The Drrons shoot a killer and other delights.

[drron]

And then I could have been back home-

.

.
Gum trees!
More of the flora.

.

.

.

.
The birds here are numerous and much easier to photograph.

.

.
A native cherry.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.
It is really interesting reading of the ecology of the Channel islands.Originally they were all joined and not separaed from the mainland by a great distance.The peak animal was the pygmy mammoth-they evolved to be smaller because of the limited territory.They disappeared about the time of man's arrival 12000 years ago.Another unigue animal was a flightless sea duck which disappeared about 2000 years ago.They were literally sitting ducks.
The sheep,cattle and pigs then dramatically changed the environment.DDT saw the elimination of the bald eagle allowing the golden eagle to establish and live off piglets and foxes.Santa Cruz island was donated to the Nature Conservancy in the 1980s and they set about ridding the island of feral sheep and pigs despite the protests of the Animal rights groups.The last pigs were difficult to trap so they brought in New Zealand helicopter marksmen to finally rid the island of pigs.


But then I found that there hasn't been a great research into the island's insects-at least no according to the NP Rangers when I showed them my pictures-2 black beetles,a red and black beetle and a green fly.

.

.

.

.
They knew the red and black beetle was an invader,the green fly almost certainly not endemic but new nothing of the black beetles.
But some more scenery.

.

..

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron turned around early and walked back to the ranger station.However this young fox walked up to her showing no fear or aggression.

.

.

.

.

.
She then found a blue jay.

.
I meanwhile kept having birds pose for me.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.
But fortunately did not come across any mice.

.
Time to head back to the landing site.The coastguard is keeping an eye on us.

.

.

.

.
They are building a new wharf.
The type of boat we will head back to the zodiacs in.

.

.

 

[drron]

The water is so clear.

.

.
The bird buffet has become more popular.

.

.
Now sailing toward Monterey.Pass several oil platforms and a lot more shipping.

.

.
Arriving in Monterey we got zodiacs to their Fisherman's wharf.

.

.

.

.
Not sure I would want to eat there for dinner as the food was still out in the sun when we came back from our excursion.

 

[drron]

A lovely specimen of an Australian wildflower as we walked to the bus.

.
Passed an interesting building.

.

.
But basically going too fast for successful photography.Though whilst the bus was stopped at lights I could get some roadside flowers.

.

.

.
We were off to the Point Lobos nature reserve.Point Lobos is truly beautiful.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Views to a hut used in an abalone business and over to Pebble Beach.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Lots of wildflowers for spring.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.
The whaler's shack which has been turned into a mini museum Our guide's husband is the grandson of the man who owned this area.He was an Engineer from Pennsylvania who got a job at the coal mine here in 1897.It went out of business and he bought the land except for a 1000 block subdivision.However an economic slump then let him buy back most of the lots.He ran an abalone cannery and also a sand and gravel pit.However he and his family came to appreciate the natural beauty and after his death the family sold most of what now is the park to the state.All human evidence was erased apart from one whalers cottage.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Looking towards the spot where whales were processed.

.

.

.
Today a harbour seal haul out.

.

.

.
And seal pups doing what comes naturally.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

..

.

.
Once again looking down is rewarded-a salamander.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.
A Carmellite monastery.They take a vow of silence.Apparently only 2 left.
Another little criticism.The descriptions of tours were a little misleading at times.This was described as a moderate walk on a well formed track with some inclines.The inclines often were many steps over uneven rocks and tree roots.Rojaan had a lot of trouble so we just took our time.Also as you can see a fine,warm day so I wore shorts.As not yet the start of the season the poison oak was over the path in places so I had to be careful.People complain of the dangers in Australia but obviously forget what's in their own backyard.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.
Smart bird.

.

.
It isn't all looking at water.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
A famous cypress pine-the Veteran's tree.Unfortunately half of it has fallen in the water.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.
Those are some Californian sea lions.In the next photo you may make out some hazy brown stuff on the water between the furthest 2 sets of rocks.In that are several sea otters but with the sun behind them you just have to take my word for it.

.

.
Coming to the end of our Point Lobos trek.

.

.

 

[drron]

.
The cormorants have their little niche.
Then someone says-"look at all the otters out there-

.
And there were-

.
Not easy to see but the lighter blobs are the heads of otters floating on their backs.We were even able to see the process of making little otters.

.
Rojaan decided to sit in the shade rather than walk out to see the otters.A bird walked up to her.

.

.
So time to say goodbye.

.
Unfortunately no time for this exhibition.

.
These sea lions have taken notice of the sign.

.
So we now leave Monterey.I was not aware that this cruise was billed as a whale watch cruise even though that was the reason I wanted to do this segment.We all got a book on whales.They supplied each suite with binoculars-obviously they still have them.they were collected on the last day.There were also 2 young women involved with whales.

.
Anna and Lucy were a delight and lovely to see their enthusiasam.
We did see a lot of humpback activity in the next 48 hours particularly breaching humpbacks as we entered and left San Francisco.

 

[drron]

So dinner that night.Again straight forward tasty food but lacking any wow or luxury factor.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Now one of the highlights of the cruise.Sailing into San Francisco at dawn.A bit of fog but still outstanding.

.

.

.
Not the warmest of mornings.

.

.
Those birds keep photobombing me.

.

.

.