Thunderous

We're back from Iceland but there were so many beautiful landscapes that I hope you don't mind if I share some more photos.

This is Dynjandi (and friends) -- a significant waterfall in the West Fjords.  The trail passes a series of smaller waterfalls leading up to the largest cascade at the top.  I was so entranced that I might have missed one, but this is the basic sequence from bottom to top.  [You can click on the photos for larger versions.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's hard to tell the size of this waterfall in a photo, so here's another with Eric for scale:

 

 

 

Dynjandi means thunderous, and it was!
 

Northern landscapes

  

Well, we're nearing the end of our visit to Iceland.  Eric thought it would be fun to post some landscape photos, so here's a selection from a few different areas.  Above, along the shoreline of the West Fjords.

 

Below, two from Breidavik Beach:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, a scene from Lake Mývatn near Höfði:

 

 

 

Boiling mud pots at a geothermal area, Hverir:

 

 

 

 

Two from the thundering waterfall, Dettifoss:

 

 

 

Lava columns at the fascinating Hljóðaklettar:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And one with reflections from peaceful Botnstjörn:

 

 

 

Iceland has been so inspiring!

 

We haven't had much time to process our photos, but we'll be sharing more as time allows.  Thanks so much for joining the journey!

Close to the bark

  

I returned home from the farmers' market to hear a Brown Creeper calling in our front yard.  Luckily my camera wasn't too far away, and the creeper spent some time feeding in a few different trees.  

Here it is searching crevices in the bark:

 

 

The creeper appeared to be successful locating prey, but the prey was too small for me to see while watching.  However, zooming in on photos later revealed a couple of prey items.

 

A small insect larva at the tip of the bill:

 

 

 

 

And possibly a small spider?

 

 

 

 

Turned out there were two creepers, both feeding along different tree trunks.

 

I love how well Brown Creepers blend in with the landscape of the trees—  the bark and lichens and mosses:

 

 

 

I'm also grateful for such wonderful visitors to our yard!

Burrowing among the boulders?

 Rocks, lichens, mosses...and an owl!  Can you spot it?

 

 

 

There's a Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) just right of center.  If you're having a hard time spotting it, here's a slightly closer view (below).  [And you can click on the image for a larger version.]

 

 

 

Photographed in Petaluma on 31 January 2021.

Greenery

Okay, I know some of you have probably been waiting for me to show the 2017 Pantone Color of the Year.  ;)

Well, I've been trying to find a good match.  That is, until I photographed something that would be a good representation of the color known as "greenery."

Although it's not a perfect match, today I think I came close enough.  Here's a nice patch of moss on a stone with some late afternoon sun (photographed in Petaluma on 15 January 2017):

 

If you'd like to compare the color of the moss with the actual color, here's a link to the Pantone web page with a swatch of greenery.

I'll keep looking for examples of "greenery" in our landscapes (and flora and fauna), but for now I thought it would be fun to introduce the Color of the Year.

P.S. To review previous Pantone Colors of the Year, review the posts for the 2015 color "marsala" and the 2016 color "rose quartz and serenity."

  

Frost before the storm

 

Sensors on Bodega Head recorded air temperatures of ~34°F (1°C) this morning, resulting in frost patches in low-lying areas.  This was one of my favorite views — a close-up of frost crystals on moss, reminiscent of tiny snowflakes.

Stay safe during the storm this weekend!

Jack

I know some people will think I'm crazy, but I'm always excited when there's a chance of seeing frost here.  It's not as common on the coast, but here are a few pictures from several fence posts between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay.

The frost crystals were very long, making these lichens look like miniature trees!

 

The next photo shows a variety of crystals that formed on a small clump of moss.

 

And one more, showing sparkling crystals on a crustose lichen.

 

All of these images were taken in a field next to a stream in a low-lying valley on 19 December 2012.

I think the last time we had snow was in 2005.  I still dream about sledding and snowball fights, but for now I'll thank Jack Frost for providing wonderful views of winter wonderlands.  (Now if only I could shrink down to walk among the tiny crystalline trees!)