Sunday morning at Santee Lakes

A few more photos from Santee Lakes.   This morning I met up with friends Cabby & Terry for a few hours of photography, then a great lunch at a local restaurant.  Thanks Cabby for help with the ID of these ducks.  

Female Ring-Neck ducks

Male Ring-Neck duck

Female Wood Duck

Male Wood duck

Santee Lakes

Great area to hang out -- picnic tables, camping sites, and cabins on the lake (that's where I'd like to stay).  Just walking around the lake, I saw lots of bird & ducks.  Here are two photos from today's walk around Santee Lakes.

Great egret landing ... 

Wood ducks in formation.  

Views from & in my garden

The sunrise photo was taken a few weeks ago -- what a spectacular morning.    

The succulents were taken today, late afternoon.  Love the winter color of the succulents.

San Diego Zoo, early morning

I just found out about the early morning, second Saturday at the Zoo for members.  I was able to get in at 8 AM (instead of 9 AM) and what a treat.   A talk by a keeper, then wandered around a bit by myself exploring my favorite places.    (Thanks Walter  for the info!)

Here's a photo I took of the baby giraffe  (so far un-named) born 12/22/2013.  The baby was 6'1" and 158 lbs when born.  Mom is Bahati a 23-year-old female, and this was her 10th baby.

Salton Sea photos

Found a few more photos to share from my weekend at Salton Sea.   Up early one morning for a sunrise, then watched all the birds waking up & flying to the fields for their food.

Early morning flight

White Pelicans

Thanks to Dennis O'Reilly for sharing his photo of me taken at Salton Sea.   You have to look closely to find me  :)

Niland, CA

Niland CA -- home of Slab City, East Jesus, Salvation Mountain and probably many more places I don't know about.   These photos were taken at East Jesus & if you follow the link below, you'll find out more about it.  I didn't get an overall photo of this place, so will have to go back again  ;)

 East Jesus, Niland CA.  

He was proud of his blue & lavender beard. 

 

Early morning at Salton Sea

First view of the lake 

Seagulls are starting to wake up

Morning flight