Haven’t been able to get out much this week, so here’s a recycled, re-edited shot of the USAF Thunderbirds at the Pacific Air Show. The marine layer ruined most of the show but added some drama to the Thunderbirds morning practice run.

Her aura: Frizzy Golden

Cistanthe grandiflora, commonly called Rock Purslane, fools you into thinking it’s a purple-pink poppy, but it’s actually a drought-tolerant evergreen succulent that’s native to Chile. It’s also very photogenic. #flower #photography #nature

A swell day at Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu. #photo #photography #surfing #photographersofbluesky

Happy Birthday, Brandi. Seven years of joy, love, adventure and ball. A lot of ball. #photo #photography #dog #goldenretriever

A honey bee doing nature’s work at Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria. So much pollen on that bee I’m surprised he can fly. #photo #photography #bee #nature

One more from California’s most famous ghost town, Bodie. #photo #photography #bw #bwphotography

Spent the past glorious three days in the Eastern Sierra, capping it off with my first visit to the gold mine ghost town, Bodie. It’s a photographer’s dream. #photo #photography #california

A Gulf fritillary butterfly lands on a vervain plant at Conejo Valley Botanic Garden. #photo #photography #butterfly #nature

My favorite flower, the Matilija poppy, at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden. #photo #photography #flower #photographersofbluesky

The eyes of a red-tailed hawk are estimated to be 8 times more acute than humans. So close I could see the brown flecks in the right one. #photo #photography #birdphotography #birding

Was hoping to get a shot of this mockingbird perched on the bear statue. And then he flew away. I like this shot better. #photo #photography #bird #birdphotography #photographersofbluesky #shotoncanon

White-breasted nuthatch, with dinner. Lake Casitas, CA. #photo #photography #bird #birding #birdphotography #shotoncanon

Yes, bees are low-hanging fruit for photographers but throw in a beautiful poppy and you have proof of nature’s glorious work. And wow, those pollen saddlebags. Ventura Botanical Gardens. #photo #photography #bees #nature

A steady stream of these backyard visitors lately. The only monarchs we need right now. #photo #photography #butterfly #monarch

Easter sunset, San Buenaventura State Beach #photo #photography #sunset #photographersofbluesky

I learned yesterday that a swarm of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope, which is just perfect. Dozens of Painted Ladies spotted in the neighborhood yesterday. #photo #photography #butterflies #paintedladies #butterfly

It’s spring. The calla lilies are blooming, the wild irises are popping. Ingrid Bergman is working OT — five roses this morning. The foothills are bright yellow with mustard grass. But the Japanese maple? She moves at her own pace, one maroon leaf at a time. Nature doesn’t hurry the Japanese maple.

A sure sign that spring is here: The song sparrows are back at Ventura’s Settling Ponds. #photo #photography #bird #birdphotography

3/12/26, 5:49 a.m., somewhere in the Pacific Ocean #photo #photography #landscape #dawn #sunrise

Vincent Thomas Bridge, Los Angeles Harbor, 7:30 a.m. #photo #photography #laharbor #losangeles

In case you were wondering what sunrise looks like from the back of a cruise ship in the fog. Aboard Norwegian Bliss, headed back to LA. #photo #photography

Somewhere in the Pacific off the coast of Mexico. #photo #photography #seascape

One year ago, we gathered in Ventura to protest DOGE cuts to our national parks — the first of many disasters created by this administration. #resist #photo #photography

A lot happening in this sunset photo from Channel Islands Harbor last night. A boat, wave runners and a pelican diving for dinner. Oh, and a spectacular sunset. #photo #photography #sunset

We’ve had record winter high temperatures lately, felt like a Hawaii sunset in Ventura last night. #photo #photography #sunset

One more from Tuesday night’s beautiful sunset on the Gaviota Coast. #photo #photography #sunset

Took a day trip to Pismo Beach. Could’ve rushed home to watch the State of the Union, but nah. Pulled off the 101 for a magnificent sunset instead. I chose joy. #photo #photography #sunset

Great egret looking a bit like Pegasus as it lands at Ventura’s Settling Ponds. #photo #photography #bird #greategret

For years I’ve been trying to get a decent shot of a belted kingfisher. He found me yesterday at Ventura Harbor. What a beautiful bird. #photo #photography #bird #beltedkingfisher

Wild winter storm in Oxnard, CA, today but it ended beautifully. #photo #photography #rainbow

White-crowned sparrow, one of the few birds I spotted at Harmon Canyon as a storm moved into Ventura County yesterday. #photo #photography #birding #birdphotogtaphy

One more from yesterday’s Big Wave Saturday, looking south toward Ventura Harbor. #photo #photography #ocean

If this had been an event in the Winter Olympics, Mother Nature would have won gold. From Ventura Harbor to Surfers Point, it was Big Wave Saturday out there this morning. #photo #photography #surfing

Greater yellowlegs, the perfect name for this slender shorebird that bobs its head up and down while foraging and screeches three times when it flies. Captured this one at Ormond Beach yesterday. #photo #bird #photography

The urban dictionary defines “glow (or glo) up” as an incredible transformation, to become more attractive. Mother Nature may not be Gen Z but she took a mostly overcast sky and turned it into a magnificent glow last night. #sunset #photography

I’ve taken thousands of surfer photos, but this one might be my fave. Golden hour wave at the Santa Clara River Estuary break. #photo #photography #surfing #surf #surfers

Another banger sunset last night, from Grant Park in Ventura. #photo #photography #sunset

Sunset at the Santa Clara River Estuary. #photo #photography #sunset

Golden hour portrait of snowy egret at Ventura’s Settling Ponds. #photo #photography #bird #birding #birdphotography

Winter California sunsets are the best. I will never take this for granted. Ventura Pier. #photography #sunset

Usually, I go to the birds. This time, one came to me. Was playing ball with our dog in the backyard when this red-shouldered hawk swooped in and landed on a neighbor’s palm tree. What a beautiful raptor. #photo #bird #birdphotography #photographersofbluesky

Saying farewell to a record amount of rain here in Ventura County. Surfers Knoll last night, where beach cleanup will take months or years. #photo #photography #landscape

My first bird of 2026 is this gorgeous great blue heron, spotted with the rest of the beachcombers on the rocks at last night’s low tide in Ventura during a pause between storms. #photo #photography #bird #greatblueheron #lowtide

Calla lily is confused, thinks it’s spring on a rainy New Year’s Day. #photo #photography #flower

Hot tea, winter morning, wishing I was there right now. #photo #photography #photographersofbluesky

After three days of record rainfall, the clouds cleared just enough for a dramatic sunset at Ventura’s Surfers Knoll Beach. #photo #photography #sunset

The radiant black oystercatcher at Silver Strand Beach, Oxnard, California, Christmas Eve. #photo #photography #bird #birdphotography

The Santa Clara River Estuary, giving us a preview of what’s to come. Stay safe, everybody. It’s going to be a wet and dangerous Christmas week. #photo #photography

American white pelican at Ventura’s Settling Ponds. #photo #photography #bird #birdphotography