Category: Wild Life

Sanderlings~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life218 Comments

(click/tap, twice if needed, to enlarge)

In La Jolla California,

are busy-bee birds,

always searching,

for the finest seafood.

But, like all true foodies,

after a good meal,

they need a good siesta!

Cheers to you,

from the tiny, mighty Sanderlings~

Twin Trippin’~

On By cindy knokeIn MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Tech Marvels, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life201 Comments

With the boys who are five.

Lots of cannonball jump & splash,

and desert exploration,

with Ricardo Breceda’s,

creepy creatures.

Cheers to you from the desert in spring~

Snow Geese~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life246 Comments

A massive flock of Snow Geese spooked by a Harrier Hawk (tap to enlarge to see the hawk in the upper right corner),

take to the air at The Salton Sea in Southern California.

Wile E. Coyote hiding, patiently watching and waiting,

finally makes his move,

causing the settling geese,

to panic once again,

and take to flight en masse.

The din is overwhelming as they fly directly around you,

and feathers float like snow.

When Wile E. gives up, the weary geese settle once again.

Soon they will begin their long migration north.

It is not easy being a Snow Goose,

but at least they have a lot of friends! (click to enlarge)

Cheers to you from the vacationing geese at The Salton Sea~

One Man’s Drain is Another Owl’s Castle~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life271 Comments

Burrowing Owls are a species of special concern and are disappearing in Southern California.

The species is listed as threatened in Mexico,

and endangered in Canada.

It is rare to see them in Southern California as their ecosystems have been goobled up by development.

See: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/western-burrowing-owl-southern-california-disappearing-threatened

These burrowing owls are protected at The Salton Sea Nature Preserve in Southern California.

The preserve sets up multiple drain pipes for the owls to shelter in from predators and marks them with signage to keep humans from bothering them.

It is always a major thrill when these tiny owls (they are only 9 inches high) decide to come out of hiding and people watch!

Cheers to you from the wonderful Burrowing Owls at The Salton Sea~

Sandhill Seaside Society~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life147 Comments

Why go it alone on a seaside holiday,

when vacations are more fun shared.

Sandhills eschew solitude,

preferring to gambol about in groups.

Cheers to you from the vacationing Sandhills at The Salton Sea~

Sandhills at The Salton Sea~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life236 Comments

With all their birdie buddies!

The heavy rains have filled the seas making happy and healthy birdies (click to enlarge).

The Sandhill Cranes have flown here en masse,

to take advantage of the bounty.

This is the first time they have allowed me close enough to get decent photos.

Sandhills are big birdies,

standing up to 4 1/2′ tall when fully extended,

They winter in the Salton Sea,

and head north soon,

to breed.

I have seen them doing their mating dances,

in the far Arctic.

Sorry to be out of touch. We are traveling, and wifi is unreliable.

Cheers to you for the wintering Sandhill Cranes~

For a Ceanothus Moth~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life230 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

A lifetime,

lasts,

ten days.

Only four days,

are spent flying free.

Cheers to you from The Holler’s briefly flying beauties~

Pelis-can’t~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life266 Comments

(click/tap twice if needed to enlarge)

Take a bad photo.

Every Peli day is portrait day,

even when they shy away.

Two Pelis,

are twice,

as much fun,

in the sun,

but five pelis, well they stun!

Cheers to you from The La Jolla pelis who can~

Piles of Pinnipeds~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life244 Comments

(Click/tap to enlarge)

Anxiously calling,

from land,

out to sea.

Others still must brave the waves,

to safely land.

The rocks are hard and the waves are big.

Finally resting,

reaching land is victory.

A kiss of encouragement steals the nerves.

Rest and respite so well deserved.

Cheers to you from La Jolla’s resting sea lions~

Stellar Seas~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life183 Comments

Surfers amongst storm waves. North Peaks at Blacks Beach in La Jolla, California.

California’s huge waves disrupted lots of sea life. This Stellar Sea Lion snoozing on the rocks doesn’t belong in La Jolla waters. I am seeing exotic birds blown off course and lots of other interesting displaced critters I will be sharing with you in my next posts.

These surfers seemed to do more watching than riding.

Even the resident sea lions are agitated,

by the waves,

especially as they attempt hazardous landings on the rocky shore.

In the upper right you can see the cliffs of Torrey Pines State Park,

and in the upper left, Del Mar California.

Cheers to you from still stormy La Jolla~