Good Acres

Mourning Dove Chick

2009-06-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

I saw a mourning dove chick this morning in the nest built outside my office. About 10 days ago or so, I saw a few tiny, telltail pieces of egg shell on the ground near the nest. The pair of mourning doves assiduously have been sitting on the nest for weeks now. I can not tell if there is another chick in the nest or if there is only one chick.

Mourning Dove Chick and Parent on the Nest

Mourning Dove in the Garden

2009-05-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

About 10 days ago, a pair of mourning doves built a nest right outside my home office on top of a pipe. The pair has been trading places so that one of the doves is on the nest at all times. Hopefully, there will be signs of little ones soon.

Mourning Dove on the Nest

A Stare from a Mourning Dove

Green Thumb Sunday - English Spring Has Sprung

2009-03-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

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Last week we paid a visit to the wonderful Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew outside of London, England. Even in March, there were flowering shrubs and bulbs galore. Here are a few examples of what was flowering on March 7th.

Crocuses

Witch Hazel (Corylopsis sinensis)

Camellia

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Green Thumb Sunday - Seaside Daisy and Beach Strawberry

2009-02-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

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Today we went walking along Chrissy Field in San Francisco. During the restoration of Chrissy Field several years ago, volunteers planted California native plants on the sand dunes and removed non-native invasive plants. Although it is nearing the end of February, there were flowers blooming on at least two native plants -- Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) and Seaside Daisy (Erigeron Glaucus).

Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)

Mature Flower of Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)

Middle Stage Flower of Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)

Middle Stage Flower of Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)

Early Stage Flower of Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus) with Fern

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New Schmap Hobart (Tasmania) Guide Includes Good Acres Photos

2009-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Several of my photos have been selected for inclusion in the newly released sixth edition of the Schmap Hobart Guide to Hobart, Tasmania in Australia:

Tasmanian Museum and Art Galley
Tasmanian Coffee Roasters
Salamanca Arts Centre

If you use an iPhone or iPod touch, then these same links will take you directly to my photos in the iPhone version of the guide:

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Tasmanian Coffee Roasters
Salamanca Arts Centre

New Schmap Sydney Guide Includes Good Acres Photos

2009-01-09T10:24:00.001-08:00

Two of my photos are included in the newly released sixth edition of the Schmap Sydney Guide to Sydney, Australia:

Manly to Shelly Beach Walk
Balmoral Beach

If you use an iPhone or iPod touch, then these same links will take you directly to my photos in the iPhone version of the guide:

Manly to Shelly Beach Walk
Balmoral Beach

A New Year (Año Nuevo) with the Northern Elephant Seals

2009-01-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

Four hundred and six years ago today, on January 3, 1603, Father Antonio de la Ascension, chaplain for the Spanish explorer Don Sebastian Vizcaino, who was charged with mapping the California coastline for Spain, named Año Nuevo Point (New Year Point). Apparently, Vizcaino did not land his ship due to the visible presence of Grizzly Bears. Today, Año Nuevo Point is part of Año Nuevo State Park and Reserve which is on the coast about 55 miles South of San Francisco, California. In a fitting beginning to 2009, we took a naturalist-guided tour at Año Nuevo with our friends, Ray and Jim, to see the Northern Elephant Seals on New Year's Day. We were fortunate that it was not raining or gusting and that there was no fog out on the Point (although a lot of fog hugging the coastline).

Año Nuevo Island and Point with an Abandoned House and Northern Elephant Seals

Since 1955, Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris) have established a rookery at Año Nuevo and arrive each winter to have their pups and to mate. They inhabit the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Canada and the United States to Mexico. Males grow to weigh up to 5,000 pounds and reach fourteen to sixteen feet long while females grow to weigh 1,200 to 2,000 pounds and reach ten to twelve feet long.

Elephant Seals are so named because of the large proboscis of the adult males which resemble an elephant's trunk and produce loud guttural noises. The proboscis also is filled with cavities designed to reabsorb moisture from the males' breathing which conserves moisture during the multi-month mating season when the males rarely leave the beach to feed. Males fight each other in battles characterized by bellowing for the ability to mate with female harems on the beaches.

Male Northern Elephant Seal with Neck Scars from Battle Injuries

Male Northern Elephant Seal Vocalizing

The pups weigh approximately 75 pounds at birth and are almost black in color. They reach 250 to 300 pounds in less than a month from feeding on their mothers' rich milk that is 55% fat. Most pups nurse from their mothers but some pups nurse from several females.

