Wild - and Not So Wild - Things

July has been full of opportunities to glimpse and photograph local wild life. Most of the photos that follow are mine, taken with my Olympus SH-1, but a few are the work of other family members and a neighbor. Click on a photo to see a large version.

This photo came one evening in an email from a neighbor
alerting us to the presence of coyotes nearby.

Sheep and cattle (lower right) about a mile across the canyon from us.

Maximum zoom-in on the sheep

It's been a great month for watching California's state bird, the Quail.

Two males keeping watch from the bushes in a neighbor's yard

Two families of quail
We've counted as many as 20 quail at various times.

Close up of adult and young in the neighbor's yard

Quail coming to look for seeds under our backyard bird feeder
(Photo by Michael)

Male standing watch on the railing below our deck

Close ups of the male 

Hummingbird visits a pot of carnations

From mammals, to birds and finally, to mollusks:

The banana slug - size, about 6 inches, often bright yellow
but this one is blending into the background a bit. 

Close up of the slug eating a dead leaf
Slugs are cleaner uppers.

Not so wild, but a lot of fun to watch:

First teeth

Turning 7 months old while visiting grandparents

Enjoying bath time

Our little angel

Now that I have teeth...

Dinner on the deck

Tasting everything

Caught you taking my picture again!

Who's that baby?

Reading with dad

Two more finished jigsaw puzzles:

Puzzle 17

Puzzle 18

Puzzle 19

Flora:

Morning glory blooming on the deck

A second blooming for this orchid

Scenic:

Moon bow - 4th of July

Mt Diablo aglow

Mt Diablo - with zoom and editing

Clouds and rays over the canyon

Last day of July - morning sun through the mist
Michael took this one on our street.

My favorite volunteer outdoor activity:

In a meadow along the Montclair RR Trail
Me in the light-colored clothes holding spent blossoms we've removed.