1st kayaking of 2014

I have visited the nearby reservoirs. 

This is Boca reservoir, drying up as are most of California's reservoirs.  A short drive to the north is Stampede reservoir.  There are no access points that I could find, so I parked on the side of the road and walked thru the forest to see this reservoir.  Along the way I found a Brown Creeper, Mt Chickadees, Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatches, Steller's Jays, and 2 Purple Finches.  I needed to listen to the iPod to confirm that ID.   !!!

This is Prosser reservoir.  The water level is way down now, It used to have a much larger lake.  I paddled the perimeter today.  Canada Geese, a pair of Common Mergansers, and a Bald Eagle.  The 3rd photo is Silver truck on shore that 10 years ago was underwater.

With the camera at full zoom, focus is not perfect, but a Bald Eagle is exciting to see.

pictures for Wednesday

The same photo from last time, only cropped so the subject is visible.

Another photo from Mt Rose Highway

Farad is an old hydro-electric plant built in the late 1800's to supply power to the first silver mine in the US.  This is the water flume that runs along Hwy 80.

March is half over

We had a week of intermittent rain and snow.  Ski areas received a little more snow on the mountain tops.  Managers are hoping Spring Break time will bring more people to the slopes.
     Last week I went to Tahoe Meadows for a walk in the snow.  One bird, a Brown Creeper, was seen.  It was a beautiful winter morning.  I set the camera on top of its case, and had it take a photo of me.
    The following day I drove to one of many trailheads for Tahoe Rim Trail and walked a piece along the Truckee River.  Birders can see my ebird list.
    And back to work.  5 co-workers have quit Northstar and moved on to school, more preferred jobs, or just going home.

 Hooded Merganser females on the Truckee River.
below:  Black-necked Stilt foraging.

February's end

While ski resorts are praying for snow, ducks are going about their seasonal business.  "Down the hill" in Reno, House Finches are singing, and in the wooded neighborhoods Pygmy Nuthatches are, as well.  Forests are dry, and look like November.
     Along Truckee River, and other places, I have seen Red-shouldered Hawks.  This photo is from Internet.  I was not quick enough to get photos myself.

 Northern Shovelers in courtship / chasing.

Lower photo is a Black-necked Stilt foraging in a shallow pond in late afternoon.

an uncertain Storm

Many inches of snow were forecast for Friday and the weekend.  My house-mate let me borrow an old set of tire "cable-chains"  for Silver truck. Thursday afternoon I put them on myself.  Later in the day he returned to the house and said, "Those are too big for your tires."   Richard and girlfriend have 3 old sets of  tire cable-chains that are no longer used.  They each have a Jeep.  The 3rd set we tried was the right size.  The photo is of the "too big" set I installed first.
     The top of the mountain received 30 " of snow overnight into Friday.  Skiers were happy.  Saturday it rained buckets all day and into the night.  Sunday the rain slowly tapered off.  Squaw Valley ski area closed down on Sunday.  I drove slowly around town to work and back for 3 days, before taking the cable-chains off on Monday.  It was the first time I had put chains on Silver's tires.  Yes, it did snow, then the rain melted it away. 

     Today I drove over Mt Rose highway again.  So beautiful with the new snow.  I drove to Davis Creek county park for birding because the ebird reports looked good.  By lunch time I decided those birds must have sheltered out the storm some place else.
Mountain Chickadees, White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, Flickers, and much twittering that I did not identify.  This Spotted Towhee was singing, but did not want to be photographed.  Camera was not happy when I asked it to focus on the bird instead of the branches.

   

Northstar event

Mostly photos this time.  Northstar's mountain after the snowstorm :

Big event this weekend is the Carving competition.  not ice, but frozen congealed snow,  First photo is the entry from Team Wisconsin,  2nd photo is the creation of Team Mongolia.

The photo of the Snow Leopard attacking a goat did not come out well, so I posted this one instead.

late January

     Northstar continues to make snow every night to make up for what Nature is not providing. California's governor declared an emergency because of the drought.  Fortunately the machine-made snow is
making enough skiers happy that guests are still coming to stay in the condos.  I am still making reservations for future guests.
     Yesterday I drove up to Mt Rose, along Nevada highway 431.  The summit pass is nearly 9000 ft and supports an alpine forest of Fir and Spruce trees.  I parked Silver truck along a paved forest road and walked into the forest.  It was quiet for awhile, then I started hearing Chickadees closer to the road.  A feeding flock of Mountain Chickadees had brought all their friends and relatives.  I saw 2 Brown Creepers on different trees, heard Red-breasted Nuthatches calling, and a group of Pine Siskins announced their arrival  "shreeeeeeeeep."  I was watching little ones flitting when something else moved in to the top of a Fir.  Red Crossbills !!  Eventually I found 3 pairs feeding in that tree.  Steller's Jays and 2 Clark's Nutcrackers came for lunch as well.  All very exciting.
    Later in the afternoon I stopped by Donner Lake and saw a group of Eared Grebes.

 Top photo:  Donner Lake State Park.
to the right, a Red Crossbill feeding on a Fir cone.  Image from the Allaboutbirds.com website.

Funny thing happened this morning, I walked out the door with my directions to Tahoe Meadows, which I did not find a sign for.  I had only my binoculars and my fanny pack with me.  Totally forgot the camera, I could have taken some photos of these birds myself.