"Both photography and art open my eyes to the infinite beauty of nature in her every detail."
~ Kim Moore
Sights September 2018
October 01, 2018
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September was a great month. It started with a Bordered Mantis that was lurking in the bush outside my front window. It was rather shy and backed away from me when I tried to take its picture. It was there for quite a few days. At one point I saw that it caught a Gulf Fritillary. By the time I got my camera, it had already made quite a meal of it....
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Sights August 2018
September 01, 2018
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August always starts out slow birding until the end of the month when the shorebirds come in. At the end of August I visited the LA river several times. Not only did I see birds, but a pair of Coyotes cruised close by. It is a fun time of year to see the birds in mixed plumage; some are still in summer and some are getting ready for fall and winter...
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Sights July 2018
August 01, 2018
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A major restoration was completed at DeForest Park, the area they now call Deforest Wetlands runs along the river from Deforest Park to Del Amo, connecting with the Dominguez Gap. I can't wait to explore more. While many non-native/invasive species live here (Scaly-breasted Munia, Pin-tailed Whydah, African Clawed Frog), there were also many native...
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Birding (and Observing Nature) in Long Beach
July 07, 2018
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Starting January 1st 2018, I coordinated what is now an annual event. Nine friends joined me early in the morning for what is now called the LB100. We visited 11 parks looking for 100 species of birds within the City of Long Beach. Starting at 8am and finishing at 5pm. I have always thought that Long Beach is under birded and under appreciated for...
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Sights June 2018
July 01, 2018
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All my trips this month were local. Some of the places I went were my usual El Dorado Nature Center (where I unexpectedly led the monthly bird walk), Colorado Lagoon, Madrona Marsh, Ken Malloy Park (why did it take me a year to go back?), Cabrillo Beach, Golden Shore, DeForest Park, and, of course, my own yard. Migration is past until later in the...
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Sights May 2018
May 31, 2018
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For me, the skunk stole the show. Maybe it's because I have my own black and white fur baby. I went with friends early to Huntington Beach Central Park. A jogger passed it without looking. I chased, but from a careful distance so as not to disturb it. It seemed unconcerned by humans. My local trips included El Dorado Park (Duck Pond, Nature Center,...
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Sights April 2018
May 01, 2018
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Spring has sprung and birds are migrating through. It has been a very colorful month with butterflies and birds. Lazuli Bunting is definitely a highlight, but Western tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, and Hermit Warbler are pretty good too. I watched a House Wren trying to maneuver a large twig through a hole to build a nest. The twig...
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Sights of March 2018
March 29, 2018
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I stayed close to home for some local birding, checking out the insects in my own yard, and playing with different media and techniques in art. I did get out further afield with a trip to the desert for birds and up to Tejon Ranch for insects. The Tejon Ranch trip spans into April, and will report on that next month.
I joined Pasadena Audubon to w...
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Sights of February 2018
February 28, 2018
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Art: I worked on a botanical style colored pencil painting of a blood orange. It was hard not to eat the subject matter before I completed the picture.
Insects and Spiders: It was cold this month, and I did not shoot many insects and spiders. I found a Red Admiral Butterfly ovipositing on the new leaves of stinging nettle (its host plant).
Birds:...
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Sights of January 2018
January 31, 2018
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Art: I tried a little printmaking this month. I like the process and you may see more to come. I find it more 'artistic' than my colored pencil drawings and nature journals. It will be interesting to see where it goes.
Insects and Spiders: I went to the nature center to help identify insects found under a a large piece of black plastic that was us...
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Sights of December 2017
December 30, 2017
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I love the light in winter. It makes for beautiful sunsets and golden colors. Our December was quite mild and I got out often. This is how I avoid some of the chaos and stress of too many ads, over consumption, and major commercialization of Christmas, not to mention political polarization of the season. I was successful. I enjoyed the company of n...
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Farewell 2017, you will not be forgotten. Hello 2018, what now?
December 29, 2017
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I just re-read my 2017 post and this could say almost the same thing. The big changes this year were the addition of a granddaughter, my husband retired, and we lost a couple of good friends. These life changes will be felt for many years to come.
This year I really upped my game at birding. I added to my life list and can id many more birds by si...
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Sights of November 2017
December 01, 2017
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Holidays, household maintenance, and a broken lens have slowed down my naturalist activities. However, there are still many lovely things to share. I started the month with an East Coast bird that showed up a little lost in migration. The Black-throated Blue Warbler posed for me! I found a couple of other 'rarities' in my local park and enjoyed oth...
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Sights of October 2017
October 31, 2017
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Locally, I did only a little birding. I gave a talk to a local gardening club on how to turn a garden into a habitat for birds. It seemed to be well received. I also showed some spider photos at the entomological society in honor of Halloween, although I didn't photograph them this month.
My monthly butterfly count had lots of Woodland Skippers an...
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Sights of September 2017
October 02, 2017
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At the start of the month it was so hot (and humid). How hot was it? It was so hot that I passed on my monthly butterfly count. That is something I truly hate to miss. I did make it to the monthly blacklighting survey in the same area. It is much cooler at night and at the end of the month. Some nice moths, a couple of California Mantises, and a Wa...
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All images © Kim Moore (contact for use)