walk today and there was a lonely feeling to go along with it. Nevertheless, I made the best of it.

Male Anna's hummingbird on Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis).

Female rufous hummingbird with a pollen caked head.

Alyogyne huegelii, "White Swan."

A pain in the ass little tweety bird, I'll try to ID later.

Another intense crow vs. a red-tailed hawk battle. From these images I think it appears that the red-tailed hawk may have been the aggressor. It was not.

They went their separate ways in the end. I don't believe they ever actually made contact but I could be wrong. Nonetheless, it was close. Very aggressive looking behavior.

Needs ID.

Caesalpinia gilliesii, now blooming.

This is a 2nd round of blooms on this cactus, still no ID.

Today's walk report: 042014, a day late.

Another thing...

After doing this daily, most days, for a year, I'll admit--as simple as it might be, it's not always easy to get to. We had a wonderful walk yesterday, Easter Sunday, but when it came down to getting some pics in etc., I really didn't feel like it.

Anyway, here you go...

Painted lady, Vanessa Cardui on Eschscholzia californica.

Some sort of Rice flower, I think.

Giant swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes), not in very good shape.

Closer. The flowers are palo verde.

We stopped to pet this guy. He pushed right up to the fence to encourage us. I seriously wanted to take him home.

Baaa... baaaaa.... bye.

Today's walk report: 041914, the walk report blog anniversary

That's right, one year ago today I moved this silly thing I started on Facebook which I referred to as my walk report over to this blog. I called it a walk report because that's what it appears to be. It's not just a walk though. Words to describe various walks: cleansing, purifying, meditative, introspective, ratiocinative, invigorating and motivating--often combinations of these effects. A lot of walks are also fun. A few have been a real pain. Usually, physically a pain. Typically with my feet.

For the last 10 weeks of so, I've usually had my companion, Docken joining me. With Docken all of what I mention above still happens but I have a lot more fun-- A LOT!

For the audience's sake (that would be you, for example) I've tried to write about some of the effects of my walks and make it at least somewhat interesting. I've also tried provide you, the reader, with some nice photographs.

This particular post is the 325th post from 041913 to today, 041914. I thought that number would have been higher but to be honest I hadn't really paid attention until just now. There were perhaps 6 days in the last year where I missed my walk. For sure there were 4 missed days because they just took place this past week. I just have to assume there were a couple more. I'm sure of a few half-ass, wimpy walks in the year's mix too. I'm going to assume something in the neighborhood of 1750 miles or 2,816 km walked. That's not even close to amazing, nor is it very interesting but I had a good time and feel like documenting it.

Starting yesterday, which was also my birthday...

Docken found this one... thanks Docken!

Kalanchoe delagoensis, Chandelier plant.

2

and that was it for the b-day shots.

On to today...

Grasshopper on a twig, this was a double-take, almost passing it by.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae)

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3

Mimulus, aka, Monkey flower.

Danaus plexippus, Monarch butterfly.

2

Yarrow with verbena in the background.

Grass Skipper on yarrow.

The sunlight on this sage made it absolutely brilliant.

 This red-tailed hawk came down to us from a high tree, landed, listened, stared at us and proceeded to circle us as low as waist high! Amazing!

 

Milk thistle flowerhead.

Male Anna's hummingbird.

Freeway-style ice plant flower.

Some dude on a recumbent bike.

Almost home. This crow and probably a Cooper's hawk had some disagreement over the seating arraignments. After a 2nd crow joined in the hawk decided to depart.