Whales!
My friend from Maine and I went on a whale watch tour with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Nov. 13. We saw several humpback whales and a pod of orcas (killer whales.)
Although I lived in Tacoma, Washington for 18 years, I had never seen orcas. So this was a new experience for me.
There was a small baby in the group, which I got a somewhat decent photograph of.
At one point a humpback whale breached about a half mile away. It was an amazing sight as it jumped high in the air and came down with a splash. Too far away to photograph, though. I would have loved to seen it closer.
We also saw quite a few Risso’s dolphins.
We saw a few good birds, too.
Rhinoceros Auklet 
Rhinoceros Auklet
The morning was hazy in part from the Camp Wildfire north of Sacramento. It provided soft light, which helped with detail. It also gave a bit of a mood to the landscape.
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
Online gallery: Smugmug and Fine Art America
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Hi Mountain Lookout
When I found out from the Morro Coast Audubon Society that the Hi Mountain Condor Lookout was having an open house, I cut my Eastern Sierras trip short and drove home so I could learn about the work being done to save California condors from extinction.
Although the condors aren’t often seen there, a cliff that was last used for nesting in 1969 is nearby and there is hope that the increasing wild populations will rediscover it.
Band-tailed pigeon 
Hermit thrush 
Dark-eyed (Oregon) junco
Bewick’s Wren 
Sage Thrasher 
Golden-crowned Sparrow
California thrasher 
California towhee 
Hermit thrush
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
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Summer Fog
Paso Robles is always the HOTTEST town in the Central Coast in summer. It can be 106 in Paso and 66 degrees 20 miles away on the coast. Consistently.
The coast is often hugged by a layer of marine air (fog), and one morning in mid-August I saw its moody magic from my favorite viewpoint.
As usual, it was a cloudless sky in Paso. But once down on the coast, it was a fairly thin fog, with muted sun popping in and out. It made for some great bird photography with bright, even light.
Mt. Hollister is a jagged peak that looks wilder and out-of-place in this land of gentle golden hills. Normally Morro Rock would be visible, too.
The light green are vinyards
From Morro Bay’s sea otters and mound-shaped rock and birding spots, to San Simeon and its elk herds, Hearst Castle’s zebras, the elephant seals, and open views of the coast, this is by far my favorite part of the California coast.
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
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Tule Elk at Their Finest
The biggest herd of elk I’ve ever seen under control of one alpha male was along the Pacific Coast Highway just north of San Simeon, California the first week of September. He ruled over 35 cows and half-grown calves, with 10 other bulls – some with huge racks – grazed peacefully. One scrawny male challenged him while I was there. Take a look.
The first part of the video was in mid-afternoon, so the heat waves interfered with the quality. But I returned an hour before sunset for the best light, and they were closer to the road. A few horses even joined them in grazing.
He spent a lot of time rounding up his harem in a fairly tight bunch, so no interloper could snatch them away.
The testosterone keeps the bulls pretty wound up, and he made a few mating attempts with a cow who seemed receptive. It seems the females also mount the males as well, which could be a sign of affection and desire. Watch the video if you don’t believe me.
A few days later I found a smaller herd that frequents an area in Jolon, near Fort Hunter Liggett. This bull had just chased off a rival.
His cows were in the shade under a grove of oaks, standing on their hind legs to pull down the oak lichen, which apparently was a delicacy.
I returned to the area in the early evening and found them a couple of miles away.
The bull seemed exhausted and had a slight limp. Maybe the rigors of mating and fighting were wearing him down.
The cows moved out when they saw me, with their lord and master bringing up the rear.
They would stop periodically to look back, as if awaiting further guidance.
They moseyed along.
The Tule Elk is the smallest of the three sub-species of elk found in California.
To see a herd like this one in April, when the bull was just regrowing his anglers, see my earlier blog post.
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
Online gallery: Smugmug and Fine Art America
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Mission San Miguel – Birds
Cliff Swallow
This is the 4th in a series of photographs of Mission San Miguel, California.
Cliff swallow
Oak titmouse
House sparrows
Eurasian collared dove
Eurasian collared dove
House sparrows
House finch male
Male house sparrow
House sparrow
American robin
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
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Mission San Miguel – Crosses
Mission San Miguel, California
This is the third in a series of photographs of Mission San Miguel, California.
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
Online gallery: Smugmug and Fine Art America
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Mission San Miguel – Doors and Patterns
Mission San Miguel, California
This is part 2 of a series of photographs of Mission San Miguel, in San Miguel, California.
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
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Mission San Miguel – Architecture
Mission San Miguel, California
I spent one morning exploring Mission San Miguel in San Miguel, California, just off Hwy 101. That’s the highway dotted with shepherd’s crook bells to mark the mission road, since most of the 21 Spanish missions built in the 1700s and 1800s were in the general vicinity.
Mission San Miguel, California
The mission still holds Mass on Sunday mornings, so I waited until it was over before I went inside. From what I understand, much of the organic paint decor on the walls is original.
Mission San Miguel, California
The altar is incredibly ornate for a California mission, and a description of the symbols is on hand to explain their meaning and significance.
Mission San Miguel, California
I’m going to share my morning in a series of posts, since there are sooooo many images, so I will just let you enjoy them with minimal commentary.
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Mission San Miguel, California
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
Online gallery: Smugmug and Fine Art America
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Birds of the Oaks
Acorn woodpecker female
Since I live in the Central Coast area of California, there are lots of oak trees, mostly blue oak, and there are some very nice stands of large valley oaks as well. The acorn woodpecker is extremely populous here, since there’s a plethora of acorns. You can see how striking they are with their black-and-white plumage topped with a red cap, and white eyes. Read the rest of this entry »
San Simeon Landscapes
San Simeon with Hearst Castle in background
The California Coast from Montana de Oro State Park to San Simeon is my favorite, and I’m lucky enough to live close by.
Hearst Castle
The tour of the Hearst Castle is a must-do for visitors. Read the rest of this entry »
