Prolonged seal sighting during SRC whaleboat rowing FINALLY captured on video this morning! Every other time I’ve seen these seals, we were actively rowing, or I couldn’t get my phone camera ready in time. The only previous sighting which was close-up that I had was when I got near one in my kayak in this same area (the Carquinez Strait). It took YEARS to get this footage, but it’s always a great joy to be able to see nature like this, especially since they know they have nothing to fear from us.
We’re not exactly a rural community, but we saw chickens among the squirrels on the main thoroughfare through Vallejo today. Who knew? Chickens at one of the busiest intersections of Georgia Street were just minding their own business. This is something I’m used to seeing in Hawaii.
Even though we row all year round, sometimes the conditions are too dangerous due to high winds or dense fog. That’s the marina down the hill, so you can see the visibility was nil this morning, but as usual it eventually burns off by late morning.
I’ve always admired Jane Goodall. Like her, I have always thought that primates are beautiful and so worthy of learning more about. We should be honored to have common ancestry with them, as we do with ALL mammals, by the way. When I was in Chicago several weeks ago, I walked my butt off in the museum campus along the shore and came upon this nondescript statue outside of one of the many grand buildings. I recognized the subject matter instantly. I didn’t know that she would be gone just a few weeks later, but I’m glad I decided to take pictures of it.
Since the dove couple nested in the plastic wreath on my front porch a few years ago (before the fire) I have seen them in the backyard when I’ve visited and wondered where they would nest while the house was under renovation. Well…..mystery solved!
May 7 Update: Caught the squirrel trying to steal my Spanish Moss again today, so I decided to “go in another direction” with it and put it in a less accessible place. This globe was very close to ground zero in my house fire. I repainted it red, and now it is a sanctuary for the remaining Spanish Moss I have staged to return to my garden when I move back home. It’s hanging from a solar spinner, so much of the day it will rotate. I can hardly believe the boldness of the squirrel (there is video footage of the thief in the act below). I also have footage of my hand-feeding this squirrel old bread at this rental house, but give a crumb and he’ll take a mile of bedding, I suppose.
Shea took this footage of a squirrel stealing the Spanish Moss I put on old CD racks outside. I staged the moss in this mostly shaded part of the backyard here so I could take it back to my garden in the house under renovation. This moss was gifted by Wendell and Manny on Mare Island, but this SELFISH squirrel wants it for his nest! What is this neighborhood coming to?!?!?
I just don’t have the taste for white bread or even raisin bread anymore, so up on the fence it goes for the squirrels and birds, who were already swarming the backyard for the bug bonanza this Spring.
