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Sights of November 2024 - Patience, Young Grasshopper
December 01, 2024 - Patience is a virtue, and I may not always be virtuous. Probably like many, I have great patience with some things and a...
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Sights of September 2024 - Fall
October 01, 2024 - The return of fall can be a great time for nature watching, particularly as political discourse is heating up, hurricane...
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Sights of August 2024 - Michael Bublé, a Bordered Mantis, and a Little Blue Heron
September 01, 2024 - What do Michael Bublé, a Bordered Mantis, and a Little Blue Heron have in common? Sway. I love that song.
This month I...
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Sights of July 2024 - COVID round 2 (a forced staycation)
July 31, 2024 - Well here we go again. At the beginning of the month, I caught COVID for the second time, followed by a bout of vertigo.
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Sights of June 2024 - Backyarding
June 30, 2024 - To quote biologist /geologist Louis Agassiz: "I spent the summer traveling; I got halfway across my back yard."
June...
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Sights of May 2024 - The Merry Month of May
June 01, 2024 - The start of May is marked by the late migrant birds. I saw Western Tanagers, Swainson's Thrushes, and a few Flycatchers...
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Sights of November 2023 - Near and Far
December 01, 2023 - I spent most of the month of November making arrangements to move my mother from New York to live with us in California.
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Sights of October 2023 - Always Something New
October 31, 2023 - There is always something new to find or learn. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the number of videos about nature that I...
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Camp de Benneville - Art Camp 4 Grown Ups
September 14, 2023 - This month I attended an art camp held in the San Gabriel Mountains. I never went to sleep-away camp as a child, but now...
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Sights of August 2023 - Moments
August 31, 2023 - They say, "Live in the moment". I live for the moments. It is the special moments I have with my camera and nature that...
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Sights of July 2023 - Hot Under the Collar
July 31, 2023 - July 2023 was the hottest month recorded on the planet, and that's not just hyperbole. Locally it was hotter than usual,...
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Sights of June 2023 - Fast and Slow
June 30, 2023 - June gloom continued for much of the month. It was gray and overcast. It kept temperatures down which made it pleasant t...
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Sights of May 2023 - Welcome Visitors
June 01, 2023 - One of the great things about visitors is taking them to see our local nature. At the beginning and the end of the month...
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Sights of March 2023 - Staying in
March 31, 2023 - In my blog last month, I said I might take a break in March. I did, at least from birding and photography. Between the r...
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Sights of November 2022 - Novembrrrrr
November 30, 2022 - The month sure started off and ended cold. Although we did have some warm, bordering on hot, days in between, the heater...
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Sights of October 2022 - Birdtober
October 31, 2022 - Last month I set a goal for October to do less, be mediocre, and be ok with that. I wound up doing more, successfully be...
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Sights of September 2022 - Keeping a list
September 30, 2022 - Between heat canceling and changing schedules and an out of town trip, I missed a peak time for migrant birds, my butter...
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Sights of August 2022 - This and That
August 31, 2022 - I usually write my blog in little pieces throughout the month, and then at the end of the month I wrap it all up with a...
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Sights of July 2022 - So What's New with You
July 31, 2022 - People ask me, "What's new?" and I find it hard to answer. Lately I find myself just answering, "Nothing". This is not v...
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Sights of June 2022 - back to the mountains
June 30, 2022 - Last month I wrote about migration and said that, if you missed birds during migration, you had to wait until they retur...
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Sights of May 2022 - Understanding Migration
May 31, 2022 - My husband has a t-shirt that he likes to wear that says, "I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you"....
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Sights of April 2022 - My Own Private Lockdown
May 01, 2022 - At the end of last month my husband caught COVID. I got tested about four days later, and on April 1, I got back a resul...
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Sights of November 2021 - Just Chill
November 30, 2021 - November in Southern California always starts to have a chill in the air, and it feels like fall and the start of the ho...
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Sights of October 2021 - Welcome Back
November 01, 2021 - I started the month with a theme of welcome back. Welcome back Fall. Welcome back migrating birds. Welcome back good wea...
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Sights of September 2021 - New York, New York
September 30, 2021 - This was a busy month. Not only was it full-on migration season, but I went to New York, and I created some short video...
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Sights of August 2021 - Is it hot out there or is it just me?
August 31, 2021 - Sometimes I read my past blogposts for the same month from prior years to see where I went and what I was seeing. I noti...
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California Wild Women - 2021 Sequel
August 06, 2021 - I once again started the month with The 2021 International Biodiversity Champions hip, August 2nd-5th, under the auspice...
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Sights of July 2021 - Seasonal Migrations
July 31, 2021 - Every day is getting hotter, and our hottest months are ahead of us. For many humans, we are still thinking of summer va...
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Sights of June 2021
June 30, 2021 - Finally June is in full swing with post-pandemic life (if you haven't gotten your vaccine yet, what are you waiting for?...
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Sights of May 2021 - Sprung-time
May 31, 2021 - Spring has sprung. We started with spring but inched into summer. Migration action comes to a close. By now, there are f...
