Killdeer at New York Creek

Last week I may not have found a lot of water in Folsom Lake’s New York Creek, on the south fork of the American River, but I was lucky enough to get some good shots of the Killdeer. Normally, I can’t get close enough for a decent look at these very shy shorebirds. Check out those big beautiful eyes (you […]

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Life goes on

Due to the drought and the heat, large areas around Folsom Lake are already dry and full of brittle weeds; but on my visit to New York Creek a few days ago I came across a small feeder creek that was still very green and full of animal life. In the morning shade of an old oak, with a cool […]

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On the wing

These may not be the greatest Canada goose photos I’ve ever shot, but I can’t help liking them. Yesterday morning I went out to Folsom Lake with the Big Guy. It was still relatively cool at at 10 o’clock, and I was sitting on a rock gazing at what’s left of New York Creek, which currently looks like this: Suddenly, […]

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April trails

Today, with the temperature reaching up into the 100+ degree range, I’m staying indoors and looking back to only two months ago, when we visited Rattlesnake Bar one morning and I explored a portion of the Pioneer Express Trail I had never seen before.

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Brownie points

I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for mules ever since reading The Oregon Trail, Rinker Buck’s memoir about traveling the historic overland route with his brother in a covered wagon pulled by a team of three mules, Beck, Jake, and Bute. As I hike the dirt trails within Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, I frequently encounter people riding […]

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Redwood walk, Part 2

As I hiked along this unknown  trail, following the Big Guy through the Kruse Rhododendron Preserve, I suddenly realized that the batteries in my trusty Finepix AX were about to die. I had decided to leave my two other cameras in the car, preferring to travel light this time; and although I had spare batteries for the Fuji, they were […]

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Redwood walk

Last week on Tuesday afternoon we were restless in our little Sonoma coast motel room and looking for a place to get away from the gusty winds — Kruse Rhododendron Reserve turned out to be the perfect spot! We’ve passed by this hidden treasure so many times and never fully appreciated it; but I think we’re finally beginning to realize […]

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