Mother and Her Nursing Days-Old Pup

Neighboring Mother Vocalizes at Pup

It is incredible to see the small new borns next to their large mothers and the even larger males. Here, the relative sizes of pup, mother and adult male can be seen next to a seagull.

Mother, Pup and Male Northern Elephant Seal

For more information on the Northern Elephant Seal click here and here.

Australian Flora and Fauna V - Cradle Mountain, Tasmania (Part 2)

2008-11-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

We continued our almost five day stay at Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania with a long bushwalk from Ronny Creek up to Marion's Lookout and then back down to Dove Lake. Part of the walk took us along the Overland Track which runs through the Park.

View from Ronny Creek in Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park

The landscape includes button grass (mesomelaena sphaerocephala) which is ubiquitous at Cradle Mountain. The seed pods of the button grass are responsible for coloring the streams in Cradle Mountain a dark coffee color.

Button Grass (Mesomelaena sphaerocephala)

The scenery also is dotted with pandani (richea pandanifolia) which are the largest heath plant in the world and found only in Tasmania. Appearances are deceiving, as the pandani is not related to the palm family. Pandani leaves are very sharp.

Pandani (Richea pandanifolia) along the Overland Track

On our way down from Marion's Lookout, we caught this view of Lake Lilla, Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain.

In the evenings, near Cradle Mountain Lodge, we saw more Tasmanian marsupials including the common wombat and the red-necked Bennett's wallaby (Macropus refugriseus). We learned that wombats defend themselves from predators by diving into their holes and protecting themselves with their rear composed of cartilage that acts as a shield (and sometimes can be used to crush and injure the predator).

Common Wombat

Bennett's Wallaby (Macropus refugriseus)

We also paid a visit to the Devil Sanctuary at Cradle Mountain. There, we observed Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) feeding in the evening. Their fur was very dense and they resembled very small bears. Unfortunately, Devil facial tumor disease is afflicting and killing the small Devil population. Hopefully, a cure will be found so that the Devils will not become extinct. For more information on Devils and the facial tumor disease, click here.

Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

Green Thumb Sunday - Cistus Flower

2008-11-23T20:48:00.000-08:00

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On an early morning peregrination in Golden Gate Park today, I encountered a shrub with these pretty flowers. Can anyone help me identify this flower? Update -- Thanks to Zoe in the comments below, I now know that this is a cistus flower.

Cistus Flower in Golden Gate Park

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Australian Flora and Fauna IV - Cradle Mountain, Tasmania (Part 1)

2008-11-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

From the humidity and heat of Queensland, we next flew due South to the cooler climate of Tasmania. Tasmania was rugged and beautiful and filled with lots of national parks and interesting flora and fauna deriving from Gondwanan heritage. We spent almost five days touring Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania which is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

We began with a rainy-day walk around the the King Billy circular track near Cradle Mountain Lodge. The track is named for the ancient King Billy Pines (Athrotaxis selaginoides) (which notwithstanding their name are conifers, not pines) up to 1500 years of age. The walk was an exploration in the many shades of green in the trees and the profusion of mosses and lichens.

Back at the Lodge, it was incredible to observe the many animals that come out to feed in an open meadow near the Lodge in the evening. In the past, the animals had been fed by Lodge staff and guests although this practice was discontinued several years ago (although apparently some guests irresponsibly continue to feed the wild animals). A very bright-eyed and cute Tasmanian Pademelon (Rufous Wallaby) appeared frequently in the evening on the front porch of our room unsuccessfully begging for food.

Tasmanian Pademelon (Rufous Wallaby)

We learned that these poor herbivorous creatures are common roadkill in Tasmania. In addition, their numbers are large due to the dwindling numbers or extinction of some of their natural predators -- e.g. the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) is extinct and the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has shrunk due to a fatal and incurable facial disease (more about this in a future post). Click here to learn more about the sad tale of the marsupial Tasmanian Tiger and how it was hunted to extinction. Here is another Tasmanian Pademelon feeding near the Lodge in the evening.

Tasmanian Pademelon (Rufous Wallaby)

Australian Flora and Fauna III - Daintree Rainforest

2008-11-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

After leaving Lizard Island and the Great Barrier Reef, we flew back to Cairns and then drove north into the Daintree rainforest. The weather was miserable on a few days due to heavy rainfall which closed down several road causeways due to rising water. Nonetheless, we managed to spend time in the rainforest in the Daintree Discovery Centre and to take a very informative and interesting day walk with Prue and a night walk with Ziggy through the ancient rainforest at Cooper's Creek.

