In the heart of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California, we still have birds.
All of these pictures were taken from my backyard.
Just got home from Illinois lock the front door oh boy! Got to sit down take a rest on the porch. Imagination sets in pretty soon I’m singin’ Doo doo doo lookin’ out my back door.
Wild Geese:
The Sepulveda Dam Basin is a natural watershed and there are many birds that stop, feed and rest here on their migratory flights north and south. Wild Canadian Geese “The Honkers” are frequently seen flying in their distinctive “V” pattern and their honking can often be heard as they approach and fly over.
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY AND THEN CLICK AGAIN TO VIEW THE PIC AT FULL SIZE!
Honkers! – The Wild Geese!
Wild Geese
Wild Geese
There’s a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin’ high heels. Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn. A dinosaur Victrola list’ning to Buck Owens. Doo doo doo lookin’ out my back door.
There are a lot of black crows in the neighborhood.
A Raven: (note the wedged tail, thanks Cynthia!)
Caught this big Raven in flight:
As the Crow Flies Overhead….. (it’s actually a Raven)
A Big Raven!
Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band. Won’t you take a ride on the flyin’ spoon? Doo doo doo. Wond’rous apparition provided by magician. Doo doo doo lookin’ out my back door.
Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band. Won’t you take a ride on the flyin’ spoon? Doo doo doo. Bother me tomorrow, today, I’ll buy no sorrows. Doo doo doo lookin’ out my back door.
The Owl:
This is the Owl that lives in the giant Eucalyptus tree out hunting during the day. We hear it all the time in the evenings and at night, but it is very rare that we actually see it.
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY AND THEN CLICK AGAIN TO VIEW THE PIC AT FULL SIZE!
Forward troubles Illinois, lock the front door oh boy! Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn. Bother me tomorrow, today, I’ll buy no sorrows. Doo doo doo lookin’ out my back door.
The Hawks:
Recently there have been a few hawks hunting rodents and squirrels in the neighborhood. They’ve been perching in the trees around the backyard and diving at prey.
Hawk in the tree
Hawk in flight
The Hawk in Flight (added 3-31-17)
The Hawk in the Tree
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY AND THEN CLICK AGAIN TO VIEW THE PIC AT FULL SIZE!
Two Hawks in the Tree
We saw two pair of hawks flying together.
They weren’t turkey vultures, they were hawks:
Four Hawks in the Air Overhead (3 shown)
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY AND THEN CLICK AGAIN TO VIEW THE PIC AT FULL SIZE!
There are turkey vultures too. And we also have ducks, jays, mockingbirds, hummingbirds, sparrows, seagulls and many other species that are local or migratory.
Hummingbird On A Wire
A great place for birdwatching is Lake Balboa Park and the Sepulveda Dam Basin in Encino. See our previous Blogs> SEARCH Lake Balboa in the Box at the top of page^^^^
From “The Big Lebowski” [after reporting the Dude’s car was stolen]
The Dude: Do you find them much, these, stolen cars?
Younger Cop: Sometimes. Wouldn’t hold out much hope for the tape deck though.
Older Cop: Or the Creedence.
Use the links below to FOLLOW and LIKE us on other social media!
RIGHT CLICK and “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW” TO VIEW LINKS>
Saturday Evening and Sunday Afternoon at the Pacific Ocean in Cambria.
THIS BLOG IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
Pacific Ocean View, Big Sur, California (not my pic)
We have combined the pics from previous blogs and added new pics into this one. This Blog was just UPDATED April 9, 2017.
Hearst San Simeon California State Park owns and controls most of the waterfront property along the 20-mile segment of Highway 1 north of Cambria on the Central Coast as well as Hearst Castle and the surrounding land. There are thirteen different beautiful, uncrowded and remote “hidden gem” beaches in northern San Luis Obispo County and southern Monterey County between Cambria and Big Sur.
Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
Moonstone Beach is a California State Park and part of Hearst San Simeon State Park. It runs along Moonstone Beach Drive and parallels Highway 1 in Cambria. The shoreline is made up of brown sandy beaches and coves separated by rocky headlands. On the beach, there are a number of natural ocean tide pools filled with marine life, and in the park there are easy hiking trails and an abundance of natural flora and fauna.
