It is very hot (101) in La Mirada right now.
Pheww!
There's also a bee swarm outside my office. I don't know what those bees are thinking being outside on a day like today.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Satuday Birding
The last weekend of September only comes once a year, ushering in Autumn and the opportunity to truly enjoy it. Unfortunately, it's also during school, so Libby was stuck in the house doing homework, leaving me to my own devices for entertainment last Saturday morning. Naturally, I went birdwatching. I decided to go to the local Whittier-Puente Hills (there's a little trail off of Colima), and I pulled in as the morning rays played on the tops of the low scrub.
The birds I found made it feel more like Winter than Fall, though. In Fall, I expect a diversity of migrant warblers and vireos, birds on their way to tropical climes for the season. Instead I found sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets; birds that will stay the entire winter. Of course, it's always fun to enjoy these birds for the first time, and it's fun to see some of the local residents. Wrentits are especially common in this little patch of hills, and those bizarre one-of-a-kind birds are always a treat to see. Mockingbirds were outnumbered by California Thrashers, but I still managed a picture of one:
Northern Mockingbird near the parking lot at the Puente Hills habitat restoration project.
http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2892735185/
I finished the short hiking loop there by 9:30, and, not wanting to get home too early and distract Libby, I headed off to Creek Park. I bird Creek Park at least once a week already on my way to and from work, but I always have to be out of the park before eight to get to work on time. Here was an opportunity to be there a little later and see what was going on. It was a little more like Fall there. A group of colorful Nashville Warblers feeding in a Eucalyptus Tree were joined by a single Western Tanager. I also found a single Wilson's Warbler, but otherwise the trees were filled with Orange-crowned Warblers. For some reason, this species was super-abundant in Creek Park on Saturday, and in the week leading up to it. It was a good time to stop and enjoy a common species.
A confiding Orange-crowned Warbler forages for insects in a tree's bark.
http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2893576294/
Orange-crowned Warblers are a warbler found throughout North America, though its appearance is rather variable across this wide range. The Pacific-slope subspecies, of which the bird above is most likely a representative, is among the brightest in coloring. The eastern-most (boreal) subspecies is much grayer, with yellow sometimes confined only to the area under the tail. However, they share the same eye-pattern - a weak eye ring broken by a dark trans-ocular line. The orange crown itself isn't a very good field mark because you can rarely ever see it. I think I've seen an Orange-crowned Warblers orange crown once, ever. And I've seen a lot of Orange-crowned Warblers. Usually they keep it well covered.
See? Can't see the Orange!
http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2892736369/in/photostream/
These Pacific Orange-crowned Warblers often spend all year in California. They generally winter in coastal lowlands, and move up into the local hills to breed. After breeding, they return to the lowlands to spend the winter (some migrate south to Mexico). But in Creek Park, I had a couple of birds singing on territories well into June, suggesting that some at least attempted to breed here.
Like many warblers, the Orange-crowned Warbler forages for insects in trees and shrubs, climbing, jumping and flying from branch to branch looking for its next meal. Warblers are Libby's favorite group of birds, and many other birders' as well, not only because they are often very beautiful, but because they are fun to watch. They're full of life and energy concentrated in a tiny little feathery package. Sometimes this can also be frustrating, though, as it can be difficult to get a clear look at the whole bird as it zips from one leaf to another in dense foliage. Hence I was so happy to get his many close-up pictures of one!
After taking pictures of the warblers, I wandered back to the creek to sit and watch a flock of Bushtits and Nutmeg Mannikins pick lerps off of an infested Eucalyptus tree while a mixed trio of Downey and Nuttall's woodpeckers pounded away on some trees above my head. All very much resident birds, and all very fun and refreshing. By then it was getting quite hot, and I was getting hungry, so I jumped in the car and headed home to see Libby and have some lunch -- she'd made great progress on her homework while I was gone. Fall or Winter, there are always good birds to be seen in Southern California.
