Thursday, September 18, 2014

From Desert to Mountains

I have to tell you that the mountains outside of Los Angeles are way nicer than the desert. The air is cooler and clear since you are above the smog. I drove up early on Sunday morning. The day started out on a down note. I had to stop for gas. Got off of the freeway and had to go to 2 gas stations before finding one that was open at 5:30 AM. Tried to use my credit card and had it denied because the credit card company saw that I was trying to use it at 5:30 AM in LA. Then couldn't get back on the freeway due to road closure. Finally got up to the mountains which requires a harrowing drive up a winding road with motorcyclists whizzing past me at high speed. The scenery is breath taking.



Got to my desired location. Found my target bird. Pulled out the camera and . . . nothing. The battery was completely dead! AAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

I got to the Visitor's Center and saw a few birders heading out of the parking lot. I hailed them down for some info and found out that they were part of Pasadena Audubon doing their monthly filed trip. The leader has the same camera as I do so I boldly asked if he had a spare battery that I could borrow while I was birding with the group. What a great guy! I still have the battery. He is a trusting sole and kept my battery in return for the charged one. Yay. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten these photos including this excellent shot of White-headed Woodpecker taking a drink at the Visitor Center.

White-headed Woodpecker
Or this shot of Pygmy Nuthatch.

Pygmy Nuthatch
 Or Oak Titmouse.

Oak Titmouse
Or any of the other birds that I saw like this Black-headed Grosbeak.

Black-headed Grosbeak
Or these GIANT pine cones.

Coulter's Pine Cone

Giant pine cone

Or this Black Bear that rambled past me at Mt. Wilson Observatory!

Black Bear
Thanks Hill - where ever you are!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Superb pictures, but, um, the bear looks brown!!!

Please come home....HH

Diane Widdop said...

You just can't stay away from Mt. Wilson, can you? I don't blame you. At least you didn't get fogged out, like last time.

Can't believe you saw that bear. How scary was that?

cv writing service said...

These are really good pictures and this place looks really good. I would love to visit such place and experience the mountains. Thanks for sharing it with us

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