In San Timoteo Canyon where I go birding sometimes, there is a small pond which attracts various ducks and other water birds. You never know what will be there. Two days before this shot was taken there was a pair of Hooded Mergansers. When I went back to photograph them, they were gone, but several of these female Ring-necked Ducks were swimming with the coots and Mallards. There are just two of them in this shot, but I especially liked the reflections of the cattails and the one quacking duck. 1/30/20 Judith Sparhawk
This large type of agave plant was photographed in a garden in Harmony California. I believe it is the one called a Century Plant, which got its name from the early belief that it lived to 100 years before blooming. The truth is, it usually blooms at between 10 and 30 years of age, with a single very tall stem, 15 to 25 feet high, flowering at the top. Commonly the plant dies after blooming. This one has wavy leaves, which is not completely typical of this plant, so this may be a different agave. At any rate, I liked it looked in the garden. 1/27/20 Judith Sparhawk
It was a cold (for us) day and quite windy all day. I had put off taking a walk, and finally headed out a little before sunset. I noticed the wild and crazy clouds over the mountain, and went back to get my camera. I walked along, seeing the changing clouds with the lengthening day. When I first started out they were all white, and moving quite a bit in the wind. As I continued walking, trying to find some good views without telephone poles and wires, TV antennas (who uses antennas anymore?), houses and trees. As the clouds got pinker and more beautiful I kept shooting as I walked. I ended up getting over 1,000 steps over my goal, and got some nice sky shots as well! This is one of my favorites, looking east toward the mountains, as the sun was setting. 2/11/20 Judith Sparhawk
