All Ears

Deer at Alum Rock Park

We were about 10 feet away from this deer, along the Creek Trail at Alum Rock, when she heard something that put her on alert.

Open Space

Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge

This is where I've been going for lunch time walks recently.

Just a five minute drive from our office, this refuge provides more than 9 miles of trails. It's on the Pacific Migration path, so there are a lot of birds.

I've been seeing pelicans, egrets, herons, swallows, and stilts.

Woody!!

The Acorn Woodpecker

Angie and I had an excellent hike this morning at Alum Rock Park. Saw the usual deer, squirrels, bunnies, and Steller Jays.

In addition, we saw a couple Acorn Woodpeckers.

It's not unusual to see them.

What is unusual is that this one let us get within 10 feet.

Flowers Bloom in the Eastern Hills

- Another day in California

From the crest of the South Rim Trail in Alum Rock Park, this is the view.

It was a day full of sun, breezes, deer, squirrels, and alligator lizards.

Sunset, Dear

- Photography = Light Writing

The better the light, the better the writing.

This is a photo of a deer at sunset in Alum Rock Park in San Jose, California.

Staredown with a Gray Fox:

 Hello Mr. Fox

I went for a hike at Alum Rock Park in the hills of East San Jose today.

On my way down the hillside, I heard a rustling in the bushes.

It took me about 5 minutes to pick out the tips of two furry ears - backlit by the sun - poking up over the tall grass.

I moved down the trail and found a clear view. 

At first, I thought the ears belonged to a bobcat, but I quickly saw that it was a fox.

We had a staring contest for about 10 minutes, then he turned his head.

I closed in for this shot. He then went under a bush, so I moved on.

A ranger confirmed it was a gray fox. They are present in the area, but seen infrequently.

Laughing in the Face of Death (Valley) V:

 Desert Flower

I love surprise. I love juxtaposition. I love contrast.

Whether it's an outburst of life in an inhospitable environment, sudden silence in a world that's become way too loud, or a taste of coconut in a meat dish (thanks for the beef rendang, Alissa!) - these moments are why I explore. 

For me, travel is a search... a search for moments to be strung together in a necklace of beauty.

Lunagraphy II

San Francisco Bay

This moonlight picture capture the San Francisco Bay Bridge at night.

Yokohama Fireworks

over the Marine Tower (1995)

July 20th is Marine Day in Japan.
In Yokohama, that means fireworks (or hana-bi - fire flowers) over the harbor.

In 1995, we lived in an apartment that provided an excellent view of the event.

Roadrunner

in Death Valley National Park

Today, we're headed to Death Valley for 5 days of desert hiking.
So, until I return with photos, here's a roadrunner to whet your appetite.

Sydney Opera House

on the waterfront in Sydney, Australia (1994)

Yogya Smile

a sample of Indonesian friendliness

Indonesia is one of my favorite countries, and Yogyakarta is one of my favorite cities in Indonesia.

It's a great walking city, with a lot of interesting history, architecture, and people... smiling people...

Bats!

in Belize

We found these bats in a Mayan temple at Chan Chich in the rainforest of Belize.

I'm a big bat fan, myself... though I realize they aren't everyone's cup of tea.

Nice Rack...

they grow 'em big in the Rocky Mountains

My brother lives near Denver, so any visit eventually leads to the Rockies, where there is plenty of camera food.

Moutains, skies, clouds, and - of course - wildlife, like this elk.

Castle Patterns

at Himeji Castle, Japan

You can't walk through a Japanese castle without feeling like a samurai... well, at least I can't.