Wednesday, March 28, 2007

cats, and why i think they are evil

As i went to put on my sneakers which were by the back door (since they were dusty from hiking & camping), i noticed that one of the cats had demonstrated delightful aim when regurgitating a meal. Of all the places in the house, why one of my sneakers? They were only a month old! They didn't even smell like feet yet, and now they will forever reek of regurgitated cat food. Lovely.

Sometimes i really understand why people in the 1500's thought they were witches' familiars: they have an uncanny ability to be obnoxious.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

happy birthday to me

I went camping at Anza Borrego State Desert for a night. It's a long way to drive for just one night, but that's all i had--and it's worth it. The drive there was mostly in the dark, especially as low clouds (can there be fog in the desert?) blocked sunset light, but the drive back was gorgeous--live oak, blooming ceanothus, and elderberry all green on the hills with other things i can't yet identify: Ocotillo, i think, in the desert. Red fuschia-looking things. Some sort of white trumpet-shaped flower. Mistletoe in the trees.

As we set up the tents, few stars were visible because of the clouds; but as the night grew later, ah, how many stars there were! I know it's not half as many as could be seen in a truly dark place, or one not surrounded by hills and trees. The sky was not a star-strewn as some nights i've seen in New Hampshire or Vermont or Maine, but i hadn't seen that many stars since i'd spent a week in Maroua a few summers ago, out in a village on a flood plain with no electricity. That sky was pale with stars, not a dark sky at all. This one sparkled.

I found Leo again. Saturn was bright. I think i can finally id Gemini without confusing it with every other pair of bright stars. There was a shooting star. And then i saw the sunrise too, coming up between the trees.

birding life list (in process!)

  • White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia ?) in winter
  • Western Wood-Pewee (Contopu sordidulus)
  • Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
  • Western Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
  • Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
  • Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
  • Stellar's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
  • Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans)
  • Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)
  • Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
  • Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
  • Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
  • Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
  • Pied Crow (Corvus albus)
  • Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
  • Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
  • Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
  • Mallard (Anas platyrhynochos)
  • male Superb Sunbird (Cinnyris superbus) i think
  • Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata)
  • Lesser Goldfinch, greenbacked (Carduelis psaltria)
  • Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
  • Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
  • House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
  • Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus nelsoni)
  • Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx califorianus)
  • Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
  • Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
  • Congo African Grey (Psittacus erithacus erithacus)
  • Common Garden Bulbul (Pychonotus barbatus)
  • Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
  • Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
  • Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
  • California Towhee, juvenile (Pipilo crissalis)
  • California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)
  • Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
  • Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
  • Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
  • Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
  • Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
  • Black Crowned Waxbill (Estralida nonnula)
  • Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
  • Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
  • American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
  • American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
  • American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
  • American Coot (Fulica americana)
  • American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
  • African Pygmy-Kingfisher (Ispidina picta)
  • Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)