Kern River 2005

We're just back from an outstanding four day trip to the Kern River valley. Our fearless leader, Bob Power, showed us a lot of beautiful mountain birds, including some Mary and I hadn't seen in a long time. One of them, the Green-tailed towhee, has been my nemesis for eight long years, ever since Mary saw it on one side of an interstate rest stop while I was on the other side.

This trip was also notable because I rented a Canon 500mm f/4L from Keeble and Shuchat and dragged it with me everywhere. Although it got heavy from time to time, I really enjoyed using it, and got some decent results, most of which are posted at birdWalker.

You can look at the thumbnails for all the pictures organized in by date, the Kern ones are at the top:

You can look at the reports for days one, two, three, four of the trip, click on the little Cameras to see the photos.

The Tubes, San Jose

Roger Steen in action
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

Last night I went to see The Tubes playing at a park in downtown San Jose. They played a great show! I was particularly impressed with the guitar playing of Roger Steen. His soloing can be virtuostic, but more often has instead that thoughtful, melodic quality that I so admire about Eric Clapton.

Quick trip to Cape May

Grey Catbird
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

We just had a quick trip to Cape May (see details for day one and day two) where we worked on familiar east coast birds like this here Gray Catbird. Hot and humid, but well worth the trip.

Hooray for summer!

American Avocet
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

I love the part where I can get in a few photos after work and the light is just getting good. On this particular tuesday I was practicing flight shots, and these guys were moving slowly and predicably, so I got them in focus.

you know you're an XSLT geek when...

you know you're an XSLT geek when you've read about and start to understand the Muench technique for building an index over an XML document that helps you remove duplications from collections. [thanks to Joe Pallas for tracking down the URL]

Blessing the Rectory

University Church Rectory
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

After many years, University Church in Palo Alto, California blessed its new Rectory on Saturday. I served on the Pastoral Housing Committee for at least five years, and to be honest I had many doubts we would ever get to this point. Many thanks to our outstanding project manager Duane Bay, without whom this would never have happened.

bye bye, piano

bye bye, piano
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

Well, the time has come to return Pastor Foster's piano. At least he has a parsonage with a lovely Great Room that accomodates the piano very nicely. I was a very fortunate to have had the use of this vintage Steinway D for several years, and I bid it a fond farewell.

My Mom Rocks!

My Mom and Brother
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

How do I come by this cool photo of me, my Mom, and my brother? Because my mom made this cool scrapbook from when I was thirteen. And this is just one of several big volumes of really cool stuff from my childhood. Thanks, Mom!

South Texas Slideshow available

Neotropic Cormorant
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

I've put together a slide show from the South Texas Tripat at flickr. You can watch an automatic slide show, or page through at your own rate. Enjoy!

My Cliff Swallow published in Berkeley

My Cliff Swallow photo has been published by the Berkeley Daily Planet in an article entitled Cliff Swallows Use Social Strategies for Survival. Check out the article, it's very interesting!

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Rediscovered in Arkansas

Holy Cats!

Inca Dove

Inca Dove
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

Well, we're back from Texas, and I'm finally starting to sort through all the pictures I took, including this cute lil' Inca Dove who seemed to be nesting in the Frontera Audubon parking lot.

South Texas Day Five

50 species, including four life birds.

(Will have to write more trip notes later. Just got home at midnight sans luggage after changing our plane tickets in Dallas. Grrr, gosh darn airport luggage office. Meanwhile, you can admire the species list for the whole trip)

South Texas Day Four

83 species, including four life birds.

An overcast day with winds from the northeast gave high hopes of being a premium fallout day, but we had to settle for quality over quantity at Padre Island. Life looks at the Cape May Warbler at the convention center were enough prize to distract us from a "low" day total.

Our first trip to the convention center turned up only, ho hum, Blue-winged, Nashville and Tennessee Warblers, 2 orioles, Indigo Bunting and a few other passerines. We took a break by going to look at plovers, terns and gulls on the beach behind the convention center itself. On our return, the Cape May Warbler was spotted almost immediately by the 5 or more photographers with large rigs pointed right at the bird's last known location.

We stopped at the beach and jetty at the south tip of the island, then said good-bye to South Padre and headed out to Bensen for owls and nightjars. An elf owl emerged from a known location at 8:14 pm and was quickly joined in a near-by conifer by a second bird. In the dusk, we observed multiple food exchanges between these two birds before it got too dark to see them at all. A much more satisfying experience than a simple check-mark on a list.

Birds observed by others on the trip include: Clapper Rail, Least Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bank Swallow, Cave Swallow, Grey Catbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Clay-colored and Savanah Sparrow, Hooded Oriole

(notes by Mary)

South Texas Day Three

112 species, including 5 life birds.

Weather was extremely hot and muggy, with varying clouds and occasional breeze.

In addition to the female Northern Parula, we observed a hybrid Northern x Tropical Parula.

Other critters included Pocket Gopher, Coyote, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail, and Spiny-backed Orb Weaver.

Today we celebrated our 450th life bird, a Grasshopper Sparrow seen at Santa Ana NWR.

South Texas Day Two

112 species, including 9 life birds

Weather was extremely warm and humid.

We started the morning at Sabal Palm, then spent the afternoon at the convention center at South Padre Island, returning to Harlingen by Old Port Isabel Road.

Birds seen by others on the trip include: White Ibis, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Green Kingfisher, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Grey Catbird, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Painted Bunting.

There was an alligator just off the boardwark at South Padre Island convention center.

South Texas Day One

49 species

Arrived at McAllen airport around 3:18pm. By 3:54pm, we'd shown Dolores her first life bird (Great-tailed grackle) while on the way to the Best Western in Harlingen. We stopped there only briefly, then ran down to Laguna Atascosa NWR for picnic supper and birding. It was really wonderful to see so many of the highlight birds right away on the first day.

Mammals: mexican ground squirrel, collared peccary.

"Beer Butt Chicken"

"Beer Butt Chicken"
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

Yes, that's right, we're headed back to Texas. Bright and early tomorrow we're headed through Dallas to McAllen for five days of glorious birding. Groove-billed Ani here we come!

"Christy" (return of big trash)

"Christy"
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

It's time once again for what we like to call Big Trash Day, where once a year Santa Clara picks up darn near anything you leave on (or near) the curb. I always enjoy photographing the interesting juxapositions I find walking to the train this time of year.

All hail Art!

All hail Art, newly ascended demigod and holder of third highest all-time score in nethack.

(Art phoned us and we got to tune in via telnet to the server and watch his ascension in real time. Congrats, Art!)