Median Herons

This tree, right in the middle of the street, has four nests in it. It's difficult to get a good look at it, but I'm sure at least two are active.

Here are two of the babies from different nests enjoying the sun.

Crow Calls

A crow calls on the sand.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

All around the bay!

Balboa Fun Zone dresses up for the season:

Where the Sidewalk Ends

This always makes me think of Shel Silverstein, and that always makes me smile.

Blue Herons

The herons nesting behind the Balboa Branch Library are getting more active; I'm pretty sure these are two of the babies--they look a bit too scruffy to be adults.

There are also some herons nesting in a tree in the nearby median. I've been using this tree as a landmark for years and only noticed the nests this year.

Around Balboa Bay

Sometimes the pelicans that show up on the pier seem disoriented. This one was in full possession of all of its senses and begging shamelessly.

I often admire the gardens along the walkway as I visit Balboa. This one particularly caught my attention. Isn't it stunning?

The blue herons are back!I first saw them nesting outside the Balboa branch library last year and wondered how I'd never seen them before. There are, I think, three active nests there. No hatchlings yet, as far as I can tell, but if you look carefully, you can see a bird sitting up on the nest.

Sea Lion Beds

Say what you like about humans, we're awfully good at building sea lion beds, and it is so kind of us to scatter them conveniently about the bay the way we do.

The Great Carousel Hunt: Part the First

Let the record show that the Great Carousel Hunt has begun!

Place: The Balboa Fun Zone, a small amusement-park on the Balboa Peninsula, in place since 1936.

Time: Last Wednesday.

Note: Yes, I still have an appointment to ride it with my sister, but that is all right: The Quest Charter not only permits riding any given carousel more than once, it encourages it.

More Herons

Still the ones behind the library.

I really do not know how I missed them all those years. They are not only there, they are noisy. Of course, when I went to take a video clip to demonstrate to everyone just *how* noisy, they had quieted down.

One of the pictures shows a chick (very large) being fed, but it's kind of behind branches, so I'm not sure how apparent it is.



Oh, and someone did tell me there were a couple of years when they didn't come because the trees had been pruned too much, so that's two (or so) years of non-observance I am not guilty of.

A Day with Herons in It

It's amazing how many things one does not see.

I've been going to the Balboa Branch library for years.

This is the first time I've seen the herons nesting out back.

They come every year.

And I've never seen them.

But at least I saw them yesterday.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Speaking of photos, one of the possible alternatives for the final was to keep a notebook with a picture-per-day, plus possible comments. I figure it may as well serve a dual purpose. Besides, I like these pictures in themselves, and they cover a number of my favorite places to be.



While walking Cinder, I found myself at this year's kite festival.

Sunshine, kites, sand, and the ocean... What more could a person want.

Actually, it was kind of cloudy the second day, but that didn't seem to be stopping anyone.






Folks visiting the Balboa Fun Zone. It's loud, bright, and always worth a visit.











Sunny Shoes, Sandy Bay.


















A butterfly enjoying the sunshine.