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Sights of April 2021 - Go home and go small
May 01, 2021 - Spring bird action includes courtship, nest building, migrating birds, and hummingbirds! It has been very dry yielding n...
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Sights of November 2020 - Election Week
December 02, 2020 - We had an election. Election day turned into election weeks, but now I hope civility is back in style. Meanwhile, Covid-...
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Sights of October 2020 - Can it get any crazier?
November 01, 2020 - October started with Trump and many in Washington sick with the Corona Virus. There was a highly contentious installatio...
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Sights of September 2020 - Pandemic, Politics, Unrest, Fires, Earthquake, and an Epic Bird Migration
October 01, 2020 - Outrageous politics, civil unrest, and pandemic are the norm. I have nothing more to say on that front this month. Howev...
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Sights of August 2020 - The new normal?
August 31, 2020 - We have had a severe heatwave. COVID19 continues. The world is thrown into chaos, and everyone's personal life has been...
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California Wild Women
August 02, 2020 - What a wonderful way to start the month! The 2020 International Biodiversity Champions hip is Monday, 3 August 2020 - 6...
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Sights of July 2020 - Five Months In
August 01, 2020 - COVID19 flourishes, politics rages, tempers and patience flare. Two lovely people passed away within four days of each o...
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Sights of June 2020 - Nature during crazy times
July 02, 2020 - A month of babies. Another month has gone by with incredible speed. My family got a little larger with the addition of m...
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Sights of May 2020 - Nature during a pandemic and civil unrest
June 01, 2020 - I start writing my blog at the beginning of each month and make some additional edits and updates as the month progresse...
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Sights of April 2020 - Covid19 continues
April 30, 2020 - April's sunshine did not alleviate all my stress as much as I hoped it would. With concern for my family, my friends, my...
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Sights of October 2019
October 31, 2019 - October has been quite hot, and I missed my butterfly survey for a third month in a row. However, I did see some butterf...
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Sights of September 2019
September 30, 2019 - I'm a rover
I'm a mover
I'm a midnight lover
You're the cutest thing, That I ever did see: Plover (My apologies to th...
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Sights of August 2019
September 01, 2019 - To avoid the summer heat, I stayed home a few more days than usual. I experimented with various art media and styles, fr...
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Sights of July 2019
August 01, 2019 - I spent some time on artwork making monoprints. I'm still experimenting with various techniques and am pleased with some...
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Sights of June 2019
July 01, 2019 - Yay! I got my Tamron 150-600mm lens back from repair (fourth time, but who's counting). It makes all the difference. I a...
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Sights of May 2019
May 31, 2019 - By going out more frequently during spring migration, I have observed some interesting things about birds. One day I wou...
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Sights April 2019
May 02, 2019 - "Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo. I do believe it. I do believe it's true." I went birding with a group at...
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Sights March 2019
April 01, 2019 - Did anyone notice Painted lady Butterflies? I don't think anyone locally could have missed them, even if only on the win...
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Sights December 2018
December 31, 2018 - December means Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) with Audubon. Each year, across the country, people are counting birds on a d...
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Sights November 2018
December 01, 2018 - My best bird lens (Tamron 150-600) has been out for repair ALL month. It came back once, but promptly failed, and had to...
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Sights October 2018
November 01, 2018 - October is a wonderful month. There are insects flying, birds migrating, warm days and cool nights great for being outdo...
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Sights September 2018
October 01, 2018 - September was a great month. It started with a Bordered Mantis that was lurking in the bush outside my front window. It...
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Sights August 2018
September 01, 2018 - August always starts out slow birding until the end of the month when the shorebirds come in. At the end of August I vis...
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Sights July 2018
August 01, 2018 - A major restoration was completed at DeForest Park, the area they now call Deforest Wetlands runs along the river from D...
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Sights June 2018
July 01, 2018 - All my trips this month were local. Some of the places I went were my usual El Dorado Nature Center (where I unexpectedl...
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Sights May 2018
May 31, 2018 - 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 t...
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Sights April 2018
May 01, 2018 - Spring has sprung and birds are migrating through. It has been a very colorful month with butterflies and birds. Lazuli...
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Sights of March 2018
March 29, 2018 - I stayed close to home for some local birding, checking out the insects in my own yard, and playing with different media...
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Sights of February 2018
February 28, 2018 - Art: I worked on a botanical style colored pencil painting of a blood orange. It was hard not to eat the subject matter...
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Sights of January 2018
January 31, 2018 - Art: I tried a little printmaking this month. I like the process and you may see more to come. I find it more 'artistic'...
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Sights of October 2017
October 31, 2017 - 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...
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Sights of September 2017
October 02, 2017 - 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...
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Sights of August 2017
August 31, 2017 - Summer is slow for some birds, but towards the end of the month, the shorebirds and few warblers are showing up as they...
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Sights of July 2017
August 01, 2017 - Wow! What a great month for observing nature. I didn't expect much and went to a few local places, but there were bobcat...