NOTE: Dogs are allowed on-leash on the trails and the boardwalk, but not on the beach!
SATURDAY EVENING
Marine Layer Rolling In Over Cambria and the Pacific Ocean on Saturday Evening
Moonstone Beach was the end of a long road trip from Ashland, Oregon. We left in the morning without a destination and arrived in Cambria at sunset. The marine layer and heavy fog had rolled in as we were coming down Highway 46 from the mountains, so there were gray skies and it was chilly outside the car when we reached the ocean.
NOTE: Read the previous Blogs about our Spring 2016 Oregon Roadtrip, Historic Cambria, the Vault Gallery and the Bluebird Inn in Cambria (see the links below)
Sunset at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
We parked the car at the Beach next to the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk. The marine layer was over the ocean and there was only a thin line of orange on the horizon as the sun went down over the ocean, but it was really beautiful as we watched the sunset.
Sunset at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
The one and a half mile long boardwalk runs the length of Moonstone Beach along the bluff top and walking it is a great way to experience the beauty of the Pacific Coastline.
The Boardwalk at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
There is easy access to the sandy beach via stairs down from the bluffs and there are many wooden benches along the Boardwalk to just sit and enjoy the view.
Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
As the sun set, we called and found a room was available at the Bluebird Inn. We had a very nice dinner at Robin’s restaurant and went for drinks afterwards at the Cambria Pub and Mozzi’s Saloon and then stayed the night at the motel.
Read the Previous Blog! (RIGHT CLICK AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW”)
Saturday Night at The Bluebird Inn Motel in Cambria http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3gi
NOTE: There is not much to do after 9pm in Cambria. There is no real nightlife, except for a few bars and restaurants that stay open late.
The Bluebird Inn Motel
The Bluebird Inn Motel
The Bluebird Inn Motel
The Bluebird Inn Motel
Dinner at Robin’s Restaurant in Cambria
Cambria Pub & Steakhouse
Mozzi’s Saloon at night
Cambria After Dark
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
After a good night’s rest and the morning breakfast buffet at the Bluebird Inn, we spent the early part of the day walking around downtown Cambria exploring historical sites and visiting shops and galleries (Read our previous Blogs).
The Bluebird Inn Motel
Old Santa Rosa Chapel
Old Santa Rosa Chapel
Old Santa Rosa Cemetery
Greenspace & Chinese Temple
Greenspace & Chinese Temple
Vault Gallery in the Old Bank of Cambria 1928
Country Collectibles Antiques
Sweet Offerings Confectioners
Read the Previous Blogs! (RIGHT CLICK AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW”)
Sweet Offerings Confectionary in Cambria, California! http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3ik
It was still overcast, so we decided not to drive north to Big Sur. Instead, some time after noon, we walked back to the car at the motel and then drove down to Moonstone Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
Moonstone State Beach in Cambria, California
Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
SEAGULLS!
Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!
Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
Moonstone Beach – Parking Lot and Picnic Area
———————————————————————-
SQUIRREL!“Hey, nice marmot!” They Have No Fear! Please DO NOT feed the wildlife!
SQUIRREL!No Fear! Please DO NOT feed the wildlife!
This little squirrel tried to “panhandle” us in the parking lot!
It came right up (not even 3 feet away) and posed for these pictures exhibiting little fear of people and obviously looking for some food from the tourists… PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE!
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!
Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, consisting of small or medium-size rodents. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including woodchucks), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs.
That word “squirrel” first specified in 1327, comes from the Anglo-Norman esquirel which is from the Old French escurel, the reflex of a Latin word sciurus. This Latin word was borrowed from the Ancient Greek word σκίουρος, skiouros, which means shadow-tailed, referring to the bushy appendage possessed by many of its members.
The California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula. “Beechey’s Marmot” (named after Frederick William Beechey, an early 19th-century British explorer and naval officer) is common in Oregon and California and its range has relatively recently extended into Washington and northwestern Nevada.