The birds I found made it feel more like Winter than Fall, though. In Fall, I expect a diversity of migrant warblers and vireos, birds on their way to tropical climes for the season. Instead I found sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets; birds that will stay the entire winter. Of course, it's always fun to enjoy these birds for the first time, and it's fun to see some of the local residents. Wrentits are especially common in this little patch of hills, and those bizarre one-of-a-kind birds are always a treat to see. Mockingbirds were outnumbered by California Thrashers, but I still managed a picture of one:
Northern Mockingbird near the parking lot at the Puente Hills habitat restoration project.http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2892735185/
I finished the short hiking loop there by 9:30, and, not wanting to get home too early and distract Libby, I headed off to Creek Park. I bird Creek Park at least once a week already on my way to and from work, but I always have to be out of the park before eight to get to work on time. Here was an opportunity to be there a little later and see what was going on. It was a little more like Fall there. A group of colorful Nashville Warblers feeding in a Eucalyptus Tree were joined by a single Western Tanager. I also found a single Wilson's Warbler, but otherwise the trees were filled with Orange-crowned Warblers. For some reason, this species was super-abundant in Creek Park on Saturday, and in the week leading up to it. It was a good time to stop and enjoy a common species.
A confiding Orange-crowned Warbler forages for insects in a tree's bark.http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2893576294/
Orange-crowned Warblers are a warbler found throughout North America, though its appearance is rather variable across this wide range. The Pacific-slope subspecies, of which the bird above is most likely a representative, is among the brightest in coloring. The eastern-most (boreal) subspecies is much grayer, with yellow sometimes confined only to the area under the tail. However, they share the same eye-pattern - a weak eye ring broken by a dark trans-ocular line. The orange crown itself isn't a very good field mark because you can rarely ever see it. I think I've seen an Orange-crowned Warblers orange crown once, ever. And I've seen a lot of Orange-crowned Warblers. Usually they keep it well covered.
See? Can't see the Orange!http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2892736369/in/photostream/
These Pacific Orange-crowned Warblers often spend all year in California. They generally winter in coastal lowlands, and move up into the local hills to breed. After breeding, they return to the lowlands to spend the winter (some migrate south to Mexico). But in Creek Park, I had a couple of birds singing on territories well into June, suggesting that some at least attempted to breed here.
Like many warblers, the Orange-crowned Warbler forages for insects in trees and shrubs, climbing, jumping and flying from branch to branch looking for its next meal. Warblers are Libby's favorite group of birds, and many other birders' as well, not only because they are often very beautiful, but because they are fun to watch. They're full of life and energy concentrated in a tiny little feathery package. Sometimes this can also be frustrating, though, as it can be difficult to get a clear look at the whole bird as it zips from one leaf to another in dense foliage. Hence I was so happy to get his many close-up pictures of one!
After taking pictures of the warblers, I wandered back to the creek to sit and watch a flock of Bushtits and Nutmeg Mannikins pick lerps off of an infested Eucalyptus tree while a mixed trio of Downey and Nuttall's woodpeckers pounded away on some trees above my head. All very much resident birds, and all very fun and refreshing. By then it was getting quite hot, and I was getting hungry, so I jumped in the car and headed home to see Libby and have some lunch -- she'd made great progress on her homework while I was gone. Fall or Winter, there are always good birds to be seen in Southern California.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Great Basin Birds
This last weekend Libby and I went birding in Laguna Niguel Regional Park because we had to take a trip to Dana Point to pick up a box of supplies her class needs for their annual field trip to the Pilgrim with the Ocean Institute. Anyway, Laguna Niguel Regional Park is along the way, and it has one of the few local Tricolored Blackbird flocks in Southern California. I was hoping to get some pictures of the Tricolored Blackbirds, but that didn't work out because the birds were uncooperative and the camera was running out of batteries. Still, we had a pretty good time. There were some migrants moving through - Common Yellowthroats, a Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers and Western Tanagers made up the bulk of the flocks. But, we also had a rare bird - a Plumbeous Vireo.
Plumbeous Vireos are the Great Basin counterpart to the Pacific slope's Cassin's Vireos and to the East's Blue-headed Vireos -- a group of birds formerly considered one species. They've begun extending their range into California's mountains fairly recently, and as such, are being found more commonly in migration and winter in coastal Southern California. Still, they're still less common than Cassin's Vireos, and it was exciting to see one. Plus, we had good looks at the bird, and it was very handsome - slate gray with strong wing bars, eye-rings and a spectacles.
