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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 12, 2015 16:46:18 GMT -5
Saw this chunk of interesting rock on a walk a couple weeks ago, had to go back with a squirt bottle and a brush and take some pics of it. This is maybe a couple blocks from my house. 
Would have to pry this out of the ground, backfill the hole, and tote the rock home on a dolly. Too big to carry in pocket. 
Don't know what it is, but it's kinda neat. 
Smaller brother next to it. 
This is a different one. 
Close up of above rock. 
Another. 
And another. This one I could probably carry, and the one above as well. 
Skipper moth (or butterfly) on Blue Dix (also known as California goosefoot).
It was used for a variety of purposes by Native Americans including, medicine, soap, in addition to the use of the seeds for flour, and the leaves and shoots as a cooked vegetable. 
Butterfly in center, a Monarch, I think. He turned sideways just as I snapped the pic. 
Morning glory or bindweed (convolvus). (Plants hold still.) 
Death among the Dix. At first I thought this was the skull of a jackrabbit, because of the large size of the eyesockets. 
But I think it was somebody's cat. Plenty of killing machines in the field... 
More gruesome looking in B&W. 
The reason I believe it is kitty is the carnivore molars found beside it. Not something a rabbit would have. 
View to the east towards Mt San Miguel Mountain. 
And Sweetwater Reservoir, drinking water reservoir only. They have allowed fishing here three days a week for the last five years or so, but no body contact. Although not so far from the house, to access it, you have to drive around to the west, go through Bonita (about five or six miles), to get to the parking lot. 
This bird of prey (not sure what kind - Mel Sabre52, a little help?  ) was on the pole in front of my house. Might not have noticed it, except for the crows harassing it, trying to get a bit of whatever it was gnawing on. I think it may have been a lizard, made some kind of crunchy noises. 
Was up there tearing apart his meal for a good ten minutes before I decided to go get my camera. 
The last mouthful sticking out of his beak. 
Tried to take a shot as the bird lifted off, stupid camera double-clutched. Got this one a second later, better than nothing. 
Hope you enjoyed the show. (At least some of it involved rocks.)
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 12, 2015 18:01:51 GMT -5
Nice walk with views,rocks and flowers like that!
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Post by snowmom on Mar 12, 2015 18:06:49 GMT -5
I just love it when I see "picture heavy" in the topic line! That was a nice walk. Very cool bird at the end, too, I don't think I have ever seen any with markings like that, must be something western. Did you decide the rocks were leaverites? I would have picked up those teeth, and checked the skull for more. Husband told me to stop bringing old bones home.  skeleton anything is fascinating. Love the view from around your area, all the hills and mountains... meadow full of flowers is gorgeous. It probably changes a lot through the seasons? thanks for taking us along! |
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Post by fantastic5 on Mar 12, 2015 18:41:42 GMT -5
I second Snowmoms post. I too love the Pic Heavy by lines. So refreshing to see green grass and flowers in bloom. Everything is still so brown and lifeless here. The only color i have in my yard are the crocus just getting ready to open. Thanks for taking us along!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 12, 2015 20:56:58 GMT -5
Thanks, Mike. I don't walk the field every day, but do it occasionally for a change. snowmom, I was thinking of you and how much you like pics while I was posting it! Don't know what the rocks are, but yes, left them there. Too big to move! They'll be sitting there for a long time. I quit picking up old bones and such, left the skull and teeth where they lay. (Oops, but I lie! Picked up the shell from a long-dead desert tortoise on the way home from Quartzsite in January. In the front yard with the rocks now.) Yes, it really changes throughout the seasons. Couple good rain storms in December, and a couple more last month have it pretty well greened up. Will have to find a post a pic when it is all brown, which is like, most of the year. Ann, glad you liked the show as well. Always fun to see stuff from other areas. amygdule, thanks for the bird ID. Might have been a fish from the lake he was munching on? Sounded pretty crunchy! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2015 21:19:44 GMT -5
Why are your stories always better than mine? I am going to try harder next time.  Jim |
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Mar 12, 2015 22:48:42 GMT -5
Nice walk, good story, thanks for taking us along.
