I’m really having a lot of fun with all of my uncatalogued pictures.
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
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CA BRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
Two of my favorite beaches in San Diego are Imperial Beach and Ocean Beach. Here are some scenes:
Ocean public art indicates we’re getting close!
As do street utility boxes
Even the sidewalks are beachy.
Houses near the beach.
Surfing is a big pastime.
We’re there!
Fishing is allowed from the pier since it’s a “fishing pier.”
Not from in the waters or on the beach, though.
My wise old grandmother taught me to share,
so I passed by this drinking fountain:
The pier’s restaurant is a relaxed place to eat with the best view.
Until tomorrow.
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
I’m a big fan of the smaller mom & pop nurseries. They tend to be more personal and have quite an interesting assortment of plants, garden ornaments, sculptures, and water fountains that the bigger nurseries don’t carry.
One of my favorite nurseries is Cedros Gardens, 330 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, in the Cedros Avenue Design District.
Cedros Gardens always has unique plants that I rarely find anywhere else, such as Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia sp.):
Other than the Cuyamaca Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, which really isn’t a plant nursery, Cedros Gardens is the only place in San Diego County that I’ve found various Proteas, Banksias, Grevilleas, and related plants for sale!
Their unique water fountains, and how many they have, are unparalleled:
If you like to decorate your gardens with art and sculpture, they have plenty of that!
Here is a 1:18 video of Cedros Gardens:
There is some of everything, and something for everyone, at Cedros Gardens! And who can possibly pass by knowing that they have their own basket cat?
Stop by Cedros Gardens, 330 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, California, and pick up something for your children, or your parents (great gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!), or your spouse…. Heck, be selfish and get something for yourself…. There are times when it’s okay to be selfish! I still have to recommend getting something for your family first, though, just to help keep peace in the world.
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
When Zoey the Cool Cat gets into some of her contorted positions to take a nap, I often wonder just how comfortable it can be.
Seems other creatures also like to get into awkward positions that look mighty uncomfortable:
That’s a young flamingo from last year’s brood.
The flamingos at the Zoo are busy building their nests for this year’s brood.
Here are a bunch of nests from last year:
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
I’m pretty much a believer in the intelligence of wildlife.
I think they are a lot more intelligent than we give them credit for.
In fact, maybe man’s simply not intelligent enough to understand what all these other creatures that we share the Earth with are actually thinking.
The Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) at the San Diego Zoo is a great example.
I stood and watched it for almost an hour the other day.
Interestingly, I didn’t connect with it— or did I? An hour with it? — until I got home and saw the pictures I had taken:
The Secretary Bird is a Vulnerable species from Africa. It is related to buzzards and vultures but is the only species in the family Sagittariidae. It gets as tall as four feet with an 87-inch (7¼ feet!) wingspan. They spend most of their time on the ground although roosting in acacia trees.
Adult birds hunt mostly in pairs but sometimes in a loose familial flock. They discover prey by stomping on clumps of vegetation or waiting near wildfires and capturing anything trying to escape. They are known to stomp on their prey until it is stunned or unconscious enough to swallow, and there are unconfirmed reports that they know which snakes are venomous, capturing them, taking flight, and then dropping those snakes to their death before making a meal of them.
Now tell me these birds aren’t intelligent!
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
I find it interesting that of the many lakes in San Diego County, not a single one is natural. All are water reservoirs for thirsty Southern Californians living in San Diego County.
I also find it interesting that people are not allowed to swim in the lakes, more properly called reservoirs, nor even make contact with the water. Everything that I’ve read indicates that it has to do with water quality. But here’s what I don’t understand: Why are boats allowed on the reservoirs? Quite frankly, I’d rather drink water that has had people swimming in it than water that has had a boat, especially a motorboat spouting gas fumes, leaking gas, and leaking oil, in it, not to mention all the fish and birds in the water. More relevant, though, is the fact that the water is purified before we drink it. So what really gives?
One of the nicest reservoirs in the area is Lake Poway:
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
A selection of pictures from the San Diego Botanic Garden.
Architecture, designs, and landscaping by Mother and Father Nature.
Cork Oak (Quercus suber)
The primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and cork flooring
Aloe
Plantus unknownii
Bamboo
The Garden has the largest selection
of bamboo groves in the United States
Berryus unknownius
Nest-building Bird
Flowerus unknownii
Dinner Plate Fig (Ficus dammaropsis)
Banana (top)
Banana (bottom)
Unknown flowers
Ficus tree and staghorn ferns
Aeonium
Probable Sedum or Jade
Peas In Pods
Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium sp.)
Cactus Flowers
Leafus unknownius
Seed Pods
Epiphyte
Fire Sticks
Bottlebrush
Spent Protea Blossom
Unknown Protea or Grevillea Flowers
Dragon Tree (Dracaena cinnabari)
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
The first time I went to Mardi Gras, way back in 1976, I was enthralled with the street performers in the French Quarter — magicians, guitarists, flutists, violinists, painters, psychics, cardsharks……..
We are fortunate that here in San Diego we also are blessed with lots of street performers. The two primary locations are on El Prado in Balboa Park and on the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego.
One of the street performers who makes a regular appearance on El Prado in Balboa Park is San Diego Bird Rescue.
Most of San Diego Bird Rescue’s birds are available for adoption. Some are kept for educational purposes, such as when they show up on El Prado in Balboa Park. And if you need to give up a bird for any reason, please contact San Diego Bird Rescue if you don’t know what to do and need help in placing your bird with a responsible owner.
Here are four beauties that were at Balboa Park recently:
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
They (and I don’t know who “they” are) say that birds of a feather flock together.