Stream in Cooper's Creek

Fan Palms in Cooper's Creek

Rainforest floor in Daintree Discovery Centre

We managed to see several interesting birds, dragons and a frog on our walks. We did not see the elusive but beautiful cassowary in the wild. Instead, we saw a cassowary claw print in the mud.

White-Lipped Tree frog (Litoria infrafrenata) on night walk with Cooper's Creek

Cassowary Claw Print in the Mud at Cooper's Creek

Buff-Breasted or Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) in the Daintree Discovery Centre

Golden Orb Spider (Nephila pilipes) in the Daintree Discovery Centre

On our drive back to Cairns for our next flight to Tasmania, we stopped at the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary in Port Douglas, Queensland. There, we were able to see a cassowary, among other animals.

Crocodile

Swamp Wallabies

Cassowary

Cassowary Claws

Male Eclectus Parrot

Green Thumb Sunday - Living Roof, Butterflies, Birds and Frogs

2008-10-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

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Earlier this past week, I ventured to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The Academy just reopened about a month ago after an almost 10-year renovation project. The new building is stunning and I spent most of my time on the Living Roof as well as in a four-story rainforest habitat.

The Living Roof is comprised of seven hills planted with nine native plants and spanning two and one-half acres. These native plants include four perennials: (i) Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), (ii) Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), (iii) Sea Pink (Armeria maritima ssp. californica), and (iv) Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium). The remaining nature plants consist of five annual wildflowers: (i) Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa), (ii) Goldfield (Lasthenia californica), (iii) Miniature Lupine (Lupinus nanus), (iv) California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), and (v) California Plantain (Plantago erecta). I spotted many bees merrily enjoying the flowers of these native plants. The Living Roof absorbs all rainwater (which can be substantial in our winter rainy season) and the plants act to naturally cool the building's interior (avoiding the use of electricity to cool the building). The Academy is believed to be the "greenest" museum in the world.

Bee or Fly-Bee on Wildflower

Bee or Fly-Bee on Miniature Lupine

The 4-Story Rainforest rests directly beneath the open area shown on the above photograph of the Living Roof. It consists of four stories in a 90-foot diameter glass dome.

Here is a sampling of some of the beautiful frogs, butterflies and birds featured in the rainforest habitat.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Poison Dart Frogs

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Green Thumb Sunday - Red Flowering Gum (Bloodwood) Tree

2008-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

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In late summer, the Red Flowering Gum Trees (Corymbia ficifolia f.k.a. Eucalyptus ficifolia) begin blooming all over San Francisco. The flowers can be white, pink, red or orange but my favorites are the trees with the striking orange flowers. Native to an area of Western Australia that is south east of Perth, these trees prefer infertile, sandy soils. They are a very popular street tree in San Francisco (as are many other Australian native trees). Although called "gums," these trees are "bloodwoods" so named because of the dark red liquid that flows when wounds are inflicted on their trunks. One negative attribute of these trees is the stringy detritus from the flowers that collects on cars and in the streets (visible in the photo below).

Red Flowering Gum Tree (Corymbia ficifolia) in Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California

Flowers of the Red Flowering Gum Tree (Corymbia ficifolia)

Macro shot of flower from Red Flowering Gum Tree (Corymbia ficifolia)

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Green Thumb Sunday - Honeybee and Victory Garden

2008-09-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

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Today, we went to the San Francisco City Hall Victory Garden. "Victory Gardens" were planted during World Wars I and II to grow food to overcome wartime deficits. Slow Food Nation partnered with Victory Gardens 2008+ to create an organic Victory Garden in front of San Francisco's City Hall. The last Victory Garden in front of City Hall existed over sixty-five years ago in 1943. For more information, click here.

The Victory Garden consists of attractive concentric rings of vegetables, wildflowers and other California native plants against the stunning backdrop of City Hall.

Kale

Sunflowers

The Victory Garden also included demonstration gardens of California Native Plant Pollinator Habitat and California Native Coastal Shrub Habitat. I was fortunate to be able to capture shots of a honeybee and a bee-fly or a wasp on flowers in both of those habitats.

California honeybee on Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa)

Bee-fly or Sand Wasp? on California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)

Macro shot of flowers of California Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in California Native Coastal Scrub Habitat

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) in California Native Plant Pollinator Habitat

Annual California Native Plant Pollinator

Unknown Moth on Leaf

The Victory Garden is wonderful and sets an example of all of the food that could be raised right here in urban backyards of San Francisco.