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 13, 2015 1:41:33 GMT -5
So cool to see the Ospreys back in the area. They're migrating up from Baja. When they come through, the other birds go nuts. If they're adults, the hill we live on goes dead quiet. No hawks, no crows, nothin'. You were very fortunate to get up close to one as they only stay a few days and like to roost high up in the tall palms. Very cool pic.
Years ago I was hiking up on Dictionary Hill and brought back a huge chunk of a mica pegmatite. It's now a yard rock. Keeps the cacti company...lol.
Craig
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 13, 2015 3:36:15 GMT -5
Why are your stories always better than mine? I am going to try harder next time. Jim Jim @wampidy, lotta cool stuff around here, I just tell it like it is. Will have to start calling you "Avis" lol. Thanks, Larry quartz. Happy to share, thanks for looking. Craig socalagatehound, that's the second time I've seen one in a week, the first one not so close up. They are magnificent birds! Funny, the crows had no problem harassing it, a group of about a half dozen. They have gotten very numerous in recent years. In the morning, I see/hear them heading east from their nightly roost (National City, I have heard), out towards El Cajon or Lakeside, and then flying the other way back home again in the evening. At least we don't have to listen to the huge flocks of noisy parrots, like in OB or Lakeside. We only see them a handful at a time here. |
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Post by snowmom on Mar 13, 2015 6:33:48 GMT -5
Parrots? I take it these are invasive species? Or are they native to the area? Now I want to find pictures of those too!
found this: and many photos, over 13 species, not native, and interbreeding. What will the California parrot look like in 500 years?
www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=112 |
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Post by roy on Mar 13, 2015 9:03:20 GMT -5
cool walk report so did you go back and get the biggin?
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rockymom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2015
Posts: 118 
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Post by rockymom on Mar 13, 2015 9:49:04 GMT -5
Love your pictures, sun, flowers and palm trees. Looks like a great place.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 13, 2015 10:59:39 GMT -5
Here's a couple pics of what the area looks like most of the year, after we've not had rain for a while. 
Taken in August of last year.
Now you can see all the rocks!
August through October is when the fire danger is greatest. Actually having a Santa Ana right now (high winds from the northeast, high temps, low humidity), but at least the fuel is still green. Still a threat, though, as the low humidity will dry the vegetation out fast.
And a couple more pics of wildlife and birds, because I can! Trap door spider burrow. 
Anybody home? Lot of these out in that field. 
The hummingbirds love to nest in the avocado tree, way up off the ground. This photo in March 2010. 
Momma on her eggs. Photo taken 5/20/09. 
This little guy fell out, I placed him back in the tree on a low branch. Photo taken 6/21/9, so about a month old at that time. 
Another raptor. Lots of stuff for them to eat around here. 
And a vulture, because death happens. 
For jamesp, California's version of pecky cedar. This is a piece of 2 X 12 pine lumber that was surrounding our raised garden. Over 20 years in contact with the dirt. Termite damage. 
And a red dragonfly from the back yard. Truly alien-looking! 
Parrots? I take it these are invasive species? Or are they native to the area? Now I want to find pictures of those too!
found this: and many photos, over 13 species, not native, and interbreeding. What will the California parrot look like in 500 years?
www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=112
Okay, yes, parrots! Loud, messy, fruit-tree raiding things. 
I don't know parrots, but think these may be lilac-crowned parrots? Some kind of green bitey things. 
The headless parrots of Spring Valley! 
I am not sure where they actually came from. Could have been part of that original flock in Pasadena, or just pet birds that have escaped captivity over the years. snowmomsnowmomsnowmom, here's a link to a good article in the local Reader from October 2013:
www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/oct/23/cover-green-invaders-mexico/
And a couple of videos:
This one will give you an idea of just how noisy they are!
