One of the benefits of my career

I was privileged during my career to have the opportunity to work with and guide young students and volunteers at the UC Davis (California) Raptor Center in the 80’s and early 90’s.

Some of them have gone on to distinguished careers in Raptor Biology, Veterinary Medicine, Education, National Park Rangers and administration, etc.

Recently my wife and I attended the Redwood Region Audubon chapter’s annual banquet in Arcata. It was a reunion with one of the Raptor Center's “Outstanding Volunteers of the Year," who was the guest speaker at the banquet.
I had not seen him since the early 90’s shortly after my retirement when I was invited to give a talk at the center on owls. He honored me then by driving up from S.F. to be there.

When he saw me at the Audubon banquet, I was greeted not unlike a father and son who had been separated for 18 years. A total of 3 enthusiastic and very sincere “Bear" hugs from a person who would make any man proud to be his father.

Allen Fish has been Director of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory(GGRO)since he graduated in the early 80's.

He has taught hundreds of volunteers in the intricacies of Hawk identification in flight and developed the program at GGRO www.ggro.org to the prominence that it deserves today.

His talk on the value of Raptor migration counts and summary of the results over nearly 25 years was informative, humorous and never dull.

Allen’s knowledge of Raptor migration and biology earned him an opportunity to teach a course in Raptor Biology at UC Davis. After hearing him talk I wished that I was a student again taking his course.

I felt proud knowing that I may have had a small part in sparking a young man’s passion for Raptors that led to such an outstanding career.
It was an honor to see him again and meet his great family for the first time.

(A photo of Allen in his younger days at the Raptor Center will be published here at a later time.)

Trinidad State Park Trails

Another beautiful day drew me back on the Trinidad State Park Trails which are within walking distance from our rental. The veiws from the numerous outlooks are some of the most beautiful anywhere in the world in my opinion. Today the sea is relatively calm and there are a few people down on the beach with their dogs enjoying this lovely day.
People bring their dogs on the trail and allow them to run loose and mark their territory. I don't mind dogs without a leash unless they chase wildlife, jump up on me with their muddy paws or go after another dog who is on a leash.


A young lady named Sally on a beautiful horse trotted by so I asked her if she would mind me taking a photo.


I met some college age guys who had been fishing off the rocks below and they proudly showed me their catch of a half dozen small "Rock" fish.
I'm dying to go give it a try but my fishing gear is in storage.
I get my kick just exploring this wonderful place on the Pacific Coast.
Looking south at Trinidad Head

Friendship

Friends are always comfortable together (ABOVE)

I thought that I understood what friendship means but as I've grown older it occurs to me that I know much less.

I have known people for years who I've felt were friends, but if you should ask me if I could count on them or even hear from them, there would be no guarantee.


In the years I've been around I have noticed one thing that stands out among most of us. We eventually go on with our careers and essentially forget about people that don't "fit" into our lives anymore.

Emerson states: "Friendship may be said to require natures so rare and costly, each so well tempered and so happily adapted,and it cannot subsist in it's perfection".

One of my greatest regrets is that I didn't keep close ties over the years with people who I consider a privilege to have as friends. A couple of whom I have rediscovered and it has made me realize how important it is to keep in touch with those that have made a mark on your life.

An old lost friend "rediscovered" is like putting on your slippers. They're comfortable and they still fit.

The fact is, friendship requires energy, effort and motivation even when it is relatively simple to email or call a friend compared to the Poney Express days or "Snail" mail today.

Friendship requires a desire, perhaps even a "need" to have a close relationship with another person.

It is someone that you connect with and share similar interests with. Friendship always has the key ingredients of sharing,compassion,understanding and faithfulness.

Friendship is built on a foundation of respect,trust and loyalty.

A lasting friendship is mostly non-judgemental,supportive,reliable and forgiving.

Few of us are priveliged to have friends that give the "gift" of staying in touch.

But let's face it not everyone makes a good friend. There must be some mutual "connection" or "chemistry" that binds them together like "iron fillings to a magnet". Whether it be similar interests such as hobbies or professional ties as well as respect for each other's character.

Thoreau wrote: "I would that I were worthy to be any man's Friend."

My wife has had a couple of "friends" who she continues to send cards, emails, etc. but she never hears from them. In my humble opinion it is their loss.
Are they a lost cause or is there something that she doesn't know that could be a contributing factor?
One can only speculate when there is a lack of communication.

I have always felt that true friendship is something in life to celebrate, embrace and to cherish.
The loss of a friend either through death, distance or differences can be devastating to one's soul and spirit.



I have been fortunate to have a few friends who have greatly enhanced the quality of my life and at times have lifted my spirit. People who I've shared memorable adventures and innermost "secrets" with.

The thought of a cherished friend and memories of special adventures together is always a good moment in my mind.


(These Two CATS are best friends)

Most everyone including friends have their imperfections and idiosyncracies which may add greatly to their character and unique personalities.

I clearly recall my first impression nearly 40 years ago upon meeting a certain friend in my life who made me feel like I found a kindred spirit.

Here was a person that instantaneously lifted me in some intriguing way with his magnetic personality and I was focused on his story.

His story came from the heart with passion and sincerety, like a kid who had just discovered something new and is excited about it.

I felt like an old friend and
all at once we were friends.

This person I thought,could "Sell Ice cubes to Eskimos".

A person with a great sense of humor,intelligence,laid back but outgoing personality, a genuine good guy and I might add obsessive compulsive.
But who's judging?

Sadly I don't hear from this person anymore,
evidence that there is no lifetime warranty on friendship.

I guess some old friends just fade away?

Rain,wind and huge waves

It has been coming down all night with some loud Thunder waking my girlfriend(KPS) and I up in the middle of the night.

This is much needed rain and as I peer out the window I can see huge waves crashing against the large rocks off the coastline at Trinidad State Park. I think that I should grab my rain gear and go down to the coastline to photograph these tremendous crashing waves. The sound from here with the window cracked open is immensely powerful much like subdued thunder. I'm out of here as soon as I wrap some chores up.

When I drive down to the parking area at Trinidad Beach overlooking the Surf I am mesmerized by the violent, powerful waves crashing against land, their sound, smell and energy immersing me deep into the moment. Today at least the beach is devoid of surfers and no one else is in sight. Just one "old fossil" feeling like a kid again or as I imagine an adult butterfly emerging from the pupal stage, Taking flight for the first time.

A few crows join me here almost unnoticed as they walk and hop along the surfs edge foraging for morsels. This is the kind of moment that makes being alive so precious and fullfilling.

This is one of "The" moments that keeps my attention for a long period of time lost in reverie and the amazing and beautiful visual display before me.
This "high" I feel could not possibly be enhanced by anything else unless I shared it with you.

I stopped above at the "Memorial" Lighthouse and took this photo of the fishing boats bobbing up and down in the harbor below.


click on above photos to enlarge them to full screen.

It was difficult to drag myself away from nature's
show today but I'm happy to share it with you.

Fox in our woods

My camera trap had been out below our rental home in Trinidad, California for a week so I checked it yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Grey Fox had visited the site and this marked my first of this beautiful mammal. Here you see the fox in an alert posture apparently listening for sounds nearby,
The fox visited the site three different times on the night of my wife's birthday (Feb. 2). The first photo was caught at 7:32 P.M.. The fox returned at 10:18 P.M. and again at 2:30 A.M.. We felt that it was a great birthday gift for both of us.
The Grey Fox is a member of the dog family (Canidae) which includes Coyotes and Wolves. They are the most omnivorous of all North American canids. Their diet consist of small mammals and birds as well as wild berries. They are a little larger than a domestic cat and their tracks (prints) are similar except the fox print shows claws. The fox is Nocturnal and crepuscular and is considered a habitat generalist. It appears that the Grey Fox is not found north of the Columbia river which explains why I didn't get any photos of them during my camera trapping along the East Fork of the Lewis river in Washington State. Each time I get a new species with my camera trap I thank my mentor Dr. Chris Wemmer for introducing me to this fascinating hobby.

Gray Jays at Patrick's Point State Park

Click on the above photo to enlarge.

Yesterday we hiked the trails in Patrick's Pt. State Park on a beautiful afternoon. The highlight of the day was getting close looks at Gray Jay's that were active in the park. These are birds that we have seen at higher elevations previously and today we counted more than a dozen along the road leading to agate beach. They were extremely tame as they flew to within a few feet allowing me to take photos with my 55 mm lens.


We hiked to the top of Ceremonial Rock and enjoyed another spectacular view of Agate beach all the way to the Big Lagoon.

Exploring the Redwoods

My wife and I are taking advantage of our time together before she starts her new position at Humboldt State University by exploring the coast and redwoods. We recently spent the day exploring the beach near Redwood Creek at the Redwood National Park information center and then drove to Lady Bird Johnson Grove Nature Trail.
It was a crisp clear day and the sea was moderately calm.

We walked along a beach strewn with weathered drift wood as well as some recently uprooted deciduous trees, and numerous mussel shells and crab carapice. Our short walk takes us north along the beach to the mouth of Redwood Creek where we observed a Harbor Seal foraging. The seals head rises above the surface of the water then abruptly disappears for over 2 minutes before appearing again. The water is clear and the seal is lingering where the sea meets the river. Gulls line the mouth of the river's bank where tons of tiny polished rocks glisten in the sun, remnants of years of tidal wave and sand scouring action.

Next we drive north to Lady bird Johnson Grove Nature trail in Redwood National and State Park.
Lady bird Johnson's campaign to preserve America's natural beauty led to the dedication of this 300 acre grove in 1969 in her name by the then President Nixon. It was enlarged in 1978 and included more of the Redwood creek watershed much of which had been clear cut. This area underwent much needed restoration in the coming years to preserve less than 4% of the remaining old growth forest.

As we walk through this magnificent forest of giant trees some 600 to 800 years old we are struck by the silence on a windless day when we stop and listen.
Only the faint sound of a Kinglet high in the canopy or the distant tapping of a woodpecker is heard by the discerning ear.


Today crystal blue skies peer through tiny windows in the canopy high above these majestic and ancient giants
which humble us by their incredible size and dimensions as we gaze up from their base. We both feel privileged to be here and look forward to "scratching the surface" in further explorations of these incredible forests along the northern California coast.