This morning on my way to work, I found a Virginia's Warbler. This is a Vermivora warbler that's restricted to the Great Basin like the Plumbeous Vireo, and is very similar to the Nashville Warbler of the East and Pacific Slope. It also has extended its range into California's mountains recently, and is found in small numbers along the southern California coastal plain in Fall. Unlike the Plumbeous Vireo, this was a lifer. Also unlike our recent Plumbeous Vireo, it was not very obliging. It was foraging among leaves about 50' up in a Eucalyptus and I only saw it for a little while before it flew off. So, still a bird I'd like to see more clearly, again (with Libby, hopefully!).
Plumbeous Vireos are the Great Basin counterpart to the Pacific slope's Cassin's Vireos and to the East's Blue-headed Vireos -- a group of birds formerly considered one species. They've begun extending their range into California's mountains fairly recently, and as such, are being found more commonly in migration and winter in coastal Southern California. Still, they're still less common than Cassin's Vireos, and it was exciting to see one. Plus, we had good looks at the bird, and it was very handsome - slate gray with strong wing bars, eye-rings and a spectacles.
This morning on my way to work, I found a Virginia's Warbler. This is a Vermivora warbler that's restricted to the Great Basin like the Plumbeous Vireo, and is very similar to the Nashville Warbler of the East and Pacific Slope. It also has extended its range into California's mountains recently, and is found in small numbers along the southern California coastal plain in Fall. Unlike the Plumbeous Vireo, this was a lifer. Also unlike our recent Plumbeous Vireo, it was not very obliging. It was foraging among leaves about 50' up in a Eucalyptus and I only saw it for a little while before it flew off. So, still a bird I'd like to see more clearly, again (with Libby, hopefully!).
Friday, September 19, 2008
Fall Morning
It's still a couple of days until Fall begins, but it looked and smelled like it this morning. I'm not sure what was in the air - I can't find any notice of wildfires - but the morning light had a strong yellow cast.
But the most exciting part of my morning was the abundance of fall migrants in Creek Park. My first of season migrant Yellow, Black-throated Gray and Townsend's Warblers joined the flocks of Orange-crowned and Wilson's that have already been present since September began. On Tuesday morning I had two Nashville Warblers, also, but those appear to have moved on. It's amazing how, all three of these species showed up on the same day (as far as I could tell). With Hermits migrating early and more easterly in the Fall and MacGillivrays seeming to skip Creek Park, the only warbler species I still can expect to see this Fall in the park is the omni-present Yellow-rumped. The first of those are due any day now, though I'm not really looking forward to them. They'll be here all winter, after all.
Also, it's apparently Talk Like a Pirate Day! Thanks for the heads up, Mom.
So, Arrgh.
But the most exciting part of my morning was the abundance of fall migrants in Creek Park. My first of season migrant Yellow, Black-throated Gray and Townsend's Warblers joined the flocks of Orange-crowned and Wilson's that have already been present since September began. On Tuesday morning I had two Nashville Warblers, also, but those appear to have moved on. It's amazing how, all three of these species showed up on the same day (as far as I could tell). With Hermits migrating early and more easterly in the Fall and MacGillivrays seeming to skip Creek Park, the only warbler species I still can expect to see this Fall in the park is the omni-present Yellow-rumped. The first of those are due any day now, though I'm not really looking forward to them. They'll be here all winter, after all.
Also, it's apparently Talk Like a Pirate Day! Thanks for the heads up, Mom.
So, Arrgh.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Les Miserables
This summer Libby and I saw a local community college version of the Les Miserables musical. It was quite good, and the story is compelling and Chrisitan. Intrigued, we biked over to Barnes and Nobles (a quick five mile jaunt) and picked up an unabridged English translation of the novel one day. We got the new Julie Rose translation because, of the two available unabridged translations, its presentation was the most readable (the other version available was a cramped little paper back with no margins).
Anyway, I finally finished Victor Hugo's mammoth book last weekend. It was not as enjoyable as the musical. The musical highlights the best plot points of the book and therefore that compelling and Christian narrative. The book's narrative is also quite gripping and fun to read, but it's interspersed with long-winded digressions that break up and diminish the narrative's power. Since the digressions are generally French Romantic Enlightenment screeds against anything impeding Mankind's Progress - a thing I doubt exists at all in the first place - they especially dim the Christian element to the plot. Hugo ended his life a deist, anyway.
Still, the novel serves as a reminder of the importance of loving and caring for the poor. This is always valuable (though I'd prefer Dickens). Also, his digression on Waterloo is very interesting and well written. It's good to read books by people with whom you disagree, and I've rarely encountered someone as enamored of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte as Hugo sometimes appears to be. After reading Tolstoy (of whom Hugo reminds me quite strongly - especially, ironically, of War and Peace) this summer and hearing how bad, bad, and hubristic the mighty Napoleon's invasion of Russia was, it was quite a shock.
Anyway, I won't read it again, I don't think, but I am glad that I read it this one time. I can understand the abridgement, too, though I'm glad the one time I read the book I did it unabridged.
Anyway, I finally finished Victor Hugo's mammoth book last weekend. It was not as enjoyable as the musical. The musical highlights the best plot points of the book and therefore that compelling and Christian narrative. The book's narrative is also quite gripping and fun to read, but it's interspersed with long-winded digressions that break up and diminish the narrative's power. Since the digressions are generally French Romantic Enlightenment screeds against anything impeding Mankind's Progress - a thing I doubt exists at all in the first place - they especially dim the Christian element to the plot. Hugo ended his life a deist, anyway.
Still, the novel serves as a reminder of the importance of loving and caring for the poor. This is always valuable (though I'd prefer Dickens). Also, his digression on Waterloo is very interesting and well written. It's good to read books by people with whom you disagree, and I've rarely encountered someone as enamored of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte as Hugo sometimes appears to be. After reading Tolstoy (of whom Hugo reminds me quite strongly - especially, ironically, of War and Peace) this summer and hearing how bad, bad, and hubristic the mighty Napoleon's invasion of Russia was, it was quite a shock.
Anyway, I won't read it again, I don't think, but I am glad that I read it this one time. I can understand the abridgement, too, though I'm glad the one time I read the book I did it unabridged.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Fannnntastic!
Fantastic Contraption is the most entertaining in-browser (Flash) game that I've ever played. Now that I've beaten it, I'm sharing it with you.
Have fun!
Have fun!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Farewell to Summer
Today's Libby's first day of school at Calvary. Yesterday was her first day of school at Biola. So, summer is over.
I guess it was a pretty good summer. We spent a lot of time hiking. Oregon was a blast. So was Libby's first pack trip. Speaking of which, Dad's pictures are now on-line. You can access those here: http://picasaweb.google.com/Davendebr/BackpackTrip.
I know the weather won't change all of a sudden, and the equinox isn't for a couple of more weeks, but I will miss the longer days. It was so pleasantly temperate here this summer, too, so I'll miss the perfect weather. Most days it was 85 or lower in La Mirada. We had a couple of really hot spells last Spring, but I only remember one big heat wave this summer, and that was around the beginning of July. We'll see what happens this September, though. It was 90 yesterday, and it's supposed to be around there today, too, so it's a little warmer than it has generally been.
Still, Fall brings migrants. I took my first post-summer walk to school yesterday morning, and the trees were full of Orange-crowned Warblers. There were also a few Wilson's Warblers mixed in here and there. Black Phoebes were incredibly vocal, perhaps sorting out winter territory boundaries after fledging their young. A few House Wrens were still singing, too, as well as a very loud Bewick's Wren - the first time I've ever had one in Creek Park. I'm not sure what he's doing there, as I've always thought of our local Bewick's Wrens as essentially sedentary birds. Maybe he lost his territory in the nearby Whittier Hills and wandered until he found a dense patch of shrubs in Creek Park?
Birds were mostly quiet, though. Besides the wrens, the only bird I heard sing was a single Lesser Goldfinch. It's a stark contrast from the Spring. Then, Warblers, Orioles, Towhees, and Finches all fill the air with their music.
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