A new-to-me bird … they are not rare, but I apparently haven’t been observant enough to notice one before today.
Spizella passerina
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red berries
It’s red berry season in this part of the world, and our yard boasts three different shrubs bearing this cheerful fruit. None of them are native; in fact both cotoneaster and firethorn are considered invasive in California. I’d like to replace them both with our lovely endemic toyon.
Apis mellifera
exoskeleton
Just in time for Halloween, a discarded (exo)skeleton.
stick figure
One way to loosen up: use a very crude tool.
archery lesson
Lauren and I took an archery lesson to celebrate her birthday. We both loved it. I got a bullseye on my first shot, then didn’t get another for the rest of the hour. The good gentlefolk from the Society for Creative Anachronism were having a medieval tournament at the adjacent range, which added a festival atmosphere to the day. All good fun.
Quercus lobata
The squirrels are happy. But the acorn woodpeckers are going to have drill bigger storage holes!
Chrysanthemoides incana
Ventura Botanic Garden is free on Fridays. And you can take your dog on Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s a very steep site with ocean views all the way up. Definitely a place to return to in spring.
Andricus quercuscalifornicus
A little something I’m working on for school walks at the state park.
Callipepla californica
What fun, a covey of California quails in the backyard this morning. First time I have seen the state bird of California in our yard. I hope they return!
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