The President

The President -- Sequoia National Park, CA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 1/30s, f/4, ISO: 200

If I had to pick one tree that I've seen as the coolest tree ever, there's a pretty good chance this would be the one.  The President is a massive sequoia in Sequoia National Park.  The General Sherman is the largest known tree based on trunk volume, but there is speculation that the President is possibly larger than the General Sherman based on overall volume, which includes the whole kit and kaboodle, including branches and needles.  That's not what makes it so awesome, though, I only read that thing about its volume recently.  My favorite sequoias are downright gnarly in their upper halves.  The Grizzly Giant in Yosemite is a great example, but the President might be the ultimate gnarly sequoia.  Of course, I don't have any pictures of the top half of the President.  I guess I had to leave myself a reason to go back.

Inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 100, photo #4234.

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, 1/125s, f/11, ISO: 100

I don't normally see a lot of wildlife at the Ankeny complex in Oregon aside from Canada geese (woohoo), but in winter it's a good spot for bald eagles.  I saw an American bittern in November, the first and only time I've ever seen one.  No pictures though, my card was full and  had left the spare in the car.  D'oh.

This pond is always pretty, even though there are normally only a few ducks on it.

More Cranes

Merced National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1.2000s, f/5.6, ISO: 400

OK, unlike yesterday's photo, I'm not so sure about this one.  Again the depth of focus is too narrow, but zoomed in it's a bit more obvious.  Basically most of the picture is out of focus.  I like the crane with its mouth open and also how the egrets can be seen mixed in with the cranes.  Sandhill cranes are pretty awesome, I'm thinking about heading back out there this weekend.

Sandhill Cranes

Merced National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1/2000s, f/5.6, ISO: 400

This photo has grown on me.  Cranes.  Blackbirds.  Egrets. The depth of focus is too narrow, but I like all the action.

White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis -- Merced National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1/2000s, f/5.6, ISO: 640

I took this photo last week on the auto tour at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge.  This ibis was right next to the road and paid no attention to me as I pulled up to take pictures.

What's the plural of ibis?  Ibises?  Ibii?  Just plain old Ibis?  The spell check is letting me get away with ibises, so that's what I'm going with.

I've seen plenty of ibises on these auto tours.  I've never gotten this close, though.  What a strange collection of colors and patterns.  It's hard to imagine it could all go together on a single bird.  The "white-faced" part of their name comes from their breeding plumage, which has more red in their chest and neck and obviously white on their face.  I had to look that up, I've never actually seen one with a white face.

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret -- Merced National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1.1600s, f/5.6, ISO: 320

Lovely birds, snowy egrets.  It seems like when nothing else is going well a snowy egret will come through with a nice photo op.  This was the first good shot of the day on Monday, and it came at around 4:00.  Things went better after that, though.  I credit little snowy here for getting the ball rolling.

The Goonies House

The Goonies House, Astoria, OR
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 1/250s, f/4. ISO: 200

I watched The Goonies last night.  I know the movie backwards and forwards.  It played at The Elsinore when I worked there in high school.  I visited the house when I passed through Astoria a couple of years ago.  I didn't meet the people that own the place, but they seem pretty cool about their special house.  There's a hand-painted sign directing tourists to the place.  Equally exciting to me was the house next door, Data's house.  Unfortunately there's no cable running between the houses for Data to slide down on.

Data's House, Astoria, OR
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 1/200s, f/4, ISO: 200