cazalea[Seiko Moderator]
19346
Land, Sea & Air
"I'll sea you one, and rays you two"
Well ok then. Can I continue? People have often asked me how we decide where to walk...
- the weather plays a role - do we have sun?
- the traffic influences our choice - can we avoid morning commute?
- our chores are considered - is there someplace we can walk nearby?
- your interests are taken into account - has there been a request? were we there recently?
- health too - can we handle the hills, are we feeling lazy or energetic?
- temperature - water is always good for the images and moderates the heat or cold
Today we went to Liberty Station, a large expanse of land nearby that was once the Naval Training Center, San Diego. It's on the edge of the harbor, near the airport, and accessible on most days (tired or energetic).
We started at the eastern corner, across from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, or MCRD.
Liberty Station is an interesting place but can be quite busy with walkers and stuff so that reduces our wildlife spottings. Still, we walk there a few times a year.

The Kanaka Club is our first interesting observation.

Here are some boats.

Is it a coincidence that I can look out in the distance and see the "tail feathers" of a flight to Hawaii?

A pair of Ducks (possibly courting) paddle by in the foreground.

A pair of much larger birds take off for destinations unknown...

Mother and baby, it seems.

This grate lets us know that we should no go farther and fall in the water. We are grateful.

Because under the water there is another pair of flying objects - bat rays or stingrays, also with a baby.

They are normally hard to spot but since these are about 4 feet across I have no trouble getting a good image.

The pelican is doing its morning grooming and doesn't care about rays.

Nor does the gull. I couldn't get both in focus so you have to look at 2 photos. As I came around the cove I could see they were actually about 100 feet apart.

Oysters and mussels are proof that you don't walk casually along the water's edge, barefoot or not:

We stood and watched a few "oyster shots" (I had to take a short video to capture the squirts, then a screen capture of the video).

I noticed a pair of similarly-named objects. Is it a coincidence that the Osprey (raptor) on this landing light tower is perched in front of a motor home named Raptor?

He gives me the stink-eye and is not impressed with my sense of humor...

Or is he looking over my head? I revolve and see a potential breakfast option, except Ospreys prefer fish.
We leave the water at this point and move along the shore heading westward. Please join us for Part 2 if you can.
Cazalea