Years ago, it seemed they were confined to Point Loma and Ocean Beach. Now they are everywhere.
cool walk report so did you go back and get the biggin? Thanks, Roy. No, it's still sitting in the middle of that road. Will have to think about it for a while, have to work up the gumption. Would have to be just a yard rock, as it's way too big for my saw. Love your pictures, sun, flowers and palm trees. Looks like a great place. Thanks, rockymom. Will be a WARM great place (90+ degrees) for the next few days. But it's a dry heat, lol.
Hope y'all enjoyed the additions.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Mar 13, 2015 11:09:02 GMT -5
Those rocks sticking up would do a number on the mower.
Beautiful territory Jean. Looks like a sanctuary. Those parrots look tasty.
surprised @shotgunner has not made some parrot sausage.
Green birds = martians, area 53 birds, sure they are parrots ??
psittacines alienica martianasa
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2015 11:14:42 GMT -5
No parrots in my neighborhood. Not far tho'. Jean that is a super great thread. Thanks for making it happen! |
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 13, 2015 12:35:03 GMT -5
There is also a huge flock of those parrots that roosts in the trees at the south end of Kennedy park in El Cajon and there used to be one in Lemon Grove, but I haven't seen that one in several years.
A few years back we had a group of four golden eagles stop by on the way north? south? and that was fun to watch. They were huge birds, but I was told they were probably also juveniles. I think the other birds harass the migratory predators to get them to move on, but once they get full grown the smaller birds become prey and they pick their battles more carefully....lol.
You certainly see a lot more of the local wildlife near the reservoir than up on the hills. Watch out for rattlers. It's getting to be their time of year.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 13, 2015 14:18:26 GMT -5
Yeah, have seen those (rattlesnakes) out and about in the past in the hood, not this year yet. Usually by July or August, although I know they come out whenever the weather gets warm, doesn't matter what the calendar says. A 14 year old boy was bitten by one in Mission Trails Regional Park in January! The warm weather will bring them out of hibernation.
If you want to see bunches of them, go to Mission Trails and walk the road on a warm evening in the spring, they are thick out there!
A large Southern Pacific 
A big Red Diamond rattlesnake 
Would prefer to run into the second one. The big reds are pretty mellow, compared to the southern pacifics. Still, wouldn't want to be bit by either!
Craig, bet you have a few of these crawling around on Dictionary Hill? |
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 13, 2015 16:36:11 GMT -5
I usually encounter one or two a year. Probably southern pacific. The ones I usually find out in the yard (I have over an acre) are thin and unbelievably fast, and they tend not to rattle until we're in a tussle. Usually they are under 3 feet long. I have a resident king snake that I see every once in a while and I'm sure he's my best friend in the rattler department.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 13, 2015 16:43:40 GMT -5
Interesting to see an Osprey in that territory. In the Maritimes, we commonly call them Fish Hawks. They will hover (like a Harrier jet) until they spy a fish. They will then dive like a Peregrine falcon for a fish dinner.
I'm not sure if rock hounding amongst the trap door spiders is all that comforting. How big are those critters?
Darryl.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2015 18:01:06 GMT -5
I usually encounter one or two a year. Probably southern pacific. The ones I usually find out in the yard (I have over an acre) are thin and unbelievably fast, and they tend not to rattle until we're in a tussle. Usually they are under 3 feet long. I have a resident king snake that I see every once in a while and I'm sure he's my best friend in the rattler department. Those are not rattlesnakes. Thin and fast means racer of some flavor. Rattlesnakes always heavy bodied and never very quick. |
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) was on the pole in front of my house. Might not have noticed it, except for the crows harassing it, trying to get a bit of whatever it was gnawing on. I think it may have been a lizard, made some kind of crunchy noises.
skeleton anything is fascinating. Love the view from around your area, all the hills and mountains... meadow full of flowers is gorgeous. It probably changes a lot through the seasons?