P.S. Thanks to Eileen for pointing out to me that my photo of what I thought was a honeybee on the buckwheat in fact was either a bee-fly (a fly that mimics a bee to fend off predators) or a sand wasp. Can anyone help in identifying it precisely? Thanks!

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Australian Flora & Fauna II - Lizard Island and Great Barrier Reef

2008-09-17T16:17:00.001-07:00

After leaving Sydney, we flew to Cairns, Queensland and then on a small plane to Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef. Lizard Island was incredibly beautiful. We snorkeled around Lizard Island as well as at Cod Hole and No Name on the Great Barrier Reef. We marveled at the diversity and beauty of the coral.

Beautiful coral formations at No Name diving and snorkeling site on the Great Barrier Reef

Antler Coral in Lizard Island Waters

Coral in Lizard Island Waters

We also were amazed by the vibrant colors of the Giant Clams (Tridacna gigas) and the fish.

Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) in Lizard Island waters

Unknown Wrasse at No Name, Great Barrier Reef

Potato Cod at Cod Hole, Great Barrier Reef

A Beaked Leatherjacket (Oxymonacanthus longirostris) at No Name in Great Barrier Reef

Clown Anemonefish in Lizard Island waters

Australian Flora & Fauna I - Sydney and Blue Mountains

2008-08-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

In March 2008, we went on a three week vacation to Australia. The Aussies were wonderful hosts and we had an amazing time. This will be the first of many posts about the flora and fauna that we observed on our trip.

We began our trip in Sydney which reminded us a lot of San Francisco. We were astounded by the friendliness and warmth of the Sydney-siders. We visited the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney where we saw an assortment of birds.

Rainbow Lorikeets

Sacred Ibis

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos

As we were walking through the Gardens, we were surprised to look up and see many black pouches hanging from trees. We learned that these pouches were Grey-headed Flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus), one of the largest species of fruit bats in the world. If you look closely the faces of these bats bear a striking resemblance to a fox surrounded by a red fur. There is a movement underway at the Gardens to encourage these bats to roost elsewhere as they have permanently damaged many trees.

Grey-headed Flying-Fox

Grey-headed Flying Fox

We also took a day long trip to the Blue Mountains near Sydney. There, we spotted two kangaroos in the wild (unfortunately, this was to be our only wild kangaroo sighting during our trip).

Kangaroos in the Blue Mountains

We also observed several interesting birds.

Australian Magpie

Very Tame Crimson Rosella

Sonoma Sunset

2008-08-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

We spent last night at our friends' house on Trinity Road near Glen Ellen in Sonoma County. The sunset above the fog bank that had settled over the hills was quite beautiful.

And it was all over fairly quickly.

I particularly enjoyed the sudden appearance of birds just as the sun went down.

We had a wonderful time with our incomparable hosts, Charles and Marc.

Green Thumb Sunday - Sacred Lotus

2008-08-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

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On several occasions, we have visited the Allerton Garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai, Hawaii. The gorgeous sacred lotus (nelumbo nucifera) in varying stages of bloom and decay always is a highlight.

The sacred lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam and very important to the cultures of India, South East Asia, Japan and China. It is fascinating that the sacred lotus is thermoregulatory -- that is, the lotus maintains a temperature of 86 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit even when air temperatures drop to 50 degrees. Botanists studying this phenomenon have speculated that the warmer temperature encourages insects to remain in the flower longer to increase the odds for successful pollination. Thus, the propagation and survival of the sacred lotus over the centuries may be directly attributable to the plant's development of thermogenesis. For more information click here.

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The Big Green Leaf - Conservatory of Flowers

2008-07-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Today, the July 4th Holiday, we went with our friend, Hilary, who is visiting from the East coast to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Built in 1879, the Conservatory closed in the mid 1990s due to severe damage caused by a violent windstorm and then reopened in 2003. The Conservatory has an incredible array of tropical plants, including many orchids and a lily pond.

Although a few days after the mid-point of the year on June 30th, here are several shots of green foliage in honor of "The Big Green Leaf."

Two Intersecting Leaves

Leaf Underside

Hilary commented that the second photo could easily pass as an aerial shot. With this perspective in mind, I see roadways and the relentless creep of suburban home development in the picture.

Finally, here is a reptilian part of a plant.

Green Thumb Sunday - Anemone

2008-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

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In Greek mythology, anemone (ranunculaceae) grew from the blood of Aprodite's dead lover, Adonis. They are named windflowers because the wind that blows open the petals of the flower also will later blow away the dead petals. Here is an anemone in a shady spot in my backyard which I think is an anemone hybrida or japonica.

