January 26, 2017
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Stormy Week
In the last 10 days, we have had more rain than in each of the last 5 or 6 years! Knowing it was going to be stormy, I took a quick drive to Dana Point Harbor to see what was happening. There was little activity, but when I looked upwards I was pleasantly surprised to see an old friend. I stayed only a few minutes, but I was able to find a good vantage point from which I didn't have to look straight up. This was the only heron I saw that day, but it may become a favorite for the year.
As I drove away, I noticed lots of gulls sitting on the channel-side breakwater -- I'd seen lots of larger birds on the breakwater, but never gulls.
For the next several days, I never left home -- it poured each day, and we were being asked not to be out and about unless it was necessary. This is what my driveway looked like on one of those days.
This was pretty heavy rain, considering that we've had less than 6 inches of rain each of the last few years (our average is about 15 inches). As gray as it looks, it was good to see rain for a few days. The rain has now stopped, and today was sunny all day, although the roofs were frosty this morning. It is to be in the low 70's tomorrow, and I've heard conflicting reports for next weekend -- one says it could be rainy again, an the other says temperatures could be close to 80. We still need lots of rain to fill the lakes and get us out of the deficit caused by the drought, but this past week of rains certainly helped avert a crisis in the Southland!
Comments (12)
Love seeing the heron. Herons always remind me of when we visited a rookery in Abbottsford, BC. So glad you are getting rain.
I was glad to see the heron, and there were a few nests still in the trees (although today's wind may blow them down)!
You know I have a soft spot for those big birds! It is good to see even one back at Dana Point. I love that you are finally getting a decent amount of rain. I'm going to cross my fingers and pray that it makes a real difference in the lake levels.
I hope there will be more of the herons soon -- will keep close watch this year! We had a solid week of truly rainy weather -- it's now turned to Santana Winds (hot, dry winds, though not as hot this time as they could be). Today's report was that the lake is at 9% of capacity, and something like 10 feet higher than the bottom. There is a smaller dam/lake upstream which is so silted that it hardly makes a difference to anything -- it spilled a couple of days ago, so there is runoff coming into the lake right now -- that will help, though only for a short time, and not very much (the water is also polluted by ash from one of the large fires, so it will also contaminate the Cachuma water -- I guess they can't win for losing!). Apparently there is now about a year's worth of water available now in the Cachuma system, including the anticipated State water and the desal production -- it's enough to take a deep breath, but not a problem completely solved!
Wow, that is a lot of gulls! Yes, I'm glad you are getting rain. Hope it comes in slow and steady and soaking.
I see the gulls often on the beaches, but this is the first time I've seen them on the rocks like that -- they say the gulls come inland when it's going to rain, so maybe that had something to do with their odd behavior. We had about a week of steady rain -- 3 inches or so -- and it may sprinkle in the next few days -- not enough to break the drought, but it felt good anyway!
The water! at last!Janet!
This will be good for your dry area ?
The seagulls on the breakwater are spectacular by their number.
What is the tree where the heron is perched ?
Love
Michel
I answered earlier on WP, but yes, this will definitely help our area, though it will also be the cause of mudslides! The seagulls don't usually perch on the rocks like that! The tree is a eucalyptus variety.
So good for your area to have so much rain, right? Love the heron, of course ~
Yes -- it is good to have that much rain, although now we worry about mudslides, which can happen any time from now to the end of summer -- one of the worst I remember was months after the last previous rain! The rain will help, though, again, it will take many more like it to repair the aquifer and fill the lakes.
I've never had the opportunity to catch a picture of a heron. My one visit to the coast of TX the bird was to far away for my camera. After rains here I used to get some shots of egrets in the creek down the street.
Living near the coast of Southern California, I have found an ideal place to photograph herons, although there is a force that is cutting back on their habitat. A few years ago, I posted heron pics daily, taken at a grove of eucalyptus trees where there was a colony of nests. They are beautiful, graceful birds, and quite friendly!
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