Friend from Humboldt

Morning on the Lake

 
This weekend I had  a visitor!  My friend Kathy from Humboldt was headed home from a recorder workshop in Carmel, and she stopped over for a night.   I've known Kathy since my first year of teaching.  :)  Was great to spend time hanging out.     We watched birds this morning, and discussed various birds' habits.   

The water is really shallow!

In researching the hummingbirds, we determined mine are Anna's Hummingbirds. They are the only hummingbird that does not migrate, so I may have hummers all winter! 

"Grebe-lets"

These fat gray birds with black heads and white beaks... I nicknamed them "grebe-lets" because they hang out with the Clark's grebes and the ducks.  Research determined they are grebes: Pie-billed Grebes to be exact.  They are cute, and they prefer swimming and diving to flying. 

One Lone Pie-Billed Grebe

While bird watching, the resident great blue heron flew up to the top of a boat shed, chased off the white egret that was resting there, and proceeded to squat there looking rather irritated for the next hour.  I saw it later, tall and slender, standing on one of the islands. 

heron on the roof

Kathy helped me place my colored pencil drawings that I worked on framing this weekend. I drew these in the mid-late 90's.  Nice to finally get them up on the wall! 

From left to right, squash, pea pods, lemons & lime, green beans, and carrots.

A neighborhood gray cat that has no home cruises through my yard regularly.  I am now feeding it, in the hopes it can be tamed.  Looks like I have my work cut out for me. But it sure liked the tuna. All I had was albacore...

Kathy at ClearlakePark

I took Kathy on the Dorn Nature Trail at Clearlake Park.  Had some stunning views of the lake. Came around the corner on top of the little mountain there, and had a clear view of the stables where Ber and Gio were staying.  Looking at it from up high, I can see how small their pens, and how close-in everything feels with the trees and buildings surrounding them. They couldn't see anything.

Ber and Gio were in the fourth building down.

I leave you with the rest of today's pictures.   I have my clocks turned back, and am going to turn in early tonight so I can wake up!   I hope you have a great week.

A Buck-eye "fruit" or "nut." 

An owl pellet!  I'm taking it to school to find some kids who want to see what's inside!

Tree Sky.

View of Lakeport from top of Clearlake Park.

View of Clearlake Park (Kathy and I were by that tree on the ridge) from my house.

Island beauty.