Northridge California Area

 

One of the most common questions asked of us is "Do we always visit the same areas and campgrounds as we travel North America?"  Our answer is that we intentionally visit some of favorite areas and add new ones.  An example is that we wanted to be near Los Angeles but not in it to visit with our oldest son Travis and wife Tina.  So here we are at Walnut RV in Northridge, California in a suburban neighborhood.  One of the amenities is our own swimming pool as very few residents take advantage of it.

Daily walks through the neighborhoods offer beautiful landscaced yards with an abundance of flowering trees, shrubs and plants.  

All these beautiful flowers are a magnet for people but also sursprisingly to a large number of birds.

Rufous Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird

Allen's bristles at interloping Allen's Hummingbird

Lesser Goldfinch

Orange-crowned Warbler

Bushtit

Red-tailed Hawk over our RV

Red-shouldered Hawk twists around to look at the camera

White-crowned Sparrow 

California Towhee

Black Phoebe

House Finch

Western Bluebird

Western Bluebird finding insects near garbage barrel

Is it still a "Northern" Mockingbird in Southern California?

Neighborly Common Raven

Common Ravens really are common here.

Eastern Fox Squirrel of the west.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk 

Western Bluebirds, Lark Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler finding grit, bugs and seeds.

Western Meadowlark migrating through

Meadowlark feeding at local park

Say's Phoebe on Chimney

Gulf Fritillary

Lake Balboa, a large urban park offering recreational activities plus a wildlife area with trails.

We finally found some Canada Geese and other waterfowl.

American Coot

Pied-billed Grebe

Black-crowned Night-heron

Double-crested Cormorant

American Wigeons

Oak Titmouse

Dark morphed "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

This is Red-tailed number three in this small area

Osprey #1

Osprey #2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Allen's Hummingbird female

Sweet Gum tree leaves remind us that Autumn also reaches the Golden State.

We saw over 60 species of birds in our urban area for October.  Although many were common, we are always blessed to see them wherever they are.

Almost time for us to move on to Malibu Beach.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann

Morro Bay & Lake Piru

Morro Rock stands 576 feet overlooking harbor, dunes and beach.

Once part of a volcanic chain known as the Morros.

Juan Carbrillo in 1542 named the Rock for it's dome like structure.

In 1587, this area was claimed for Spain.

The Rock covers 50 acres at it's base in spite of being quarried for breakwaters.

This monolith is a nesting refuge for Peregrine Falcons.

This female is one of the two pairs currently claiming this rock as their own.

    This Peregrine is one of the other pair on the west end of the Rock

This area with it's harbor, boat tours, fishing and surfing draws a large crowd

including numerous Cairn builders.

The star attractions the social, fun loving Sea Otters, sometimes napping.

Or eating Abalone.

Or looking cute and curious (people watching).

A Kelp anchored family, tagged adult and white-faced pup.

A fishing Great Blue Heron, although close overlooked by majority of visitors.

Adult White-crowned Sparrow

Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow

 

Eastern Fence Lizard

Beach Flowers add color to the scenery.

Townsend's Warbler

Over 300 Long-billed Curlews use this beach area

Curlews landing in and around dog walkers and surfers.

Curlew fluffs to realign feathers.

Probing for Mole Crabs

Pulls Mole Crab to surface

Juggles Crab

to align for swallowing

Close your eyes and swallow!

Bill cleaning time - life of a Long-billed Curlew

Marbled Godwit

And a few Whimbrels

Picturesque Lake Piru Recreation Area, a shrinking reservoir nestled in the Los Padres National Forest

is where we camped for five days,

Campground Sunset

A new dawn for exploring,

Western Grebe

Clark's Grebe

Drove 5 miles on narrow, rough mountain road to Pothole Trail looking for Mountain Lion and Bear,

saw neither, but plenty of bear sign.

Such as Bear scat filled with Western Walnuts,

obviously not digestible but a great cleanser.

White-tailed Kite perching near the shoreline

and flying.

Lawrence's Goldfinches, a rare treat

Lark Sparrows on only green grass in the park

Male Nuttall's Woodpecker

Surprise of the park - Lewis's Woodpecker

Honey Bees collecting pollen

Honey bees searching for water at lawn sprinkler for honey production.

Coyote, one of the pair running across the brown grass.

We are now at Northridge for October at Walnut RV, visiting our son Travis and his wife Tina

and our missionary friends Joel & Marie.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann