October 3, 2014

  • Returns

    Today, the heat wave has returned -- it was over 100 at one point at my house, but dry air, so not terribly oppressive. 

    I drove to the beach to see how well the sand is returning, and to see the "big waves" that we are having.  The sand is coming back -- the beach is still narrow, but the slope to the waves is shallower -- and the waves this time are 3-5 feet.  There were seagulls in profusion -- they like this beach!

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    The waves were pretty, though not as spectacular as the last round.

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    I was also delighted to discover that the herons are beginning to return to their nests at the tops of the eucalyptus trees at Dana Point Harbor.  The trees have been thinned, but there are still some good nests for the birds to settle into -- there were two sitting in the trees, and hopefully they will all come back to nest once again.

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    Some of my readers have noticed that I haven't been posting as often as I used to do.  It has been so hot recently, and I've been working through a stiffness of my leg due to a silly minor injury -- I've temporarily not been very inspired to go outside and enjoy what nature offers.  I'll be out photographing next week, and should have lots of photos to post when I return.  And particularly if the birds return, I'll be visiting them more often as the weather cools.  Hopefully we'll have a wet winter, but even so, I'll still be here!

Comments (34)

  • 100 degrees, Wow! The California coast always looks so amazing.
    It's been cool but very humid here.
    My daughter informs me that we are due for a severe temperature drop overnight Saturday... down into the 40's. :-o

    • We'll have hot weather till Tuesday or Wednesday, then it will drop 20-30 degrees over the next few days, and we'll be back to normal. This is our Santana season -- the hot winds come off the desert to kep us warmed up! It's very dry, too -- and the height of fire season (if there still is a fire season other than all year)! 40's at night sounds wonderful!

  • It is really hot and you are right Janet to not go too much outside .
    The beach looks narrow but with large enough for the regiment of seaguls!
    lOve
    Michel

  • hot but beautiful. LOVE the beach pics!!

  • Hi Janet, love your photos of ocean and herons. Nature is always exciting.

    Have a great weekend.

    frank

  • I especially like the seagull close up.

    • I really would like to have done something other than his rear end, but the feathers were so pretty!

  • Great bid photos and the color of the waves is fabulous! I'm glad that your leg is healing and that you'll be out and about soon. Hope the recovery time is almost over! I have to confess that I'm enamoured of the herons... the more photos the better in my book!!

    • Thanks, Val! I'm walking around much more easily now than I was a month ago -- I, too, hope it will be completely recovered soon. Glad you ejoyed this post -- I'm also delighted that you like the herons as much as I do -- I'm sure I'll spend a lot of time with them over the winter (unless we should have 3 months of daily rains!).

  • So sorry you have not been feeling well ~ hoping you are much better soon ~ love the close-up shots of the gulls!

    • Thanks, fwren -- I'm much better now -- a momentary nerve issue caused muscle pain in the legs -- walking has been difficult, but easier each day! The gulls were wonderful, with their ruffled feathers!

  • It's been hot here too, 90's and humid.

  • I didn't realize a beach could heal that quickly.

    • It's still far from where it was before the big waves took all the sand away, but it is definitely healing. There is normally movement of the sand with currents, which are variable all the time -- it all depends on where the currents and waves come from now. It could take a week or two, or it could take all winter. After all, it was destroyed over a matter of about 3-4 days!

  • Exactly that!

    • I remember those days -- just as bad as our heat waves, or worse because of the humidity!

  • Im in spring valley and the indoor temp (because I have no ac) was hot and humid because of too many bodies indoors. Outside in the shade the thermometer said 99.

    • Spring Valley -- inland San Diego -- gets pretty warm on these hot days! Take care, and get to a cooler place if you can.

  • Sigh if I didn't have a meeting at work this evening, I would so totally drive down to the beach now after looking at these photos. We are so lucky to live near this!

    • It's been beautiful here -- a little on the hot side, but not as oppressive as last month. I'm thankful that my job brought me here when homes were a little more affordable than they are now -- it's nice to hop in the car and run to the beach at will!

  • Looking at that picture of the single sea gull, I can admire the beauty in the detail of its feathers. It's as if I am standing right there looking at it. What a marvelous camera you have!
    SO glad you are posting again. Hope the injury was not too bad Janet.

    • That bird was so beautiful -- I wanted to see its face too, but had to capture the slightly ruffled tail feathers! I'm glad you enjoyed seeing it too! Will e-mail you, Zakiah!

  • It looks as if the weather ought to be just a tad cooler, from here on out. Glad to see the beach is recovering.

    • Maybe a tad cooler, Gary -- 96 at midday rather than 100! It will cool down a bit during the coming week, but be more humid (hurricane Simon), then warmer again. The beach will recover, but slowly! I haven't had the heart yet to visit Crystal Cove!

  • It's been hot hot hot on the coast. I was working in it most of the time and sitting in a dentist chair the other time, so the heat wins my vote for fun. hahaha. Love you Janet!

    • It's been crazy weather here recently -- sorry you have to work in it! Do you suppose we'll get rain this winter to compensate for the heat?

  • I hope things cool down for you and that your leg gets much better quickly, if it isn't healed already. I enjoy your pictures.

    • Thank you! Do come back again next week to see more photos! It's still hot (93 today at home), although they say it should cool down then warm up again!

  • Yes, 100 sounds warmish! :-) Loved the beach pictures. I want to visit a beach, soon, well sometime anyways. :)

    • We've had a couple of months of heat -- this week has finally returned to more comfortable temperatures!

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