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"You look like sh*t"
July 21, 2017 - When someone says "You look like sh*t", maybe it's a complement. At least that's what some critters think.
What better...
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Sights of June 2017
June 30, 2017 - June Gloom and Record Breaking Heat
Cloudy gray mornings in the beginning of the month gave way to a heat wave. I was o...
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Sights of May 2017
June 01, 2017 - Birds, Bugs, Travel, Computer Crashes.
I saw some of the May migrating birds, but missed quite a few. Between my travel...
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Sights of April 2017
May 01, 2017 - So many birds, so many insects, so little time. I get distracted by everything all at once, so I had to visit some place...
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Sights of March 2017
March 31, 2017 - Crazy weather in March; one day it is 80F and the next it is 50F. It has been wet enough and warm enough to bring out so...
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Sights of October 2016
October 31, 2016 - My photo activities were cut short this month by dropping my camera to the ground. This was not the first time! As a res...
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Sights of September 2016
October 01, 2016 - I turned off the ugly noise of the presidential campaigns and made my way out to the inspirational joy of nature. I enjo...
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Tejon Ranch Invertebrate Bio"Bliss"
September 19, 2016 - A BioBlitz is when a group of people, including experts, get together to identify as many different biological organisms...
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Sights of August 2016
August 31, 2016 - Local stuff: This month kept me closer to home, so I took my macro lens to the backyard. It is always a rewarding ventur...
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Sights of July 2016
July 31, 2016 - Highlights captured in pictures:
Local stuff: I visited the LA River a couple of times and found the Black-necked stilt...
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Sights of June 2016
June 30, 2016 - I must say that this was a month of habitat diversity with Tide pools, Oak woodlands, Chapparal, Desert, Riparian Corrid...
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Sights of May 2016
June 01, 2016 - Highlights captured in pictures:
Local stuff: Playing with Macro again I found lady beetles and some interesting insect...
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Sights of April 2016
April 30, 2016 - Ah Spring! A joy to behold. I want to be outside every day and all day. I participated in a biodiversity city challenge...
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Sights of November 2015
November 30, 2015 - We've been having weird weather. Over 90 degrees on November 1 and spring and summer wildflowers blooming. Then back to...
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Sights of October 2015
October 31, 2015 - So when will the heat subside. For gosh sake we are well into October and I had to postpone a camping trip to the desert...
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Sights of September 2015
September 29, 2015 - For those that are on Facebook, I have set up a public page where I post updates during the month. You can LIKE it here:...
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Sights of August 2015
September 01, 2015 - I have an exhibit at the El Dorado Nature Center featuring California Landscapes/Habitats, which will be going for the e...
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Sights of July 2015
July 31, 2015 - Lesson 1: Always carry a camera! I attended an event and almost didn't bring my camera. On my way out I saw black oyster...
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Sights of June 2015
July 01, 2015 - June was a very busy month for me. I finished my insect study at the nature center, finished my classes, finished my pre...
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Sights of May 2015
May 31, 2015 - I started the month with adorable red foxes seen in San Pedro. Unfortunately, some scary people in the park cut short my...
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Sights of April 2015
April 30, 2015 - Birds Nesting, Insects of all sorts, Oxnard, Catalina, and Joshua Tree! I love Southern California. I can't say that eno...
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Sights of March 2015
April 03, 2015 - Counting Bighorn Sheep, Butterflies, and Birds While much of the country suffered from major cold and snow, here in Sout...
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Sights of February 2015
March 04, 2015 - The Bugs are Back in Town! While much of the country suffered from major cold and snow, here in Southern California we s...
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Sights of October 2014
October 31, 2014 - Happy Halloween! Autumn is well upon us which means fall colors, spiders, and migrating birds. This month, and for the n...
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Sights of September 2014
October 02, 2014 - I spent my September with lots of family gatherings, most notably my mother's 80th birthday celebration and a truly fabu...
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Sights of August 2014
September 01, 2014 - I spent August very local, but here in Southern California there is always so much to do within just a few miles. I am a...
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Sights of July 2014
July 31, 2014 - I have been enjoying the heart (and heat) of summer. I went on my regular butterfly count with Irvine Ranch Conservancy...
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Sights of June 2014
July 01, 2014 - In May I was very busy, I finished up my entomology class, was heavily involved in an insect study for the nature center...
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Sights of May 2014
June 01, 2014 - I think I am becoming the bionic woman. I have a camera attached to me almost all the time. I don't mind if a miss a sho...
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Sights of March 2014
April 01, 2014 - Spring has sprung. Flowers, birds, insects, and spiders are all around. For the full series of photos check out this pag...
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Sights of February 2014
February 28, 2014 - There is always something new to learn and that is what makes life endlessly enjoyable. In addition to the wonderful thi...
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Sights of January 2014
February 01, 2014 - This month I spent birding and looking for insects in local parks, on local walks, in my yard, and a trip up to San Sime...
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