A Few Hours of Pure Bliss

 

After having purchased fresh vegetables at the farmers market yesterday morning, I decided to stop at the lake on my way back and go for a quick walk. Since this was a spontaneous decision I didn't have my big camera with me, neither my binoculars. I would miss both...

I had planned a really quick walk around the lake, but of course (and I should know this by now) I never made it around it. I stopped every few meters because I saw or heard something exciting and instead of walking around the lake, I went to my favorite places in its vicinity.

The lake never disappoints.

First I visited my favorite tree.

Look who was standing right next to the trail! I just waited and watched, but soon some dogwalkers came by and the Great Egret (Ardea alba) took off. 

I always like the lichen on the tree branches, either on the trees themselves or on twigs and branches lying on the ground. This is oak moss (Evernia prunastri).

The following, however, is not Spanish moss as it is widely believed, but Lace lichen (Ramalina menziessi). It is a combination of fungi and algae - and it is the state lichen of California (the first state to adopt a lichen as a state symbol).

Then there is lichen on rocks - Entodon seductrix (left) and Xanthoparmelia (right), at least that is what I found out.

I find them all fascinating. Here you have oak moss and lace lichen on the beautiful bark of a manzanita.

The manzanitas are already flowering.

So are the Milkmaids (Cardamine californica), one of the first wildflowers to flower, usually in January. Right on time.

Leftover thistle from last year - isn't it stunning?

There were also leftover grasses from last year while the California bay (Umbellularia californica) already showed the first tiny flowers.

While standing above the lake (top photo) I had already noticed a rather large bird on top of a tree, but since I didn't have my binoculars with me, I couldn't identify it at first. I tried to get a bit closer with mixed results because it took off before I could confirm that it was an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). But then I saw it again in a tree and it was dining on a fish it had just caught. The pictures are very poor, but I had to include them.

I was so excited - can you see that?

This is for Nicole's Friday Face Off.

There were so many birds, the loudest of them being Acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus). They are a noisy bunch! They're also beautiful (like all birds, really) and incredibly entertaining. I could hear and see them everywhere in the lake area, but they especially loved this part.

They love to hang out in the old and dead trees. You have to look hard to see one of them at the top of the tree.

There are a lot of dead trees in this part and I'm glad that they don't get rid of all of them. The woodpeckers use them as their pantry.

There are fungi growing on those dead trees - I think this might be tiny Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor). I'm still a complete newbie when it comes to fungi, lichen and moss.

The trees are so majestic even when they're not quite "fresh" anymore.

Now I was turning onto one of my very favorite trails, in the company of more crooked trees.

It goes up a slope and on top of the slope is a wide "room" with old trees, manzanitas, rocks and low growing native plants.

This is my favorite area near the lake where I often sit on one of the rocks, watching or journaling or sometimes even meditating. Often I see deer up here. This is almost sacred to me, without wanting to romanticize it. I can't really put into words what I'm feeling about this place. The only time I'm not here is during the summer months (May-October) because it's too hot and I respect the rattlesnakes who like to hang out on the rocks. This is not a beautiful place in the conventional sense - it is rough and barren, and exactly what I love.

Look at this dead tree that is standing up here.

I love this tree - and I'm not the only one. Look closer - it has been the home for birds (I suspect woodpeckers). I love how dead trees are still hospitable to those who need a place to raise their young.

This was such a beautiful morning! I'm so glad that I decided to come here and spend a few hours of pure bliss. Nature is so wonderful.

On the way back to the parking lot I noticed that the fence was covered with lichen as well. Don't you just love it?