Pickleweed Place Perspective

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

Owl Burrow Picnic Site

I usually fly five days a week from the Pickleweed Place picnic spot at Baylands, but sometimes you gotta leave home.

On Friday, Doug, Mike, Bruce and I visited Rancho San Antonio, another excellent local flying venue.

I’ve written before about RSA and about the challenge of changing perspectives (Doug and I crashed into trees when we were displaced to the Meadowlands picnic area by the park lawn mower test track), but Friday I was again reminded of how much we depend on familiar cues when we fly.

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Blackbirds & Jellyfish

Sunday, July 1st, 2007

Red-Winged Blackbird

My choice for Baylands Bird of the Month is the red-winged blackbird. Big flocks of them are scouring stretches of grass for seeds and bugs.

I don’t remember seeing them last year, but they were probably all around while I was fixated on my primitive flying skills.

The bright red epaulets on the males are striking. The males travel in large fast-moving groups, foraging.

Looking for a picture on the web, I learned that it’s one of the most abundant North American birds and that it loves wetlands.

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