oh my…getting an ear full!

nagging & flight…

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Home to roost…

The other day, I mistakenly described numerous nests high in the trees as Eagle’s nests. I had seen several Eagles gliding amongst these trees and perched atop these trees. More knowledgeable birders than I, knew these nests were a Heron Rookery. Today, I ventured back out to the area. I could not get any closer, but I had a slightly more powerful lens and I was able to capture a few pics of the Heron as they hunkered down atop the nests and other Heron arrived with what appeared to be food. The quality of the images isn’t great, but you can see the Heron are indeed occupying the nests.

Heron (Eagle’s) Nests….

I came upon this view of multiple nests high in the trees. The foliage has not yet fully evolved, so the nests were quite visible against the bright, grey sky. Also, visible were a few Eagles landing into the nests. I couldn’t get close (maybe a couple hundred yards) and I did not have the right lens. But, I snapped a few shots to show the scope of Eagle’s Heron’s nests. I do hope to return with a more powerful lens and find a way to be closer to the trees.  (Update: Comments suggest these are Heron nests as Eagles would not nest so close together….the Eagles in the trees might have been visiting the Heron habitat? That bottom pic does have the look of a Heron. This is what happens when a novice puts a few observation together…still fun)

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Solar Shrine……

A shrine to two departed souls along Hwy. 111 near Mecca, California. Adorned with plastic flowers, crosses, cans of beers, images of the departed and their bios, the shrine is detailed by most standards I have seen. Usually the spot of a tragic motor vehicle collision, more rarely death by other means or a final resting place having died elsewhere (‘dump site’)…this time it appears to be from a collision in 2011. What I found most interesting was the use of solar activated lamps that would cast light upon the shrine during darkness. A reminder of the departed? A reminder to drive safe? (keep your eyes on the road then). A novel use of solar lamps along a ‘dark, desert highway’ (hey, I like the long rendition of Hotel California).