Gray Whales at the Klamath River

On our way to Klamath, California we stopped at a visitor center.  Along with brochures we received the news that a Gray Whale and her calf had been feeding in the Klamath for two or three weeks near one of the campgrounds.  Was it the one where we had reservations?

You're looking the wrong way!

 Yes!  The whales were swimming up and down in a circuit of about a tenth of a mile, ending in front of the campground.

It is hard to get good photos of whales.  They tend to look like an amorphous blob and are about the same color as the water on a gray day.  As with all animal photography, it is good if you can get the eye and here I did.

At times they were on the surface to breath.

Then they would submerge and be invisible for several minutes.

Gray whales are bottom feeders.  They feed in shallow water, rolling on their side to scoop mud off the bottom and then forcing the mud through their baleen with their long, strong tongue.  Then they lick the small tube worms and crustaceans off the baleen and scoop up some more.

The calf came up and briefly rested its head on the mother's back.  It gave a good view of the mouth, the eye at the corner of the mouth and the blowholes.

Find more watery views at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

If you are nearby and the whales are still there, here is a link to a map of the viewing area.  Only registered campers are allowed in the campground but there was good viewing from the road.

More information about gray whales.

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe bend, out side of Page Arizona is my watery shot this week.  I suppose that I could have gotten a better shot had I crawled on my belly out to the edge.  It was undercut, though, and the sign said to beware.

It is a great view, even for a coward like me.

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting Watery Wednesday.  Check it out for more water views.

Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Day nine was cold and cloudy but this was the day we were scheduled to take a tour boat over 40 miles up what had once been Glen Canyon to view Rainbow Bridge, the largest known natural bridge.

 I can still remember the controversy in the 60's over the flooding of the canyon to form Lake Powell.  Proponents of the project said it would make it easier for people to see Rainbow Bridge.  David Brower of the Sierra Club responded, “Should we also flood the Sistine Chapel so tourists can get nearer the ceiling?”

 Since it follows the line of the canyon, the lake is relatively narrow with many arms.  It is down one of these arms that the boat took us to access the bridge.

 A short hike from the dock took us to the bridge

 There it was!  Enlarge this shot and you can see not only the ranger in the foreground but some tourists at the base of the left leg of the bridge.  It is huge.  I can't describe the feeling of being in the presence of such an example of nature's grandeur.  I didn't want to leave.  But it was a long hike or swim if the boat left without me so I hiked back to the dock with the others.

On the ride back the skies started to clear and the wind came up.  As we had on the way out, Hubby and I braved the cold and stayed on the upper deck to better see the scenery.

You can find more watery sites at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

On to Zion

The day after our orientation We headed our for a week on the road; first stop, Zion National Park.

Zion may be in the desert but when we were there we saw plenty of water.  Here it was sheeting over Weeping Rock.

At the end of the park road, a place called Temple of Sinawava, another waterfall leaps over the cliff and cascades down the rocks

 A closer look at the cascades.

The Virgin River at the end of the River Trail, sometimes people can wade into the water and walk up the narrows.  Followers of Geogypsy may remember that she posted about this hike in 2009.  I don't think she would want to make that hike now.  The river is high, swift and loaded with sediment.

More watery scenes can be found at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by too sweetnsaxy.

Eagles on the Ice

I promised to tell  of the eagles we saw at Klamath NWR.  I'm sorry that I my lens couldn't bring them closer but then I wouldn't have been able to get both in one frame.

 We stopped to watch the tundra swans and didn't notice the eagles at first.  The one on the left looks like he is ice fishing.

 Then he looks over his shoulder at the other bird.

 He turns to face the second bird.

 He moves closer.

Then stops to observe the swans flying over head.  We didn't stay to see what further interaction there might be.  We had been there quite a while just to get this much.  As we continued on I was able to get a much better shot of an eagle and you can see that at Around California.

If you are thinking that this was a quiet, peaceful spot, think again.  It is amazing how much noise a bunch of swans, geese and ducks can make.

