park of dreams

April 7, 06
afternoon
Antelope Community Park
"Park of Dreams"
69*

It's been raining for weeks with very little breaks in between storms - finally a little longer break of about a day and a half and I get a chance to get out and shoot and soak up some sun at the last minute. When I first arrive clouds are puffy & white with blue sky between and sun to warm in. Birds sing in great chorus in the old valley oaks - scatter to hide when a redtail hawk comes in close & low - but never stop singing.

The wind begins to pick ups a little and a grey storm threatens to the west. Plenty of people with dogs and children are playing & out - everyone seems to know that the sunshine won't be here long and to enjoy it while we have it.



While it's here, the warmth and light recharge me - the weeks of rain and dark storms have been taking a toll on my emotions - I had been feeling melancholy and hopeless.



But sunlight and warmth chase away all of that, at least for the moment.



Within an hour the wind has picked up, the clouds have pulled together into a solid greyness with only hints of blue here and there. The birds are still singing in loud chorus but the next storm is closing in -

gibson ranch

Mar 21, 2006
Gibson Ranch
Puffy clouds, broken sunshine
cool wind but warm in the sun
lots of birds - a pair of black cormorants hang out for a while, black birds talk alot to each other, plenty of geese along the pond - jays squawk in the distance, songbirds fill in the background

signs of life

Feb 14, 2006
10 a.m.
Vic Fazio Wildlife Area

Clear blue sky, warm sun, strong cold wind
much of this was underwater not so long ago and is mostly matted down and grayish with little bits of green beginning to poke through.



A whole flock of red-winged blackbirds flies overhead, letting out warbled little chirps as they pass. Other little songbirds chirp as they hop from branch to branch.

I can hear an occasional kildeer call out over the wind and the steady rush of traffic on the causeway nearby.



On top of the levee, the wind blows hardest, but the levee also provides greater vistas of the area.



Down on the wet side of the levee the mud preserves a record of those who have passed through - this is apparently a favorite haunt for raccoons - along with a few dogs & humans.



Farther along I also find much smaller prints that look like tiny hands as well as a few different kinds of bird prints.



A black phoebe darts around the water catching insects, I startle a meadowlark on the ground who flies to a higher perch and then sings out to proclaim his territory. A large white egret decides I've come too close and flies away, too.



Kildeer fly low and call out - no doubt nesting nearby - mud hens paddle softly & hide in the reeds.



I don't see much life in the water but then notice the remains of a crayfish nearby. Closer inspection reveals at least one little fish in the clear top couple inches of the mostly muddy water and I reason there must be more: raccoons and egrets don't hang out for the atmosphere.

lost in the forest

Feb 3, 06

11 a.m. Sly Park
Lost Children's Forest



Last day at camp - weather has been all over: rain, sleet, snow, ice, rain again & finally clearing. A scheduled hike through the Lost Children's Forest is usurped by classroom time & lanyard making.



But the sun keeps me out and I venture alone along paths I've visited earlier in the week - becoming a little lost child myself. Sometime before, maby only a day ago, we came down through these woods to build shelters near the stream below.



Just last night we came through in the dark - at one point following the ghostly outline of the hikers in front of me by the pale light of the moon alone. This morning a whole new vision of sunlight streaming through the trees - birds singing where only the distant stream had been heard before.



"Grandpa Doug" - a 500 year old douglas fir we had been introduced to last night - I'm so pleased I found him again. Much too big around to hug, his branches home to many animals too high above my head to see.



The cabins here are named for the most common trees & animals around. Girls cabins are Black Oak (ours), Insence Cedar, Douglas Fir & Manzanita. Boys are Rattlesnake, Raccoon, Fox & Porcupine. I'm pleased with myself for being able to spot all the trees but I have no hope of spotting any of the the elusive animals.

science camp at sly park

Jan 31, 06

Sly Park - 11 a.m.
at Science Camp with Dee's school group -



Arrived yesterday morning - cold but not snow-cold - began to rain & kept up till late afternoon/evening when a little slushy show fell but not the nice powdery kind. Froze overnight so there was plenty of 'black ice' on the paved road and some good slippery spots around camp. The sky is clear and the sun breaks through occasionally - maybe in full force soon.



