Great Blue Heron Hunting

Today I walked around on the land and the heron was there again...hunting in the grass, nowhere near the water. I was a little lucky to be able to sneak around the pond under cover of the oaks, and finally got a photo. The pic I missed was when a rabbit I startled ran out to the road and directly at the heron. The heron waited a long time and then flew straight up in the air, giant wings outspread...rabbit detoured around him and kept on running! And I missed a great show...I think I might investigate a new camera.

Filling in old septic hole, a shovel at a time

Last week, while wandering about the land, I noticed that someone had jumped down on the cement septic tank and removed one of the very heavy lids exposing a dark, black hole.
I finally managed to get the dang thing back in place enough so that nothing could fall in, and resolved to do something about it.
This week Stuart and I took our shovels over and began to fill it in...at least enough so that no one would probably be inclined to dig it up again.
Stuart, being way brave and not scared of dark black holes, looked into the tank before fitting the concrete lid tightly back in place...he said it appeared empty. He had worried that someone had hidden something in it. Brrrr, my imagination had conjured up a wild assortment of possiblities.
Now we have to get the entire mountain down on top of it, but Stuart thinks we need a tractor with a blade of bucket to do the job. My old hernia tells me the same!

Flickr

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January Sightings

India or Lake County?
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

Even though we have had so little rain, there are more subtle changes occurring on the land, just not with the pond or creeks.
The wildflower seeds I tossed out just before Xmas have started to germinate though the daffodils below them haven't shown a single sign yet.
The most interesting item is shown as right..on a lovely parcel that I drive by to get to the land, a herd of Brahma cattle has been turned out for grazing along with a few horses. Now we have horses on both sides of the road, craning over the fence for the grass that must look greener!

Flowering of Feathers

Flowering of Feathers
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

70o weather has made walking over on the land the most pleasurable activity lately. My cold is gone except for the nasty aftermath, I have a ton of energy and it feels great to walk around and look at the bare trees, and the new greening of the ground.
The two herons were there too...I am sure hoping it is a breeding pair.

Icy Day

Skiddish Herons
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

Braving ice, mud and this relentless head cold, I made it back across the creek. I was finally able to get a very long distance shot of this pair of herons. They had been down in Cache Creek, and flew off as I approached. They had probably been alerted by the large flock of wood ducks that took off when I wasn't even near the creek! I will never get those wood ducks without the kayak.
The herons were gone by the time I got to their tree, but as I trudged across the field, I happened to glance up at the vulture oak, and there they were! Maybe they are getting a bit used to me, as they did stay long enough for a shot or two but when I started waking in their direction, off they went! Hope they will establish a nest on the property...that would be very neat.
There was ice on the little pond this morning...a very cold day here, but at least the sun is shining.