Daily Walks 4

When we go up that way, we take San Marcos Pass road out of Santa Barbara and then out to the 101 around Los Olivos. We think it's faster since it cuts off the Gaviota corner. I always need a "rest" stop, so we stop at what is called the Bradbury Dam Overlook a little past Lake Cahuma Park. They're just pit toilets but they do the job and there is rarely ever an waiting.

The beady-eyed bird is a male Brewers blackbird and the other is the female. I see them a lot walking around in urban places where people eat outside.

Your white flower a way back is popcorn flower.

I like the black phoebe, too. I see them in the yard here fairly often.


I have some more pictures but I'll post them another time. It's been a long day.

She-who-walks-in-water

Jules Do have a digital camera a friend gave me. Many folks have given instructions on how to post photos, haven't learned yet. I'm technaligy challenged. Spelling challenged also.

Kelli.............Love your route to Lake Cahuma, camped there about 3 years ago, lovely place!

Hi SW, great pictures on you walks, as usual. I see that your little black and white bird was identified as a Black Phoebe, they are a type of flycatcher and will catch all kinds of insects on the wing. The series of 7 photos of your "woodpecker" though, is actually of a wren. What kind of wren I am not positive, but from the tail, I'd guess it is a 'Bewicks' Wren.'

Are you sure, PC? I know I should take the series and post it over at the BW forum, but I could swear I've seen it pecking away at my dead wood on the trees. Wouldn't be the first or the last time I was wrong, though. : - (
Do those kinds of wrens take up housekeeping in old woodpeckers nests? I have another WP's nest up by the cabin in the elderberry, but haven't wanted to disturb it since they're using it. I'll try to get photos when he's making that distinctive pecking sound.
dillansnana, bring your camera with you along with any cords that came with it and instruction manual if you have it. If you don't we have BengalPhoto coming, and he's computer/camera knowledgeable. He's helped me out a lot, and you all know my wiring is crossed.
Kelli, if that is you crossing the creek, you are a hardier soul than I. That water is cold! Not to mention footing can be treacherous. Walks In Water, hmmm, not bad for an Indian Name, but maybe it should be, Walks In Water to find obscure wildflowers? Too long. You might be teased about being Walks in Water from now on. LOL!
You know it's been a long day for me too, and I just noticed that this page of the thread is getting a bit long. So I'll try and get a new page going tomorrow.
I'm tired tonight too.
Comments are always welcomed, as are your own photos.
WIB!
SW

I like Lake Cachuma, too, though we haven't gone in a while. We used to go up to Solvang a couple times a year and go to Cachuma and other places. Then the Chumash Casino and Santa Barbara Wine Country were "discovered" and the hotels raised their prices and Solvang was full of clueless tourists on cell phones. Lake Cachuma is close enough for a day trip but we just don't think about going.

I don't know about all wrens, but some like to nest in cavities, so they probably would use woodpecker holes. With house wrens, they say that the male finds a couple locations and builds a nest part way in each. Then the female chooses the one she likes best and finishes the nest.

SW, that is me crossing the creek. The trail made 28 stream crossings (14 out and 14 back) and I got my shoes wet on the first crossing so I didn't try to be careful after that. I hate going across on stepping stones, anyway. I don't trust my balance or legs. The water was cool but not icy. I thought it felt good. DH thought that getting my shoes wet would ruin my day, but actually it was helpful in keeping my feet from getting sore from the friction heat buildup.


California wild rose

fiesta flower

wild sweetpea, aka Pacific pea

very lovely but also the poison oak capitol of the universe

Here's a place you don't want to be during an earthquake

Kelli,
Glad wet feet don't bother you. I prefer to get my feet wet and have stable footing myself. Lovely photos as usual.
I have a different CA Wild Rose. I picked it up in Idyllwild, a mountain community on Mt. San Jacinto, along a creekside, where it was growing profusely. I brought the flower home in a coke can full of water, then stuck it in some dirt, and I'll be durned it it didn't root. I transplanted it to a bigger pot, where it stayed until I finally planted it outside in the ground. When it gets water it is very happy and will spread. (Unless DH weed whacks it.) I looked it up, and found out it was considered to be a Dog Rose. Something to do with the # of petals? It was a while ago, and I have a lousy memory.
I liked all the Fiesta Flower and the Pacific (sweet) Pea too. You are quite right, I don't want to be where you took that photo during an earthquake. When we drove by La Conchita, the slope was still looking ready to slide, but I thought the one bluff south of town would probably calve off first.
Some great photos Kelli. Thank you for sharing them Woman Who Walks in Water! LOL! : - )
WIB,
SW

Now that I think about it, I realize that if I have the right footwear or are barefoot, I do not hesitate to walk in the water and I've been like that all my life.

I have tried growing CA wild rose from seed but nothing sprouted. I'll try again some time.

Yes, I am certain that your woodpecker is a wren. Been birding for 38 years now. Look at the beak, that is not a woodpeckers beak. And that tail is a wren's tail.
But which wren, I can't tell. Maybe the BW forum would know for sure. I believe it is a 'Bewicks,' but I could be wrong.
I wanted to go to the wildflower show here in Monterey this week-end, but too much to do this time of year. Maybe next year!
I have alwasy wanted a native rose. Long ago, I came across a stand of them in the woods way up near Canada, I think, and the rose hips were bright red and very juicy. I would love to have those again. Those, and Thimble Berry bush.

Jules and Kelli, great pictures from your hikes and walks! Made my day!

Adina

Thanks Cat, you are probably right about the bird. I'll inquire after the RU this coming weekend.
About the wild rose, I picked a flower, by the creek brought it home, and stuck it water. After a couple of days I started adding dirt to the water. When the dirt was up about an inch below the drink cup, I put a clear plastic cup over it to make a mini gh. The rose blossom died but the plant kept growing. Try that and see if it helps on your next foray, Kelli.
They never could keep shoes on me as a kid either. Still hate to wear shoes.
Thanks Adina! : - )
More after the RU this weekend.
WIB,
SW

I never go barefoot, but shoes don't keep me out of the water.

I hate shoes too! I try to only wear sandals and they come off the second I walk in the door. The animals know I am going out if I put them on. Only exception to this rule is my "dead of winter freezing cold" Australian Emu version of Ugs.
The other day, while I was out working in the back during a hale storm, I could hear my dad yelling at me to come in out of the rain when I was little. But it was a blast. I've worked in the pouring rain, but never with hale bouncing off of me and my plants.

I've been accumlating pictures on another web site. This is the latest hike. http://cubits.org/dayhikes/thread/view/34478/

If you like those, you can find a whole bunch more like them at the Pacific states main forum. http://cubits.org/dayhikes/forums/view/usapacificstates/