nosh

There was wind on the ridge and fog on the ground but it much warmer than expected - I even took off my jacket for a while - but very possibly I should just have gone home, as this was my second trail fail of the week. Wednesday I tried to take a trail from former times that I took successfully two weeks ago but this time gave up at once. I expect adrenalin helped the first time but was not present the second. Today I got down to the big oak in the dip and knew I shouldn't go further. I didn't feel as dreadful as a couple of months ago, but I wanted badly to sit so I found a bit of bank free of poison oak (whether it was free of biting insects remains to be seen) and sat for about forty minutes, just listening. I drank water and ate some apple, and when I decided I should climb back up to the parking lot it was much easier than I feared. I have no idea what was wrong, but I have to remind myself that when I just want to go back to bed there may be a good reason. My ebird list was short but to my surprise there was a Western Wood-pewee calling, and I heard all three nuthatches. If I have to sit, that's a good place. ( The list: )

I was the second car in the lot this morning at 6:15 or so, but the other car... it was weird. The lot is small but circular around some huge pines, and this guy was driving round and round and round fairly slowly, playing one song on his phone, which he was holding up in his left hand, over and over so loudly I could hear it plainly though the windows were up. The song was folky, voice and guitar, a bit mournful. Even as more cars came and parked he continued to drive round and round playing this song. I have to wonder what emotional crisis he was going through, but what an odd place to do it.

Fog and wind were forecast for the eastern side of the hills so although I went up to Inspiration Point, I planned to go to Loop Road if it was really bad, and it was. It wasn't great on Loop Road, either, but it's sheltered from the wind, so although the trees were dripping with condensed fog, I was quite happy. I walked out Loop Road to the main road and returned past the recently dug ponds, dry until the next rains, and up the service road to the top of the Little Farm. The northeast corner of Loop Road was really fun, with Western Wood-pewees and Olive-sided flycatchers calling and flying around just too high up for good views; two Nuttall's Woodpeckers, quite possibly and adult and juvenile; other woodpeckers and assorted finches and sparrows. ( The list: )

I saw the doe and fawn again. I love watching the fawn bounce about. Gamboling.:)

U was unavailable this morning and I didn't have much energy, so Chris and I walked up to Jewel Lake on the boardwalk and back on the road, an easy morning. Bird activity is decreasing, although I think this morning the heavy overcast, cold, and wind may have been a factor. We didn't heard Warbling Vireos until we were almost to the Lake, and didn't hear a Black-headed Grosbeak until the sun broke through a little, see above. Highlights of the morning were the Brown Creeper at Jewel Lake climbing the snag and slipping under the bark, so amazing to see; and at least two fledgling Wilson's Warblers making their begging call, which I'm not sure I've heard before, and fluttering to be fed. We heard a mysterious call while we were sitting by the lake that Chris traced to a juvenile Spotted Towhee, so another new call. The Anna's Hummingbird nest was well and truly abandoned. I will be interested to see how quickly and to what extent it disintegrates. ( The list: )

We heard White-breasted Nuthatch again. I guess it's dispersal and I don't expect any to stay, it's only marginally appropriate habitat, but it's fun while they are here.