California ground squirrels live in burrows which they excavate themselves. Some burrows are occupied communally but each individual squirrel has its own entrance. They readily become tame in areas used by humans and quickly learn to take food left or offered by people. They spend most of their time within 82 feet of their burrow and rarely go further than 160 feet from it. The squirrel’s fur contains a mixture of gray, light brown and dusky hairs; the underside is lighter, buff or grayish yellow. The fur around the eyes is whitish and around the ears is black. Head and body are about 12 inches long and the bushy tail an additional 6 inches.
Squirrel! No Fear! Please don’t feed the wildlife!
TRAVEL ALERT!
Highway 1 IS CLOSED! Pacific Coast Highway from Cambria to Big Sur!
HIGHWAY 1 NEAR BIG SUR IS CLOSED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE!
There are currently temporary closures on Highway 1 after winter storms damaged the coastal road again. The highway north of Big Sur has reopened but a full closure due to landslides (Paul’s Slide) near the town of Lucia will continue for at least four to six more weeks. The highway continues to deteriorate at Mud Creek near the town of Gorda as slide activity continues. It is currently closed there and it is also closed at Ragged Point, 24 miles north of Cambria. They remain closed to travelers according to Caltrans as of April 4, 2017. Caltrans completed demolition on the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge just south of Big Sur Station on March 20 after the bridge failed in mid-February and is planning to build a replacement bridge. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, the only road that cuts through the Santa Lucia Mountains from Highway 101 and allows access to Big Sur, reopened in late March.
Big Creek Bridge and Cove – Big Sur, California (not my pic)
Moonstone Beach at Hearst San Simeon State Park – 6216 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria, CA Free parking along Moonstone Beach Drive and in the park parking lot. NOTE: Bring a sweater or jacket! It can get cold, even in Summer.
Our Periscope videos from Katch are now on YouTube: RIGHT CLICK AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW” TO VIEW OUR YOUTUBE PAGE!> The “JoshWillTravel AdventureScope” is now available on Youtube!> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoP3QQfRTfD-2eABWVd-JwQ
RIGHT CLICK and “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW” TO VIEW LINKS>
Lake Balboa Park (Right Click on the pic to open the large pic in a new window)
San Fernando Valley, California – Thursday Afternoon
I took my dog for a walk in the park. It was a beautifull day!
Lake Balboa Park (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
“I think i’ll go for a walk outside now, the summer sun’s callin my name (I hear ya now!) I just can’t stay inside all day. I gotta get out get me some of those rays! everybody’s smilin’…sunshine day…everybody’s laughin’…sunshine day… everybody seems so happy today…it’s a sunshine day!” ~ The Brady Bunch Kids
Cherry blossoms (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Checking out the park (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Cherry blossoms (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Lake Balboa Park (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Lake Balboa Park (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Lake Balboa Park (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Resting in the shade (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
The Tall Palm – Lake Balboa Park (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Bridge over troubled waters (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Lake Balboa Park (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Lake Balboa Park – Bridge to the dirt parking lot (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Lake Balboa Park – Encino, CA (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)
6300 Balboa Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91316
Phone: (818)756-9743
Public Information:
The Department of Recreation and Parks proudly dedicated a Universally Accessible Playground (UAP) at Anthony C. Beilenson Park on Monday, June 9, 2008. The new UAP is the 10th accessible playground run by the Department.The accessible playground at Beilenson Park has two separate play areas, one section for two to five-year-olds and two sections for five to twelve-year-olds. All of the areas have a “Maritime” theme and feature swings, ladders, a variety of balancing elements, climbers and slides.Special features to the 19,600-square-foot playground is an interactive drum play area and sensory wall. Other elements include spring toys, crawl tunnels, landscaping and drinking fountains. Enjoy the new 19,600-square-foot addition to a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility in the San Fernando Valley – Lake Balboa.The $1.1 million addition can be used and enjoyed by all children, regardless of ability. Lake Balboa is located at Anthony C. Beilenson Park. the only staff on site are the lifeguards at Lake Balboa. Pets are allowed but must be leashed. Owners are responsible for removal of defecation. Dogs are not permitted to swim in the lake.
Any Pavillion reservations or questions will be taken by calling the Valley Regional Permit Office line at (818) 756-8187.