Anemone hybrida or japonica

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San Francisco Hummingbirds

2008-06-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

Although San Francisco is an urban environment, there are several different kinds of hummingbirds that can be found in the city. They are so beautiful and charming. In my backyard, they bathe in a fountain in the early morning and late evening. One of them is what I believe to be an adult female Allen hummingbird. Because she moved so quickly, my camera captured a ghostly doppelgänger image.

Female adult Allen hummingbird

Female adult Allen hummingbird

Female adult Allen hummingbird

At Chrissy Field in San Francisco I captured this shot of what I believe to be a male adult Anna's hummingbird. He was quite still and posing on a branch.

Male adult Anna's hummingbird

Green Thumb Sunday - Jacaranda Trees

2008-05-31T18:50:00.000-07:00

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Over the Memorial Day weekend, we drove down to Los Angeles to visit with Susan and Howie. To our surprise, Los Angeles was festooned in street trees covered in clusters of five-lobed purple trumpet flowers. We learned that these trees are called jacarandas and they are native to Central and Southern America, Mexico and the Caribbean. They are common in the American Southwest as well as in Pretoria, South Africa (known as "The Jacaranda City") and in Brisbane, Australia. Although we have been to Los Angeles on many occasions, we previously never had seen the fleeting glory of the jacarandas.

Jacarandas flanking the main street through Culver City in Los Angeles, California

A cluster of flowers on a jacaranda branch

Seed pods on a jacaranda tree

Jacaranda flowers

As always, we had a great time in Los Angeles with Susan who is an incomparable hostess. When we left, Howie bade us farewell on our drive back to Northern California.

Howie

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Rambling Around Stow Lake III - Perching Birds

2008-05-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my prior posts here and here, I went on a birding walk around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park on May 10, 2008 followed by an early morning walk on May 15, 2008. In addition to the fabulous great blue herons, other waterfowl and turtles described previously, I saw several perching birds. The male brewer's blackbird hid in a shrub by the walking trail at Stow Lake with its characteristic shining bright yellow eyes. The adult black phoebe lingered on a branch near its mud nest under a bridge across to Strawberry Hill at Stow Lake and dipped its long tail very quickly.

Male brewer's blackbird (euphagus cyanocephalus)

Adult black phoebe (sayornis nigricans)

Rambling Around Stow Lake II - More Waterfowl and Turtles

2008-05-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my prior post, I went on a birding walk around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park on May 10, 2008 followed by an early morning walk on May 15, 2008. In addition to the fabulous great blue herons, I saw a number of other waterfowl.

First, I observed the lovely but common male and female domestic mallard (anas platyrhynchos)

Male domestic mallard (anas platyrhynchos).

Second, I saw a bizarre large duck-like creature that I had never seen before. In reviewing bird books, I learned that it was a domestic muscovy (cairina moshata) which interbreeds in city parks and produces birds with a wide variety of sizes, plumages and colors. This particular bird aggressively shooed away the domestic mallards.

Domestic muscovy (cairina moschata).

Third, I spotted the pied-billed grebe (podilymbus podiceps) on Stow Lake. These birds are usually solitary. The adults have a distinctive black bill ring.

Juvenile pied-billed grebe (podilymbus podiceps).

Adult pied-billed grebe (podilymbus podiceps).

Finally, I spotted four Canadian geese (branta canadensis) and nine chicks. The naturalist from the San Francisco Nature Education speculated that two pairs of Canadian geese and their young merged into one larger group. I also spotted many turtles posing in the sun on logs in Stow Lake. The turtles were so immobile that at first I wondered if they were statues. Here are some of the turtles on a log with one turtle barely visible at the end of the log struggling to climb up from the lake.

Turtles.

Rambling Around Stow Lake I - Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

2008-05-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

Since 1994, great blue herons (ardea herodias) have been nesting at Stow Lake in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. San Francisco Nature Education offers several bird viewing and nature walks during the heron nesting season. On May 10, 2008, I went on one of those walks around Stow Lake and then went again to Stow Lake very early on May 15th (a very rare sunny and hot day in San Francisco). The great blue herons are beautiful birds and it was extraordinary to view their nests perched high in the trees with their chicks who resemble Dr. Seuss characters. Here are some of my photos from these two outings.

Adult great blue heron.

Flying adult great blue heron.

Adult great blue heron feeding two chicks on nest.

Adult great blue heron and two chicks on nest.