Images of California

Acorn Woodpecker Several Acorn Woodpeckers on a dead limb in Big Basin State Park.

	Parkfield Watertower Parkfield is a location where geologists are studying earthquakes, with the hope of learning to predict when they happen. Parkfield was chosen because, until they started the study in the late 1960's, there was a regular moderate earthquake every 22 years. There hasn't been an earthquake there since they started the study. Update: They had an earthquake in 2004.
	Western Diamondback Rattlesnake This was a big snake by the side of the road.
	Still Going Away He moved fairly quickly. I am glad he was going away from me and not towards me!

	Roadrunner A roadrunner near Panoche Road.
	Turtle Dove A turtle dove, seen in an orchard.
	Ferruginous Hawk A ferruginous hawk, on a telephone pole.
	Long-eared Owl A long-eared owl, hidden in some dense growth.

California Condors Three condors in the enclosure prior to release.

	White-headed Woodpecker A White-headed Woodpecker at Pinnacles
	Wild Turkey This wild turkey was displaying near CA-25.

	Carrizo Plains The Carrizo Plain was named a National Monument by President Clinton in January, 2001, to preserbe the unique ecosystem. Carrizo is located near the southern end of the coastal mountains, between the Temblor Range and the Caliente Range. The highlights are the Soda Lake, a dried lakebed, Painted Rock, and Wallace Creek. The San Andreas Fault runs along the northeastern edge at the bast of the Temblor Range, and provides some interesting results. These two pictures show the expanse of grassland in the Carrizo Plain, looking north and east from the parking lot for the Painted Rock trail, across the plains towards the Soda Lake and Temblor Range.
	The Painted Rock The Painted Rock is reputed to have mystical signifigance for the native Americans who inhabited the Carrizo Plain before the arrival of Europeans.
	Open Space These next three pictures show the view across the plain to the Temblor Range. In the second, we have another rock in the foreground. This rock, and Painted Rock, are at the base of the Caliente Range.
	The Painted Rock The Painted Rock stands out in a plain of grass. It gets fairly weather-beaten.
	Whitewash If you look closely, you can see some whitewash. This suggests that this hole in the rock may have been used as a perch for a raptor looking to feed, or maybe even a nest. Identifying these whitewashes is a good trick for finding perched raptors, whether on cliffs, or on the Golden Gate Bridge.
	View from the Rock Another look across the plain. There aren't any looks across the plain to the Caliente Range because of the lighting.
	The Rock Another image of the rock.
	View from Inside the Rock There was a hollow inside the rock, from which we can look out towards the Soda Lake.
	Petroglyphs The native Americans painted petroglyphs in the rocks.
	A Crow's Nest A crow nested here.
	Wallace Creek On the far side of the plain is Wallace Creek. This creek crosses the San Andreas Fault, resulting in a break. The first picture, taken from the Pacific Plate, looks up towards the source of the creek (currently dry.) It looks unremarkable. The second picture is taken from a point on the San Andreas Fault, looking northwest. When the creek reaches the fault, it is immediately turned to the northwest and follows the fault for approximately 150 feet, and then it makes a second 90 degree break to the southwest. About 6000 years ago, Wallace Creek was straight across the fault, but successive earthquakes and other slippage has resulted in these right angles. The third picture, taken from the North American Plate, shows the angles more clearly.

	Prairie Falcon This prairie falcon, perched on a power pole, came as a mild surprise... And stuck around for a few piictures.
	Sparrow
	Long-eared Owl There were several long-eared owls at Mercey Hot Springs. Well into the trees, photography was difficult, but not impossible.