Mandarin Duck!

By now everyone has probably heard that Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping was visiting today in California.  But he wasn't our only visitor from China!  This unusual bird showed up at West Davis Pond and caused quite a stir.  He was hanging out with the Wood Ducks (the North American species he most closely resembles), but he is a Mandarin Duck.  I did a search on the internet for "Wood Duck with Orange Fin" and when the term Manderin Duck came up, I thought it was a dish at a Chinese Restaurant!  Further research shows that there are some "feral" populations in the US, including in Sonoma County which isn't far from here.  I wish I had a better photo to show, but he was way on the other side of the pond with the sun right behind him.

February 16

I drove around the orchards in Winters today, hoping to see them in bloom.  The season is about to turn; you can just feel it.  But it looks like I was a little too early.  So I'll try again next week, and hopefully have a more colorful photo to offer.  A seasonal before and after. 

February 15

Trying for a new photo subject from my same old dog-walking route...

The shadows under the play structure at the local elementary school.

February 14

I was in Indiana for the weekend and wasn't able to post, but I did have a chance to get out to the dunes for a short time Sunday morning.  There's a fractal rhythm to how the waves build and subside here.  This photo captures a peek moment in the waves, as these seagulls feast on breakfast. I haven't been to the dunes in the winter in a long time, so I'm very in love with this photo.  This place feeds my soul, and everything about this image makes me happy. 

February 11

I'm posting early today in anticipation of a long day without my camera.  This was also taken yesterday on my trip to Yolo, although this might still be Woodland.  I'm not sure where the boundry is out here.  The little white lines in the field are a new orchard taking root.  Most orchards around here are walnut or almond, and they must be very profitable because more and more are being planted.  I'm glad they left this beautiful valley oak.

February 10

Just a hint of green out in Yolo today.

February 9

Our resident super hero at West Davis Pond. 

The Green Heron. 

Contemplating life in the early morning fog.

February 8

I see these berries at the beginning of my walking loop with Clover. 

The red came out really nice today.

February 7

 I think this is my first time posting a photo taken with my little Nikon Coolpix camera I keep in my purse.  I made this photo on campus around 8pm, and I think the Coolpix did pretty well for such a low light situation.

February 6

These leftover pieces of balloon and string tacked to a tree for some bygone celebration stood out against the yellow lichen.  What were they celebrating?  4th of July, maybe?  I couldn't help but imagine that, having outlived their usefulness, they felt happy to be photographed.  That's a pretty sappy thought.  Guess I'm just feeling sentimental today.

February 5

Today was an around the house day, so a photo from the house seems fitting.  I just recently noticed this shadow.  Maybe because we hardly use the light that casts it.  The light gave the photo an orange tone so I decided to convert it to black and white.  Now it reminds me of Twilight Zone.  I'm not sure that's a good thing.  I'm glad my real house is in color!

February 4

Lots of activity today as we walked past the pond.  I was interested in what this goose (gander?) was doing.  There was a lot of weird honking, and then this display.  So he's courting, and that goose in front of him is the object of his affections.  If you ask me, she doesn't look all that thrilled with the whole thing, but then I'm not a goose, so what do I know.  And he does have an impressive wingspan.

February 3

I completely forgot to post yesterday which breaks the good streak I had going.  But I'm fixing it by posting twice today.   Actually I was so busy yesterday that I didn't even pick up my camera, but had I remembered to post, I would have posted this shot taken earlier in the week.  Yes, from West Davis Pond.   It's my go-to spot for photos on a busy day.  So...plans are to put up another shot later today...

February 2

My abstract offering.  It's the entrance overhang at our library.  I was coming out of the library as it was getting dark, and just liked the yellow and blue.  The thing that was funny to me was that people coming out of the library (it was very busy right before dinner time) kept stopping and looking up to see what I was photographing, and then walking off confused. 

February 1

So this is a bike rack along my walking path.  I tried photographing one of these before but thought it was sort of boring.  But this one had all this stuff growing in it, so I was thinking maybe it would be a more intersting photo.  Maybe.  Whatever this weed is, it's very fragrant.  Somewhere between mint and oregano.