Antelope Reservoir, Super Moon and Dead Batteries

Our last night in Nevada was spent in a very remote part of north western Nevada at a small lake named Antelope Reservoir.  There is a very small primitive campground (free) at the edge of the lake.

Our camping spot

Got a couple of cool reflection shots of birds flying near the water.

We also happened to be there the night of the "Super Moon" full moon.

The next morning when we went to leave, we found that the LD headlights had been left on all night and the engine battery was completely dead.  "No problem" I thought, I'd just unhook the Jeep, pull it around and jump start the LD.  WRONG!!!  When hooked up, there is a charge line running from the LD to the Jeep.  Since we didn't unhook the Jeep when we stopped, the charge line became a discharge line that allowed both batteries to get discharged.  Thanks to the LD's battery isolator, the coach batteries were fine and the generator could be started.  I finally resorted to using my jumper cables to jumper together the LD's engine and coach  batteries at the battery isolator.  With the generator running, we left the batteries jumpered for about 1/2 hour to get some charge back into the engine battery.  This provided enough power to start the LD engine.  With the LD running, I now turned the LD around and pulled it up to the dead Jeep and was able to jump start the Jeep.  We were very glad when we finally drove out of the campground.  It might be time to buy one of those portable jump start packs.

Mobius Arch

We have started our major RV expedition to Alaska for the entire summer.

The second night out we spent boondocking in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine in the Eastern Sierra's of California.  The Alabama Hills is a wonderland of eroded granite boulders.  The area was used as the backdrop for many movies.  One of the most photographed objects in the area is known variously as the Mobius Arch, Movie Road Arch, and Galen Arch.  Even though having visited the area several times, I had never sought out this arch.  So during this stop I went to take my own images of this photographic icon.

This view is the most famous, with Mount Whitney framed by the arch.

Since the previous image is the one most often encountered, I wanted to record the arch from various other viewpoints.

Morro Bay 2012

We recently spent several days at Morro Bay State Park meeting up with some of of our Lazy Daze Motorhome friends.  I spent some time wandering along the edge of the slough and tidal flat parts of Morro Bay and was able to photograph  several shore birds.

I don't remember seeing Canada Geese in this area before.

Lots of Turkey Vultures around

This curlew was planning on crab for lunch.

Cormorant flying by

Greater Yellow-legs

I like how the reflection highlights the stones under the water.

This little Pie-billed Grebe was having fish for lunch.

A Great Blue Heron works on a nest

We found a few sea otters near Morro Rock in the entrance channel to the harbor.

I believe that this is a Red-shouldered Hawk.

A Snowy Egret waiting for lunch to swim by.

A tern just after catching its lunch

A tern trying to catch its lunch

The bee was a "happy accident".  I didn't even notice it when I was shooting the flower.

This Peregrine Falcon was eating something in a hollow on the side of the cliff at Montana de Oro State Park.

There were three Peregrine Falcons (possibly two males and one female) interacting fairly high up in the sky.  I'm guessing that it was some form of courtship behavior.

Great Egret

"dancing" willet

Wading curlew

Gotta scratch that itch!

White-crowned Sparrow portrait

A first for me, a Brant Goose

Marbled Godwit

A fearless Great Blue Heron

Ojai Raptor Center

The Ojai Raptor Center is an organization that takes in injured birds of prey for rehabilitation and release.  The facility is not normally open to the public, but once or twice a year, it opens its doors for a public open house.  These images were taken there on March 10th, 2012.

American Kestrel

Merlin

Prairie Falcon

Red-tailed Hawk? after being spritzed with water

Golden Eagle

Bald Eagle

Barn Owl

Barred Owl

Great Horned Owl

Taming tough light

Our 15 year old lap lover Max was stretched out enjoying a patch of mid-morning sun.  I knew from experience that photographing this high contrast scene was very difficult.  Since just our little Canon S95 p&s camera was handy, I decided to try something a little different.  I got down to carpet level and composed tightly on his illuminated front side.  I really like how this image came out.