Today's walk report: 010723

 Today I had music for company but Docken was in my heart and mind.

A pre-walk drive was in order, the cat known as Stan has been AWOL with today being day number four. I did a couple of laps around the neighborhood, pulling over curbside randomly, looking for him. This has happened before, several times and every time it's worrying. Stan is not a young cat and he's basically a wild cat. We've also been having some relatively severe weather and there's more coming. So, for those reading this picture Stan in a safe and warm place.

Onto the walk...

It was pretty much a day for the male Calypte anna hummingbird known as Dusty once again. A week ago yesterday I posted that I was only about 92% sure this was Dusty. Today there was no doubt. Today I spent a good deal of time with him. He was preening a lot and that's always entertaining for picture taking. He has moved slightly north in the garden. It's only 30 yards, give or take about 20 yards in every direction, from where he hung out normally. Understand too that he covers a large area, he's a bird, ya know, but he has a central territory that's not that big. That's why I know him so well.

 By the way, here's the main reason he has shifted his territory. His regular spot is blanketed by several sages. Mostly, Salvia darcyi, Salvia uliginosa, Salvia leucantha, Salvia clevelandii and Salvia microphylla 'Berzerkeley'. Most of this has been mowed down for fresh growth come spring and the rest simply isn't flowering in the winter. Although there is quite a bit of Salvia leucantha blooming. However, nearby there are lots of the Australian native shrub, Eremophila glabra blooming.

I was walking from about 11:15 until almost 12:30 but I only covered, roughly, 1.5 miles. I was taking pictures and to be honest I wasn't too enthralled about walking. Temperatures were a cool 62º to 65ºF.

I swear I've never seen this birdhouse before. There’s another one (or was) about 150 yards east of this. Maybe Dockie saw this one Christmas week. It doesn't look new but that doesn't mean it's not a new arrival. Anyway, I'm curious about what's up with the campus birdhouses.

There's always a mockingbird.

Common ravens and American crows were elusive (as were red-tailed hawks and northern flickers) and clouds were moving. Panoramas of clouds are a bit tricky when they’re on the move.

I noticed sheep off in the campus fields to the west from the top of the hill. I don't believe I've seen sheep for awhile, goats, cows and donkeys yes, sheep, no.

 I missed most of the shots I was after on top of the hill and for the most part it's still fenced off and there's not much area accessible for walking around. Driving back down and still on campus I spotted this big WTF.

That's all. I listened to a lot of great music through the journey and I'm still listening. This song came on a few minutes ago and it seemed perfect to post.