Seagull Buffet in Newport Beach

The seagulls seem to think that the pier pylons with their collection of mussels (and other shellfish?? I've never really looked...), make for a wonderful all-you-can-eat buffet.

It's probably one of the few times they help themselves and no one minds. Probably someone, somewhere, is even cheering.

The Other Blue Heron

This is the heron whose nest I spotted a couple of weeks ago, over near our church. The palm trees are over by an apartment complex, and it occurred to me today that the people on the upper floors probably have a very good view of the nest from above. I hope they're taking advantage of it.

The upper picture shows how very well the herons camouflage themselves, even though they are very big, blue(ish) birds.

The Environmental Nature Center

I just recently found out about and visited the Environmental Nature Center.

It's a gem; a lovely two and a half acre stretch of native plants. I plan to go again, as my friends and I barely scratched the surface, and I'm quite sure we didn't visit all the ecosystems they have. Also, of course, these places change.

I wonder: How many other interesting places around here have I not heard of? 

A monarch butterfly in the butterfly house.

Birds: Swallow Puzzle

These are darting around in the parking lot paying much less attention than usual to cars and people. There must be something attracting them, but I can't see it.

Around Newport Beach

Walked around Newport Beach after the meditations on Friday. It was a beautiful day.

This heron was standing on the roof of the restaurant on the pier. I'm not sure what kind of heron this one is; I usually see them in the wetlands. I think it might be a night-crowned heron.

Pigeons enjoying pier-side seating. I'm rather fond of the scruffy creatures (call them doves and all your problems go away). Still remember the day I visited the wetlands and a sweet-old-lady type was flailing at them with her cane because "They get in the way of the birds."

I've only seen seals on the beach a few times, though sea lions haul themselves up onto boats in the bay fairly often.

This one seemed pretty relaxed about the people walking by. Not sick-relaxed--s/he was paying attention in between naps, but not too bothered.

The last storm took away most of the driftwood, but the impulse to build remains. I liked the clothesline look of this contraption.