A very interesting feature of the Steinhart Aquarium is a clear tunnel under a moat in the Rain Forest. Looking up, you see fish, trees, people and sky.

I don’t think that pup can get a whole lot bigger and still ride with Mom…. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Actually, just an OK Great Egret (Ardea alba). Still, it looked mah-vel-us in flight.

California Sea Otters at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

Red-tailed hawks were in abundance during a visit to the San Luis Wildlife refuge. It seemed as if they were around every corner. Most looked to be juveniles perhaps in their first year.

During our visit to the San Luis Refuges, we noticed an abundance of raptors. I read that there is an explosion of voles and mice because of the cool summer that allowed grasses to linger longer. More voles and mice means predators can support larger families. This appears to be a juvenile red-tailed hawk.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Graden

Last evening while a good friend and I were in the John Muir National Historic Site for a glimpse of the full moon rising over Mt. Diablo, we met up with a Park Ranger who was going to lead a moonlight walk in the hills adjacent to the homesite. He mentioned to us that there was a particularly large Live Oak tree called “Wanda’s Oak” or “TenTrees” near Mt. Wanda (named for one of Miur’s daughters). It’s an impressive specimen to be sure with it’s first lateral branch 11′ in diameter. While photographing it we saw a hawk (likely a immature Cooper’s Hawk [Accipiter cooperii] )land nearby and it appeared to have caught a vole. To our astonishment, when it was finished it flew nearer intent on a second vole which it missed. The third time was a charm and brought him into the open where we could get a look. Then as we were setting up on Mt. Wanda, a white tailed Kite started to hunt nearby. The full moon was nice but being in the presence of these two magnificent birds was a treat.

Honeybees again, this time on Buckwheat. Amazingly busy and resourceful creatures.

All day long honeybees worked the mustard behind our tent while we stayed at Montaña de Oro. While it’s fairly easy to get photos of them, it’s harder to get nice ones. All too often, I end up with perfectly exposed photos of bee’s butts and they are not all that attractive.