More watery sights can be found at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Two's Company for Wood Ducks

I love the wood ducks, they are so colorful but they are hard to photograph because I can't get close.  I snapped these shots without really knowing what I was getting until I downloaded them.

 I could see that there were wood ducks in the pond but that was about all I could see.

 I didn't notice the third one swimming towards the pair.

Or the reaction of the female to the intruder.  I would have thought it would be the male that would act with hostility but no, he seems total oblivious.  I guess she thinks "Three's a crowd".  Enlarge to better appreciate these beautiful ducks.
More duck than water but it is my post for Watery Wednesday,  hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Aquarium of the Pacific

What better spot of a watery meme than an aquarium?

 The day after Christmas we all went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

 There were fish, of course.

 Many varieties of beautiful anemones

 Jelly fish

 I love watching them float through the water

 They had touching pools to feel the fish

Grandson Michael seemed to enjoy the aquarium and so did the rest of us.  We found the exhibits to be both attractive and informative.  

A perfect end to a wonderful Christmas weekend and the only rain was

Christmas night!  

Find more watery sites at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy

Heron at the Hunt

Low light at the end of the day required a slow shutter, this gave the cascading water a smooth blur while the heron's still, patient stance meant there was virtually no blur of the bird.  The late afternoon shadows give the shot a blue cast which could have been corrected but I rather like it as it is.
More watery scenes can be found at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy

Well at Mission San Francisco Solano

My Watery Wednesday offering this week is the well in the courtyard at

Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma, California.

Watery Wednesday is hosted for us each week by 2Sweetnsaxy.  Click the link to find more watery sights.

Gulls in Conversation and a Surprise

We enjoyed a meal on a deck overlooking Avalon Harbor.

 This pair of gulls seems deep in conversation.  I'm not sure what variety of gull they are but I thought them exceptionally handsome.

 Then I saw another bird in the water, one I was totally unfamiliar with.

With its legs far back on its body I thought at first it was a new species of grebe.  After checking out my guides I realized that there is another bird with its legs in that position, a loon.  I had gone all the way to Alaska hoping to see a loon with no luck.  I found one at Catalina.  In its winter plumage it is not as striking but it's still a loon.

More watery sights are to be found at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Watching the Surfers

I thought that surfing required concentration, paying attention to what you are doing.  This surfer is paying attention to something else.

 Is it the string bikini?

Or is it a matter of self preservation that makes him want to keep his eye on the girl.

Another question, why is she in the string bikini while all of the other surfers are wearing wetsuits? 

Find more watery sights at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Watery American Dipper

I saw this little guy feeding in the Stanislaus River.

 

 Never still, he dives and swims in the water and bobs up and down while on land.  It makes it challanging for the photograper.

 Also known as a water ouzel he is fun to watch.

Find more watery sites at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Signs of Autumn

For more watery sights head on over to Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Wet Dog

Jingles enjoyed a romp in Skelton Lake

Find more watery sites at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Evening at the Lake

I've not gone fishing but I'm off looking for more photos in an internet free zone.

You can find more watery views of our world at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Shining Water

A breezey day and the ripples formed on the lake catch the early morning sun.  I stand, watching the ever changing surface of the water.

Find more sights of our wet world at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Dog Lake

A couple of weeks ago I erroneously identified this lovely lake as Blue Lake.  It is Dog Lake, the trail to this beauty starts at the Lembert Dome trail head in Tuolomne Meadows.

It was a warm day so I wasn't too surprised to see people floating in the lake.  I wouldn't have minded jumping in myself!

More watery sights are to be found at Watery Wednesday, hosted for us by 2sweetnsaxy.

Dog Lake, Tuolumne Meadows

It was a surprisingly warm day in Tuolumne Meadows but this lovely spot was worth the warm hike.
My error, I had called this Blue Lake (another lake I had recently visited)  now corrected in the title.

You can find more watery scenes at Watery Wednesday, hosted by 2sweetnsaxy.