Today's walk report: Spirit in the Sky

 Does anyone remember Norman Greenbaum? Well, I kinda wish I didn't. Especially right now in consideration of the ear worm I'm suffering. I'll tell you what... I certainly look at that spirit in a much different light than old Norman did. Apparently, Mr. Greenbaum is still alive so I'll leave further speculation alone.

On a tongue in cheek approach, there was this today...

Hark back to that mellow yellow vibe too.

But my spirit in the sky was more about the birds today. After yesterday's post and some reminiscing last night on the crows I watched in flight, purely appearing to me to be having fun as anthropomorphic as that might sound, I couldn't see any other way to look at it. I thought how liberating it would feel to be a bird even if just for a few moments. I would choose to be a raven. I have recent newfound understanding for stories of ravens as apparitions for people we've lost in our lives.

More pictures from today.

World famous male Calypte anna hummingbird, "Dusty," once again did not want to hang out much for pictures. There's a lot more competition for territory in "his" garden now that spring as arrived. I tried to work my way around to the other side for better light but he took off.

 One of a pair. I still think this is the female. She was cooing and when I made my feeble attempt to coo back she and her mate took off. I didn't notice the other bird until they were in flight.

I'm pretty sure this too is the same mockingbird I took pictures of on Saturday. This spot is only about 25 yards away from her perch yesterday.

The copper tone of these mushrooms was not done good service by my photos. They had a glow to them. I believe these might be Chroogomphus ochraceus.

The Grevillea laevis shrub looked beautiful in the spotted sunlight.

On my way out of the garden, onward to my lower campus loop, I saw this female Allen's hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) being pursued by two males inside this young eucalyptus tree.

Yesterday's Disaster Preparedness Day crew appears to have taken off with a lot of cleanup left undone.

Meanwhile this pair of Canada geese walked along side me for about 60 yards. The male was always heads up and on guard for his mate while she seemed to be pecking at small bugs.

I was expecting a package delivery today and that had me rushing a bit. I made haste so I could drive up the hill and look for birds of prey. Docken was on the phone with me once again and I probably asked her for the time on more than a few occasions. Thank you Dockie.

Up top...

I'm assuming this is my regular pair of red-tailed hawks but I never got a good look at the other hawk's left wing to be sure (she's missing a feather or two).

"X" marks the spirit in the sky. This was the only raven I saw today. Hmm, I wonder if it's anyone I know.

No, I'm not going there. Instead...

Today's walk report: Disaster Preparedness Day

 Yep. it's Disaster Preparedness Day in the West Valley. I thought it was more like, bummer, too many people cramping my style day but whatever. I walked around things and tried to make the best of it. Here are some pictures taken along the way. Thanks again to Docken for joining me via mobile communications. I enjoyed her company.

Male Calypte anna hummingbirds were elusive today so I'm not quite sure if I saw our friend Dusty or not. This female Calypte anna was a little more obliging. 

Right above her was this Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). Both birds appeared to be carrying an egg or two.

Heading into my typical 1/2 mile lower campus loop I could quickly hear I was nearing the Disaster Preparedness Day event. I didn't actually know that was what all the hoopla was until I got home and looked it up. 

The LAFD can park in the Fire Lane if they want to.

I got so close to the Blood Drive I was just inches away from swiping a donut.

I'm not quite sure what these guys were communicating but that truck is quite the rig.

This is Thomas Gikas - Battalion Chief - Battalion 17. I clearly heard him say the word potato. That's all I got.

I think I've posted this poster before. A message, I suppose, to the college kids who are struggling a bit? I've got news for you, that guy having any sort of trouble as a student had nothing to do with what you're going through.

Turning around, I noticed there's still a little snow on the Santa Susana mountains. I was a little surprised. I've got a good chance of seeing rain both Wednesday and Thursday of this coming week. Gotta say, never thought I'd say, I'm pretty tired of the rain. Currently we're at 30.06" for the season. The average for seasons 1949 through 2021: 15.74".

I decided to ditch all the action street level and drove up the hill and wandered around there a bit. Throughout my time on the hill there were up to 10 crows all flying together and it appeared to me they were simply enjoying flying in and out of the currents on a rather breezy day.

There's a large relatively new Automotive Service Technology building on the campus. I spotted this car in the rear. Turns out this is a Kewet electric vehicle from Norway. In 1971, Knud Erik Westergaard started KEW Industries in Hadsund, Denmark. Since 2007, it has been manufactured under the name Buddy by Elbil Norge in Oslo, Norway. I think Docken should have this car. Still under consideration is my going down there an putting it in my pocket.

I don't believe I've ever seen one of these birds before, This is a western bluebird (Sialia mexicana). It's either a female or an immature bird.

House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus).

 Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura).

Sign of the Crow...

Today's walk report: 031823

 Under blue skies which are gone now only five hours or so post today's walk and it doesn't appear they'll be blue again until Thursday. There's more rain ahead for SoCal in about 22 hours, give or take, arriving somewhere around 2:00 PM tomorrow. 

Today's excursion was around two hours, some of that time was spent sitting. Some of it was driving. Overall, the walk was about 80 minutes. Docken joined me on the phone as she went to do the same at her local garden, minus the sitting and the driving. Thank you Dockie. Here are some pictures from today. 

This common raven was carrying on quite a conversation with at least two other ravens relatively far away, one to the southeast and one to the southwest.

 I mentioned last week that there are lots of desert cottontails running around. An extremely wet winter season means increased plant life in the spring, and thus increases in cottontail populations. Appears to me they've gotten a jump on the spring part.

There were several female Allen's hummingbirds all wanting to hang around this one Grevillea shrub. This was only one that hung out long enough for me to take some pictures.

 I'm fairly positive this is the same mourning dove I took pictures of last weekend. If I remember, I'll come back and ID the cactus. Right now the name escapes me.

This common raven found some fast food condiments in a trash bin. I had some dry cat food in the car, I just wasn't quick enough.

I wandered around at the top of the hill for awhile but photo ops were in short supply. I spotted this mourning dove while it gazed across the Valley.

I haven't seen this shrub before, very pretty. No ID.

I decided to drive down below to the western edge of the campus. These Angus cattle were the closest I've ever seen them to the road. I was a little disturbed when I got home and out of curiosity upscaled one the the tags under the right ears. Apparently they're owned by Bayer who are engaged in research efforts investing in areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including in the life cycle of cattle. This info is according to the Bayer website. I can't put a whole lot of trust in a company like Bayer.

Above the pasture a red-tailed hawk and a turkey vulture circled overhead.

Here's a song about a different kind of big black cow. So outrageous...