Uploads from SoCalBob, with geodata

Winding Stream

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:19:01 -0700

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Ducks flying overhead, a seagull on the distant street light, a family walking up the path,the meandering stream, and the office buildings in the background capture the flavor of Riverwalk.

Afternoon at Riverwalk

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:50:40 -0700

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Overlooking the large pond at Riverwalk on a quiet afternoon. It's commute time, though, and traffic is heavy on the street above.

Bird Watching

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:12:11 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

People walking by -- this couple is only about 8 feet away -- don't bother my friend the young Snowy Egret in the least as he perches on the railing of a little foot bridge crossing the Riverwalk stream. The bridge overlooks his favorite fishing hole and he can usually be found right in this area.

Flying Home 2

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:12:10 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

I was glancing sideways and almost tripped over Mrs. Mallard walking up the sidewalk to the street before she took off.

Flying Home 1

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:12:11 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

I was glancing sideways and almost tripped over Mrs. Mallard walking up the sidewalk to the street before she took off.

Mallard Madness

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 11:35:19 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Be ready with your camera because pandemonium sometimes erupts in the main Riverwalk pond when the ducks spot a family tossing out bread on the opposite shore. This is full frame side to side, only the top and bottom are cropped, with very minimal levels adjustments.

Better Large on black -- press L. And even better if you click on Fullscreen.

Lust

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:01:40 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

One of many people drooling over this 1966 Mustang hardtop at a vintage car show in a Riverside parking lot.

Ruffled Feathers

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:50:01 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Saturday afternoon at Riverwalk. My friend the Snowy Egret in midair crossing the stream with the breeze ruffling his feathers.

Up for Air

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:50:01 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Saturday afternoon at Riverwalk. A Cormorant comes up for air between dives under water to catch dinner.

Riverwalk Snowy Egret

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:50:03 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Saturday afternoon at Riverwalk and this handsome Snowy Egret intently peers into the water looking for lunch. He managed to catch a couple of good-sized fish while I was watching (see the next photo).

Stilts on the Bank Framed

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 21:05:06 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

A typical gathering of Black-necked Stilts along the shore of the largest pond at Riverwalk as one is taking off toward the opposite bank. They're really cool birds who tend to congregate in groups near the water, just standing or foraging for insects, crustaceans and small fish. In spite of their very long legs, they tend to stay on land and seldom wade, even in shallow water.

When they fly they often emit a piercing, high-pitched shriek in midair, and they fly very fast -- always to a predetermined destination without gliding or circling like many other birds.

The Stilt population has increased every year at Riverwalk. Fewer than a dozen arrived for the first time two years ago and this year there about 30-40 of them. Adults are very uniform in size and, unlike most bird species, males and females have identical markings with only extremely very subtle differences in back and wing coloration during breeding season.

Stilts on the Wing Framed

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:10:05 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Black-necked Stilts flying across the pond at Riverwalk after some children came too close to where they were grouped on the bank.

Please view large, press L.

Stilt Flyover Framed

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:10:06 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Black-necked Stilts flying across the pond at Riverwalk after some children came too close to where they were grouped on the bank.

Please view large, press L.

Mallard on a Mission

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:25:00 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Every trip to Riverwalk yields something interesting to photograph, ranging from the wide assortment of birds to visitors enjoying this small wildlife refuge that is a hidden treasure in the middle of the city.

This Mallard in midair is rushing across the Riverwalk pond by Pierce Street to join a crowd of his feathered friends gathered around a family tossing out pieces of bread.

Snowy Egret Taking Off

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:25:00 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Every trip to Riverwalk yields something interesting to photograph, ranging from the wide assortment of birds to visitors enjoying this small wildlife refuge that is a hidden treasure in the middle of the city.

Just after taking off from his perch on a bridge across the stream, this Snowy Egret is captured flying low over the water before landing on the bank a short distance downstream. This young bird has made Riverwalk home for several months now. He is not particularly wary of people and quite approachable (I can walk to within 10-12 feet or so without alarming him). However, he doesn't care to be around other birds and can usually be found at the south end of the stream about 200 yards from where most of the other birds congregate.

Sabre & MiG 3 (130)

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:46:50 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

My Korean War dogfight series, photos of the flight demonstration at Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA, on February 2, 2013.

The museum's North American F-86 Sabrejet and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet fighters circled low over the facility in close formation several times for the appreciative crowd, affording photographers a rare opportunity to capture these legendary rival airplanes in action.

Tech Note -- Taken with a Nikon D7000 and 70-300 VR Nikkor lens. Hazy overcast skies with flat light resulted in photos that presented a challenge in post processing. 230mm was used to ensure that both aircraft would be included in every frame. Therefore, all photos are moderate to heavily cropped and SOOC images did not provide a usable "one-shot" of a single airplane. Next time I will shoot "tighter" and accept the risk of missing all or part of an airplane in some frames as I pan to follow the action.

Sabre & MiG (92) 7

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:46:57 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Sabre & MiG 1 (101)

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:46:47 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Sabre & MiG 4 (140)

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:46:52 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo:

Sabre & MiG 2 (110)

nobody@flickr.com (SoCalBob) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:46:49 -0800

SoCalBob posted a photo: