Today's walk report: 082213

What's green, bulbous and has four eyes?


But first...

Come walk time I just didn't feel like it but am so glad I went. I was up before 5 AM today, in downtown Los Angeles by 6:45 and then stood in a line to get into Los Angeles Superior Court and another line to get one of four Golden Tickets for a probate workshop for a whopping total of 1.5 hours--standing. It was like waiting to get into Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in the summer of '69. I was number 3. Then it turns out they decided to take in a total of 11 people for whatever reason. Apparently usual is 8 but there are four people assisting, today it was only one. I have to say the woman handing all of us was amazing. She was the first really pleasant, knowledgeable and through person I've had to deal with at the court so far. Everything went smoothly and I was out just a little past noon. Then I got on the wrong freeway to come home.

That was okay too though, I readjusted and ended up going into my old neighborhood, which I miss dearly and visited a couple of people there.

I came home to a 91º house with a cat pretty darned pissed off at me. I think for both no A/C and the fact that it was 2 PM and all she had was an early AM treat. Sorry Lucy.

Anyway, 6 PM I told myself get out or you're going to be upset and a little empty later if you don't walk so walk I did.

Here's the answer to the "riddle" above.

3rd time is the charm. There were two other missed photo ops with this young Red-tailed hawk in the garden recently. On both of the previous occasions I was clodding along and my non-stealth approach spooked the bird. I did that again today but since it had just got itself a kill it was anxious to hang around and eat. I'm pretty sure that's a rat. I got lots of pictures. I'm about 4 meters away shooting at a focal length of 240mm here.

another at 300mm...

last one... Yes, unquestionably aware of my presence.

then there was this guy thinking, wow! glad it wasn't me.

and sunset...

Today's walk report: 081113

Ribbet...

Finally got some shots of one of the bull frogs. There are two or three of these in the pond inside the botanical garden. I hear them communicating to each other all of the time but I only caught a partial glimpse of one in the last two years and it was an impossible photo. They like to stay well camouflaged in the cattail thickets. There's a lady who often visits the garden when I'm there who knew where to look and showed me. This is the difference between walking around and having a seat. There are several strategically placed benches in the garden but for the most part I find them to be a disadvantage for taking photos. I can stand in one place for some time but I can never keep my head still.

But first...

Not a great shot but I liked the bokeh and it's been apparent lately that there's not a lot of anything new in the garden to take pictures of. January-February is the best time for hummingbirds.

This is another one which loves getting into this particular thicket and making a decent photo near impossible. This is probably the 4th time I've attempted this same shot this season and this Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) is starting to look pretty sorry compared to the 1st time.

I got few nice shots of this female Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) despite the breeze. Shooting a 300mm lens with a closeup lens a breeze seems like you're dealing with a gale.

here's another angle...

one more...

Here's the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)...

I was standing in stinky mud and was sinking for this so... one more...