Tag Archives: mallards

Enjoy life. Make waves.

Picture of the Moment

It’s rare that I see a lone mallard.

Either they are in a flock of a dozen or so, a pair during breeding season, or a mommy with lots of little ones.

So when I saw this one all alone just swimming its little feet off, I couldn’t resist adding words to its picture:

img_0366 enjoy life make saves stamp

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

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Lake Murray

“But Judge…. Everyone else was doing it, too!”

Out & About San Diego

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

About a mile from me is Lake Murry.

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

I go there for a late afternoon walk; it’s a beautiful place.

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

It’s fun to watch the children and the wildlife.

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

In the second picture, notice that the little girl’s eyes are closed as she’s reaching out to that whatever-it-is bird (avian101?)

Recently two new signs showed up at the Lake:

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

In California, parents are responsible for the actions of their juvenile children, but wouldn’t you like to see the Officer who arrests the parents of that little girl for feeding that whatever-it-is bird? Viral video here we come….

Besides, who can resist feeding these creatures of Mother and Father Nature?

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

 Wonder what these two pigeons are saying about the new signs:

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

I’m sure when I show the Judge this picture, s/he’ll let me off:

Lake Murray

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Of course, if s/he’s a Judge who rules on the law, I’m sunk. I’ll be back after serving my jail time and paying my $20,000 fine.

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

I'm Zoey the Cool Cat, and I approve this post

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Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Bullying in the bird world

Bullying in the bird world

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Picture of the moment
PICTURE OF THE MOMENT

 

After dining with Shamu at SeaWorld the other day, I found some mallard ducks that appeared to be playing around. Upon closer inspection, two males were bullying a female:

Bullying in the bird world

 

The mallard on the left — we’ll call him ML — was doing all the damage, even pulling out a huge mouthful of feathers from that poor female. The mallard on the right — we’ll call him MR — was merely standing guard. Eventually we saw why he was standing guard because that female’s mate showed up and took to ML and MR, running them off and snuggling up to his little gal.

There were young children watching this bullying. What are they going to think about bullying?

 

I'm Zoey the Cool Cat, and I approve this post

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Looking for real estate services in San Diego County? I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor with Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572

If you’re just looking for a home inspector,
I can highly recommend Russel Ray; that’s me!Real Estate Solutions

Coyote or fox?

Who knew there was so much life in a cemetery?

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Out & About San Diego

 

My home inspection yesterday was across the street from a huge cemetery. Cemeteries are rare here in San Diego, certainly much rarer than in my home state of Texas where I think there were just as many cemeteries as there were churches.

Although we used to play in the cemeteries in Kingsville, Texas, when I was growing up, and they have tours of cemeteries in New Orleans, I had not been in a cemetery in 20 or 25 years.

I took 357 pictures in the cemetery in a little over two hours. Here are fourteen of my favorites:

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)


 

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)


 

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

How long you gonna watch me?


 

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

I wonder if he has friends. Better check over here....


 

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

....and over here....


 

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

....and behind me.


 

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

Now that nobody's looking


 

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

Let it all hang out


 

See ya later!

See ya later!


 

The cemetery was actually quite relaxing, and I wasn’t the only one who thought that:

Mallards, a snow goose, and turtles

Mallards, a snow goose, and turtles


 

Squirrels were frolicking everywhere but were wary of me:

Squirrel

Where'd you come from?

Squirrel on a eucalyptus tree

Squirrel on a eucalyptus tree


 

I saved the best for last. I don’t know if the gal in this picture is a coyote or fox. I’m thinking it’s too big and too light to be a fox. Anyone?

Coyote or fox?

Coyote or fox?


 

I was at Mt. Hope Cemetery, a municipal cemetery for the City of San Diego. Two other cemeteries are nearby: Holy Cross Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery; and Greenwood Memorial Park, an endowed care cemetery, which means you have to pay big bucks to be buried there.

San Diego cemeteries

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Me?

Cremate me, scatter my ashes one-third at Blacks Beach in San Diego; one-third under the Century Oak at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas; and one-third on the railroad tracks at the Union Pacific Railroad yard in Omaha, Nebraska. Then forget about me and get back to enjoying life.

Oh, by the way. Ask me how many living people I saw in the cemetery in two hours.

YOU: Russel, how many living people did you see in the cemetery while you were there?

ME: Three. A San Diego Gas & Electric employee was hiding out in his company truck parked under a tree. He was sleeping. Probably wore himself out at the Padres game the day before when we beat the dastardly Dodgers 8-4. A groundskeeper was mowing the lawns. A lady was pulling weeds from around the headstone at the grave she was visiting, obviously not happy with the job the cemetery was doing.

 

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Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos