I am very disappointed in JK Rowling.

Today I decided to just skip over Halloween and Thanksgiving and go right for the hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps! I even have leftover candy canes.

This guy has been hanging around our harbor. Hope he stays around long enough to get his adult plumage. Juvenile Night Heron #birds

I am always so impressed with the Gothic Cathedrals. Built about a 1000 years ago without CAD/CAM computers or even a calculator.

These are one of the most challenging photo subjects I take. Sea lions on the move. They are up briefly before diving down again to appear a few yards in front of where they were last. My camera keeps asking, “What the hell are you taking a picture of?”

As a way to honor Robert Redford, I started on a journey to watch as many of his films as possible. I just didn’t realize there were so many — some 48 films. That does not include TV roles and director/producer roles. Awesome body of work. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_...

MarsGate in Reims, France. Beautiful ruins left by the Romans and once a part of the city walls.

Random cat portrait on building in Reims France.

The French still have a lot of work to do restoring Notre Dame, but the interior looks great!

And then there is Paris,as beautiful as ever. It has survived really ugly times to emerge strong and resilient. The Notre Dame Cathedral welcomes visitors inside to see the restoration, but there is still plenty of work on the outside to do. But it will endure!

California Quail are so pretty, but don’t tell him that. He probably thinks he is all manly and everything! #birds

I see these guys all the time, but rarely get close enough to shore for a good photo. Brandt's cormorant #birds

When I go to our little harbor I never quite know what I will find, but the terns are out in droves now. It is not that you won’t see one, it is whether you can get a good picture as they dive and dart around. Elegant Tern #birds

This was an incredibly lucky shot! I was lucky enough to find the kingfisher at all #birds. But the to catch him as he was just taking off.

I never know what I will find when I go to the sea shore. Today it was the Pacific Golden Plover #bird not a usual sighting for me.

I was looking for something entirely different, when I stumbled on this Back Necked Gribe #birds

I have been trying to get a picture of this Belted Kingfisher for weeks! I would see him at the harbor, but too brief a sighting to get a picture. But today when the lightning was poor, he decided to pose.

Happened to get a shot of our local celebrity! Probably came to California for a movie role and just decided to stay. He seems to love the attention from the local paparazzi.

The Right Whale has callus like areas around their chin, mouth and above their eyes. I haven’t found any good explanation as to what they are for.

Just getting everything ready for a day out fishing.

Today was as the Irish say, “a soft day.”

We bought a new bed for our cat!

Wonderful birding opportunity while I was in Argentina. This is a Southern Lapwing at Iguazú Falls.

Seagulls take advantage of the fact that Right Whales spend a lot of time hangin’ at the surface. The gulls literally eat them alive.

Gentle giant Southern Right Whale mother with baby resting on mom’s back in the waters off the Peninsula Valdes in Argentina.

Having just watched the South Park episode, I can see why he might be a tad upset about it.

The beauty of flight. They will tell you about scientific explanations for flight. But, seriously it is just magic!

This young California Quail is bit of a gawky teenager, but give her a couple of weeks and she will be stunning!

I live in a special place to be able to see these magnificent creatures up close.

Awesome day on Monterey Bay to see Humpback Whales.

The curtains were closed and the cat needed to see outside.

We’ve got this whole Mohawk thing going on!

Went out this morning to take pictures of birds and came across this guy instead. What a Yak is doing on the California coast, I don’t know.

Usually, there are long lines of cormorants in perfect formation, but it doesn’t always work that way.

Brown Pelicans are so graceful in flight. Diving for food, not so much.

Juvenile White Crowned Sparrow

I like that seals come in all kinds of colors and markings and nobody seems to care!

Just because everybody is going in one direction does not mean it is the right way to go.

I just love the music suggestions on Bluesky. Sometimes, it is for songs I haven’t heard for a long time, other times it is a new song for me. And then thanks to Alexa and Siri, I can hear that song right now!

So, when do the ICE raids come for MLB players?

Happy Declaration of Independence Day! www.archives.gov/founding-doc...

They asked me for a headshot at work. I thought about going to a photographer, but then I thought why not let AI generate an image of me. And damn don’t I look good!

I am about to retire. I mentioned to my husband that maybe I could get a part time job as a dog walker. My husband thought about for a minute and then said “Absolutely not!” He was afraid I would bring all the dogs home. He might be right!

Just remember, some people’s weeds are someone else’s wildflowers.

Early morning drive netted this fine fellow.

Seeing bottle nosed dolphins was a real treat! On yesterday’s drive along the California coast these guys were also cruisin’ the coast.

Sadden to hear of the passing of my childhood idol.

I still think harbor seals have the right idea. There is a whole lot of bad in the world—sharks, boat propellers, fellow seals— but then they find a quiet place and just sleep their worries away!

Well, the good was is that the occupation of LA is likely to end soon. The troops are going to be needed for all of the anti-war protests that will be starting very soon.