Orange rock~Orange You Glad Its Friday~021513

I found this rock last weekend at the Whitewater Rock Supply Company, which is at the entrance to the Whitewater Canyon and Preserve.  I hadn't been here for several years.  It's always fun to wander around and view all their rock piles!  Actually, I could spend HOURS here!  They have been in existence ever since I was a kid and my family used to visit the desert, so that's a LONG time!  Anyway, I like the pattern and colors on this rock.  Here are some views of the facility, too.  Orange you Glad it's Friday for February 15, 2013.  To visit Orange you Glad it's Friday, please go to this link:   http://www.hoodphotography.com/2013/02/orange-you-glad-its-friday-26.html

Feather cloud~SkyWatch Friday~021513

While out driving one afternoon, I spotted this "feather cloud" above Deep Canyon, so I decided to pull over and take a photo of it.  Interesting, eh?  SkyWatch Friday for February 15, 2013.  To visit SWF, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/.  It is forecast to be 80 degrees here tomorrow!  Wow!  Perfect weather!   :-)

Mt. San Jacinto and fence~Friday Fences~021513

A beautiful view of Mt. San Jacinto from Palm Desert.  I have a 3 day weekend coming up this weekend and fair weather is forecast!  What more could I ask for?  To visit Friday Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

My encounter with vultures~Nature's Notes~021413

I did a previous post about the vultures I encountered during my morning walk last weekend.  There actually were two of them~a pair.  I spotted one of them in a palo verde while out for my walk.  I knew it wasn't a crow~he was too big.  So, I approached, but he spread his wings and glided over to another tree, about 1/4 mile away.  I slowed down and approached that tree, only to discover another vulture there.  By the time I got close enough to take photos, they both had their wings out (see top photos) and were sunning themselves.  We had a frost the night before here in the desert, so I believe they were warming themselves.  There was a hawk in the top of the tree and it immediately took off as I approached, but the two vultures actually let me come fairly close before they, too, took off.  I just stood and snapped photos.  At one point one of them flew right above me before joining his mate.  The two of them then lazily circled and moved away.  On my way home, in my car, however, I spotted them about a mile down the road.  I was glad to see them.  There is a pair up in Deep Canyon, so this might be that pair, or they could just be passing through the desert.  Nature Notes for February 14, 2013.  To visit Nature Notes, please go to this link:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Yellow flowers

I'm not really sure what to post today.  It's Valentine's Day and my birthday...that means total CHAOS at school today...:-(  I'll be wiped out by the end of the afternoon!  I don't have any red flowers to post today, but I did find these yellow ones last weekend, so I'm going to post them!

Vultures~Wild Bird Wednesday~021313

I was surprised to see a large bird in one of the palo verde trees along one of the dirt roads at the Desert Willow golf course Saturday morning.  I knew it wasn't a raven~~too big!  So, I crept closer.  The bird didn't move, so I zoomed in with my camera and yup~it was a vulture!  I don't often see vultures here in the desert.  I have seen them catching the thermals up in Deep Canyon, in fact, I saw a pair several years ago.  I do often see them in Anza, also floating on the thermals over large patches of agricultural land.  But, not here in the desert.  As I followed my find, he flew to another nearby tree where there was another vulture.  As he took off, I was able to follow him and observe his feet tucked into his body, and view his beautiful feathers.  Wow!  Isn't he beautiful?  Wild Bird Wednesday for February 13, 2013.  Oh, and I watched the two of them drift away, but I spotted them again on my way home!  I hope they made it up to Deep Canyon.   To visit Wild Bird Wednesday, please go to:  http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/

Mountains and clouds~Our World Tuesday~021213

We've had cloudy days here in the desert and in our mountains lately.  I love to see the clouds hug the hills and mountains or spill over the top of them!  It is clearing up later this week with temperatures forecast for 77 degrees in a couple of days, so the clouds will be moving on.  Our World Tuesday for February 12, 2013.   To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/2013/02/our-world-tuesday-week-77_11.html