Backyard Flower Close-ups

Simple backyard flowers can be even more beautiful close-up!

Paper White

Raindrops on Rose Petal

Center cone of an Echinacea blossom

Shasta Daisy

Tomato plant leaves

Bougainvillea

Potato Vine Blossom

Pause and look closely next time you're in a garden. It's another universe!

This Morning's Walk

I love this moment when sunrise happens. I try and witness as many of these as possible.

On the way back I met two "Westies" (West Highland Terriers). One is named Oliver and I didn't catch the name of the other one. They are father and son, out for a morning walk.

Next I met a really cute Corgy with a regal Japanese-sounding name that I can't remember.

<- I don't generally appreciate Halloween Decorations, but I must admit, this was so tastefully spooky and the right scale for the house that I really like it.

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Huntington Beach Birdwatching

Birdwatching at sunrise in Huntington Beach California.

A Willet and a Marbled Godwit digging for food with their long bills in between waves.

Surf City USA (a.k.a. Huntington Beach, CA)

I made the most of my recent business offsite to Huntington Beach. The ocean is such a magical place to lose oneself in the immensity of it all, especially early in the morning . . .

Last installment of Hawaii Pictures - Flying Home

^ Taking off from Honolulu.

^ Nice view of Waikiki

^ View inside of Diamond Head

Aloha beloved Hawaii. I'll be back yet again.

Sunset along the horizon.

Almost dark. G'night.

I love birds and I find all Hawaiian birds exotic.

Here's a great example. Is this cool or what? It's like a cardinal that you'd find in the Eastern US as all red, but it was introduced from Brazil and is called a red-crested cardinal. (BTW, these pics are not mine. I saw these birds but didn't photograph them. This is courtesy of this website:http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/Hawaii/BIRDS/Birds/Rock%20Dove.htm

I love these little guys . . . Java Sparrows. From Indonesia. So cute!

Myna birds. Noisey great songs. Might get annoying after awhile if I lived in Hawaii, but I don't, so I love 'em!

Zebra dove. Even the pigeon-like birds in Hawaii are exotic!

The Vented Bulbul. Very cool. Saw some of these on the hike to Diamond Head. Love the rocker hairdo.

Spotted dove. Another exotic pigeon!

The Rock Dove. OK, these I had personal experiences with . . .

This one was on my balcony, 31 stories high.

Checking me out.

And then there were two . . .

A long way down

Hey! Wait a minute! How come you closed the door on me? I was just getting used to having Cheerios for breakfast with you!!

Waikiki

View from my hotel room at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort. <- Did I mention that my room was on the 31st floor? I don't mind heights so I ate breakfast every morning on my balcony.

^ I was intrigued by this guy making plumeria leis by holding the end between his toes.

The surfer and dolphin seem to like them.

So I gave the street lei-maker $5 and got one to decorate my room. Seems appropriate next to the botanical print of a plumeria.

This picture is from my cab ride on the way to the Diamond Head trailhead. It was the morning of the Tinman Triathalon (not to be confused with the longer and more intense IronMan).

This picture was taken at a local restaurant. Not a sign I tend to see in Dublin or Oakland.

Looking down, the carpet is just as tropical as my dress. (Tropical Camo?)

Cloudy Sunset over Waikiki.

I'm glad I made the most of this business trip, at least in the early morning and evening hours. It's not as fun to be in Hawaii without my husband, though. Oh well, there's always next time.

Aloha

Diamond Head Hike

The most famous volcanic crater in the world is Diamond Head, located on the South-east Coast of O'ahu at the end of Waikiki overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was originally named Laeahi by the ancient Hawaiians. The name meant "brow of the tuna" and looking at the silhouette of the crater from Waikiki, you can see the resemblance. I was always curious about hiking this crater and I got my chance on Sunday, July 26th. I was even more intrigued since when I looked out of my room at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort, it dominated the view.

So, I ventured out early Sunday morning. I took hiking poles with me as I was just as concerned about the steep hike down as the steep hike up.

I also took my little Leica binoculars since you never know what birds you might encounter. Here was the list of possible birds. I'm sure I saw and heard at least the bulbul and some mynas on this hike. I've spotted most of the other birds on this poster in my various trips to Hawaii over the years, and saw lots of Java Sparrows again this trip, though not on the Diamond Head hike.

Man, that's a long ways up!!!

Gorgeous, hot sweaty, humid country!

Nice views kept me going as I made my way upward.

Lots of steps between here and the top.

But more nice refreshing vistas.

I love photographing tunnels.

Lots of stairs, but worth a look back at the view.

I thought the spiral staircase looked especially cool.

More stairs and framed vistas.

Not sure what this was, but liked how it looked.

OK, It was finally worth it!

Waikiki like I've never seen it before.

Postcard perfect!