Been busy with camp activities, including kitchen duty for breakfast this morning - took a break while my group hit the rock wall in the gym - looking forward to a good hike this afternoon.


Out hiking with Sara
1:30 p.m.



This part of the forest, near the ranger station has been allowed to experience small cleansing fires, clearing away the undergrowth and allowing more wild flowers and other kinds of small plants to flourish.

A little farther down the path, Sara shows us an artesian well, about ten feet across, nearly a perfect circular shape. She easily finds a small frog residing there and shows him to us all, resting in her hand.



We hike five miles in total, up to the lake, full up & spilling over, and back again, the trail often following a cut in the hillside.

Jan 27, 06

Jan 27, 06

American River, east of Hazel Avenue
midmorning
gray heavy clouds that threaten to rain
cool - 50's - not too much wind, thankfully

Several fishermen out, mostly on the banks but a couple in an inflatable as well. Everyone pretty well bundled.



At first glance the river is deceptively calm but under closer observation it's easy to see the speed and power flowing between it's banks.





The bike trail is a popular place for walking, jogging & cycling, even on a cold gray day like this. I find myself amazed at how many people are here on a weekday morning.



A tiny gray bird in a naked gray bush chatters & chides me for stopping and looking at the nearest tree. It has a tiny set of black and white stripes on it's crown and is shaped very roundly, maybe partly because it's feathers are puffed up against the cold. When it sees it won't be chasing me off any time soon, it moves along, chattering and chiding someone else.



A young fisherman fords across some shallow rapids between an island and this south bank. I turn my back to make a photo, hear some splashing and turn to look again. He is lifting himself out of chest-deep water just near the bank - then later straps on a life vest on higher ground.



Debris in a tree shows the high-water mark while the young fisherman and (likely) his father get set to push their boat off the island.



The sun breaks through for just a couple moments - lighting up a path into the bare trees - I can't quite tell what they are but leaf buds are beginning to show promise at the tips of their branches and some scrub oaks I recognize by their bark and shape - of course when I raise up my camera the sun fades as if to tease me -



Birds are as common as the fishermen - a turkey vulture circles oeverhead, several white egrets stake out their claim at water's edge. A couple song birds begin to call our as the sun alternately breaks through and fades away - I manage to get a minute or two with my back in the sun but more often it seems to let go shafts of light somewhere I'm not.

sutter's fort

Jan 17, 06
Sutter's Fort, Sacramento
morning, 10ish
very cool, maybe 50's - light but chilly breeze
high scattered clouds, with a weak sunshine breaking through intermittently
fountains drown out some of the traffic noise
a few little birds chirp here & there





This old house is now the State Indian Museum - the light meter in my head screws up and I do it again before checking, trying to catch changing light, failing to focus properly.


Reminding me of a Rush song - the trees in the forest, fighting for light, line drawn between species.


1839-1850 Sutter's Fort

The fort is now about 150 years old - this tree could be as old - perhaps took root not long after the fort was built...

sunny & clear

Jan 10, 06 - a.m., sunny & clear
Along American River near Watt Ave

Parking flooded but bike trail mostly clear after heavy New Years' rains. Can tell the water has been much higher as the mud is very deep.



Plenty of birds out on this bright morning - even saw a magpie, who chattered at me from a tree top for a while before flying away. Also saw a couple flickers fly by and I can hear a whole un-ending chorus of songbirds hiding in the brush.

Farther down the trail I spot a couple red-headed woodpeckers in a dead tree, then some black birds flitting about in another bare tree. The lack of leaves makes bird watching much easier than usual.



The river flows fast and strong - its power is easy to see as I stand in awe and watch.



Another red-headed woodpecker taps away at an oak gall in the arching branches of this tree.



Mistletoe - a sign of hope and life to ancient people - in the tops of cottonwoods.



Watt Ave bridge & parking





Where we usually like to hang out & the painters paint - most of the year high & dry



West of the bridge, the bike trail is still flooded - I take the path along the levee, which keeps so many safe & dry.