My first bird of the New Year was, as I’d hoped, a Chestnut-backed Chickadee. I went out around 11:30 am on New Year’s day and heard a flock of birds in the trees across the street. I could barely see them and they were calling but not clear Chickadee calls. I used my camera to take a picture so I could zoom in and ID them. They were my sweet Chickadee friends.
Crisp, clear, winter sky
Later in the day, my family went out for a walk on the Santa Cruz wharf. As we left home, a raven said good-bye to us. Beautiful, glossy, shiny, black thing.
We arrived on the coast and felt amazingly lucky to be living in beautiful California on a sunny winter day. It was cold and breezy but there were people in the ocean. We walked out to the end of the wharf. We saw California Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Brandt’s Cormorants and a Pacific Loon. The last two being Lifers for me. (Clare will be so relieved that I have finally seen a Loon in person!) We also had the joy of watching Sea Lions playing on the piers below the wharf. What a great way to get my first 7 birds of the year.
After our walk, we went to see Marley and Me. This was a beautiful, funny, sad movie. This story reminded me so much of my first Labrador, Kashmir. We laughed hilariously. We cried, too. I was pretty much sobbing as quietly as I could in the crowded theater. My daughter and I had to have a long talk walking back to the car about why movies (and books) that make us cry are satisfying and wonderful in so many ways. She’s been reluctant to read Black Beauty and Little Women because they are sad. So, maybe this experience will help her to reach for some new experiences.
I hope all of you have a great first day of the year, as well. If you need a little poetic inspriation for the new year, visit my poem published on A Handful of Stones.
For more 2009 skies in your Friday, visit Sky Watch Friday!
mother. wife. friend. teacher. writer. reader. photographer. birder. quilter. blogger.
Liza Lee Miller 
what lovely photos, congratulations on your two lifers! best wishes for 2009.
A fun day! Happy New Year Liza. :c)
fab pics. happy new year.
Sounds – and looks – like a lovely day. Obviously you are on the other end of the globe from me, because here it is below zero and we are skating. I have never even heard of a chickadee, but he looks cute and apparently he is nesting (?)
It was a beautiful first day of the year, wasn’t it? Started out foggy here, but ended up with that clear blue sky. First bird of the day was a scrub jay, but last was our neighborhood red-shouldered hawk.
Nice pics happy new year
We went to Santa Cruz on Sunday. It was beautiful. And did you see the big smiles on my brother’s and SIL’s faces?
Hi Liza – happy new year. Isn’t it more fun to visit the SC Wharf when there are fewer people there? I like the birds you saw, too. Here’s to more lifers for 2009!
Nice photos. I love the one of the plane – a unique shot.
No birding for me on the first. Just “humaning.” Birding will have to wait a few more days, I guess.
These photos are all fantastic! I especially love the sky one with the plane flying through…really neat capture.
I spent most my life in California. So it is really fun for me to see familiar shots. Thanks for the beauty of your winter that is so unlike mine!
The second and last shot sure are funny looking birds! I was stalking my elusive Heron at my fast evaporating pond. Got a few parrots as well.