Not necessarily by choice sometimes.
Following are some birds that reside at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, previously known as the Wild Animal Park, located near Escondido, about 40 miles north northeast of downtown San Diego.
Green Wood Hoopoe
The Green Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) is native to Africa. It is mainly a ground-feeding bird, specifically loving termites!
Hooded Vulture
In December 2011, the Safari Park added quite a few vultures. They now seem to be acclimated to their exhibit so they are easier to see and photograph. The Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is related to eagles and buzzards but is the only bird in the Necrosyrtes genus. It is native to Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, and is an endangered bird.
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
I couldn’t find a nameplate for this bird at the Park, but I believe it is the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, also called the Northern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus). Wikipedia has a picture of one at the San Diego Zoo. Coincidentally (or not) their bird looks very much like this bird. This is one of the largest of the hornbill species, getting up to 39 inches tall and 8.8 pounds.
Knobbed Hornbill
The Knobbed Hornbill (Aceros cassidix) is from Indonesia and is listed as a vulnerable species. Hornbills are monogamous birds.
Long-toed Lapwing
Sometimes birds don’t cooperate with photographers, and this is a great picture confirming that. It just seems logical that if a bird was named “Long-toed,” then the picture should include the toes. Alas. The Long-toed Lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris) is a common bird in much of Africa.
Mandarin Duck
The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) has to be one of the most beautiful ducks. Originally native to East Asia, populations have become established in Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, North Carolina, and in Sonoma County (San Francisco Bay area) in California.
Marbled Teal
The Marbled Teal, also called Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) is native to the Mediterranean. It is listed as a vulnerable species due to habitat destruction (it loves marshes) and hunting.
African Golden Oriole
The African Golden Oriole (Oriolus auratus) is a shy bird, often hiding in the trees and bushes. I’m lucky to have gotten a fairly good picture of one.
Oriole Warbler
The Oriole Warbler (Hypergerus atriceps) is native to West Africa. As I was doing research for this post, I found that the Oriole Warbler is considered a “skulking passerine.” Skulking in this sense means to annoy or upset, and passerine is a perching bird or, less accurately, a songbird. So I’m getting the impression that this is a perching songbird that likes to annoy other birds. (I know some people who could be considered skulking.)
Pink-backed Pelican
Pelicans perhaps are my favorite bird that I actually can see in the wild here in San Diego. This pair of Pink-backed Pelicans (Pelecanus rufescens) is one of my favorite bird pictures in my photography collection. They are native to Africa and southern Arabia. It is one of the smaller pelicans but can get up to 61 inches in length with a wingspan up to 9½ feet.
Rainbow Lorikeet
These two Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) were fighting for several minutes as I watched. I think you can see which was winning the fight although, as evidenced here, they eventually made up…. I think. Rainbow Lorikeets are from Australia.
Shoebill
The Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) is the oddest-looking I think I’ve ever seen. Ornithologists consider it the missing link that connects storks and pelicans. It can get as tall as 60 inches, is native to the freshwater swamps of Africa, and is listed as vulnerable due to habitat destruction.
South African Shelduck
The South African Shelduck is, uh, from Africa, but you probably guessed that. This one is a male and the one below is a female.
Southern Bald Ibis
The Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) is another vulnerable species native to Africa.
Swan Goose
The Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) is native to China, Mongolia, and Russia. It has become domesticated, and the ones at Safari Park are a lot of fun to feed. The Park has candy machines modified to provide food to feed them, and for just 50¢. However, I can attest that ten handfuls of food at 50¢ each adds up quickly, like to $5! More than a gallon of gas!
Egyptian Vulture
This is another vulture that resides in the new vulture exhibit with the Hooded Vulture mentioned above. I love it’s feathered face. The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) feeds mainly on carrion but will prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Although the use of tools is rare in birds, the Egyptian Vulture also feeds on the eggs of other birds by tossing pebbles onto them to break them open. Egyptian Vultures also use twigs to roll up wool to use in their nests.
Harris Hawk
The Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is native to the southwestern United States south to Chile and Argentina. It is one of the few birds that hunts in packs.
White-crowned Robin-chat
I could not find any interesting information about the White-crowned Robin-chat (Cossypha albicapilla), but it’s still pretty!
White-headed Lapwing
The White-headed Lapwing (Vanellus albiceps) is a wading bird native to the tropical areas of Africa.
Yellow-billed Stork
The Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis) was once native to Africa and Madagascar, but as the human population has overpopulated the Earth to the tune of over six billion people, storks have been used worldwide to bring babies into homes. You can see why in this picture:
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
If you are coming to San Diego for a romantic vacation, might I suggest booking the Marriott Coronado Island Resort?
Along with the quaint cottages, every room has a view of water, and most rooms have a view of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge and downtown San Diego across the bay. A late afternoon or early evening walk along the beach with a view of downtown San Diego is just, well, romantic!
Also, if anyone asks you where you can see flamingos, there are actually four places in San Diego. Most people think there are just three—the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and SeaWorld—but you can see more flamingos, as well as ducks, gulls, egrets, and herons, in the lagoon at the Marriott Coronado Island Resort.
In the Marriott courtyard, there is a small aviary with lots of cute little birds. In this first picture, I’m presuming daddy is on lookout duty while mommy is sitting inside taking care of the little ones.
The grounds are beautifully landscaped with ponds, streams, waterfalls, and plants:
Did you see the two sleeping mallards in that picture above?
If you do stay at the Marriott Coronado Island Resort, I hope you have a good time and that you’ll send me a postcard………….
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
Russel Ray Photos 