summer_jackel

kynekh_amagire and I both have a quantity of puppies for whom throwing at scenery is a very good solution. The spring has been singingly beautiful, and the day before yesterday we enjoyed a long hike.

Here's my favorite pic from the day:

The wild orchids of the redwood forest are very rare, only live in extremely specific habitat and only bloom briefly every year. Seeing one is an experience. Seeing several was downright magical. Unfortunately, they like heavy shade and so are not easy to photograph. But I tried.

The whole plant, in context. It's a tiny little thing, just has one leaf

redwood orchids: kind of the ultimate in rare elusive wildflowers.

The pups spent a lot of time bounding. Coba needs air to keep up with big collies!

rampant Coba

The first snake of spring! The first reptile to grace my eye this year was a pretty little fence lizard at Kyn's place, but I was really happy to see this handsome garter. It just occurred to me that we saw him on St. Patrick's...how oddly fitting.

Wild iris...a common flower, but a spectacular one.

The puppies love the bluffs. Bliss and Roo have this great little-puppy, big-puppy friendship forming that just seems to get sweeter and sweeter as Roo grows. Which he is doing at an alarming rate.

Aren't these two lovely, though? Such a nice brace.

pack goes zoom!

Happy Coba

Adolescent denim collie.

I need to find out what these little pink stars in the grass are.

Spring comes to the downs.

Dogs have expressions!

And they can zoom. The name of the puppy game is Eat Bliss. But first you have to catch him.

I am very fond of this collie running sequence. Can he ever move his fluff!

They close in

Air collie

Lovely vulture. I'm awfully fond of them, as a species and certain individuals in particular. This one gave me some nice photo ops.

OK people, it's time for a round of name that bird! I am of the opinion that this is a Northern Harrier, one of my favorite raptors. Other opinions are welcomed.

Distant/flying bird shots are frustrating, because even with the zoom I usually can't get close enough to the birds for a really good shot. I need some more photographic training so I at least know what lens I CAN use for these. But given that they're crops and taken with the zoom at its farthest reach, I love these. Oh hawkface.

And this pretty is a redtail. The downs are prime hunting territory for raptors, and the list from yesterday is redtail x2, harrier x2-3, Merlin x1, black shouldered kite x1

Here's the kite. I really wish I could have gotten better pics of her; she was gorgeous.

Look at the inner elbow wing markings!

I love this pic a LOT. Redtail and raven.

Puppies are still zooming.

Rooster can...almost...bite!

Iris

Colliepups are speedy!

Rogue is content not to zoom at this point in the walk. Jez didn't go with us because I don't quite trust her to ride in the back of the truck with Luck and Roo, and also because the last time we did this hike it was hard enough on her that I would hesitate to bring her so far again. Rogue won't be able to enjoy this length of hike (it's about 14 miles, perhaps a little less?) for long.