Under the tree

Not too far from the beach at Negro Bar State Park there’s a certain spot along the bike trail that always catches my eye, especially when the morning light is just right. Standing at the base of the Orangevale Palisades, this old oak creates a sort of dark grotto with its limbs and catches the reflection of the waters of […]

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Golden dragons

The Variegated Meadowhawks are practically swarming along the shores of Lake Natoma right now. They’re especially eye-catching during the morning golden hour(s), if you feel like braving the sun’s heat (local temperature reached 70° Fahrenheit before 8 o’clock this morning).  

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For the birds

As I’ve mentioned before, the local hummingbirds have been a big draw for me on my morning walks, but there are plenty of other small birds which are active along the lake shore in the mornings. Some are easier to photograph than others; for example, the rufous-crowned sparrows are fairly common sights, and sometimes I’d almost swear they are showing […]

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California ground squirrel

I noticed this ground squirrel eyeing me this morning as I was standing under the tree tobacco plants, looking for hummingbirds. This guy was either curious or perhaps suspicious, but he didn’t seem afraid of me — he probably realized I wasn’t likely to vault over the huge pile of rocks and boulders that separated us. I’m not sure how […]

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