Today's walk report: 120914

The final leg of the 2014 tour, the year really seemed to fly by. I'm extremely grateful for the companionship I've had since February and am looking forward to each and every future day with my girl, Docken.

Here are photos from last weekend's walks...

I've been trying to get a really nice picture of this black-chinned hummingbird for some time now. These aren't those. Considering this behavior and the current condition of the local botanical garden (flowers are few, moving into winter) it might be awhile before I catch him at plant level again. Anyway, the fly catching thing shown here is something I suspect most people don't really see. Camera data says I'm 28.5 meters (31 yards) away, a lot of that being up, and even at 300 mm the flies aren't too visible until cropping in. Notice the bird's darting tongue in the 2nd image.

Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)

Green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans)

I spent an inordinate amount of time following around this clouded sulphur (Colias philodice) and barely got this shot off before he took off again.

The 2nd landing was much longer, having parked himself in the leaf of a western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) tree.

Buds beginning on the ever popular chandelier plant (Kalanchoe delagoensis).

Unknown succulent.

Unknown succulent.

Yes, we had rain, quite a bit considering the SoCal drought situation. We clocked in at just over 2" from 11/30-12/04 with more on the way. The rain brought mushrooms everywhere.

This is a blue marine (Leptotes marina) it's one of my favorite butterflies to photograph. They fly in such a frenzied manner and are quite small (wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm) so it's difficult to see how pretty they are until they land and that's not often or typically for very long. I discovered in this report that open wings is pretty much just a mating thing and a glimpse of their iridescent wings is rare. The plant is Westringia, 'Blue Gem.'

New flowers from the Tagetes lemmonii bushes, perhaps this will lure the hummingbird back.

I'll probably have a report or two before the close of 2014 but just in case, happy holidays whoever you are!

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.

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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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Mimulus, aka, Monkey flower.

Danaus plexippus, Monarch butterfly.

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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.