Kathy and I left for California in late September, first to attend the Hammerlee Family Annual Reunion at Carpinteria State Beach. As before, we had secured the Raccoon group site for five nights.
Kara
Kathy and kids, finding sea life in a kelp holdfast
Some sea life found in a kelp holdfast
Laina
Mark and Fletcher
Sean (left) and Benet
Brittle star
Sea urchin
L to R: Sean, Benet and Sheila
L to R: Benet, Sheila and Sean
Same three
Same three
Sheila and Sean
Sheila
The structure
Benet
The beach has lots to see. The first four pix are of a Great egret in the freshwater lagoon.
Extreme telephoto of an oil rig in the Santa Barbara Channel. The curvature of the earth hides the lowermost portion of the structure from view.
Same, with more of the more distant rig hidden from view
Palm and rainbow
Pipe, in cross-section
Channel Islands are seen across the channel
Say’s phoebe
The next four pix are of a Great egret and Snowy egret (smaller)
Snowy egret
Carpinteria Beach is known for its tar seeps.
Curlew
Whimbrel
Willets
Sunset at Carpinteria State Beach
We next stopped for a night at Jalama Beach, on the way to the Bay Area. The next seven pix are of blackbirds bathing in the freshwater lagoon. One is a Redwing blackbird and the others are Brewer’s blackbirds.
Redwing blackbird is seen on the left
The freshwater lagoon at Jalama Beach
Western pond turtle (?) in the lagoon
Sanderling
The post continues with Part #2 – the San Francisco Bay Area.
BelieveSteve (StevenRichardMiller) 