The Gift of Rain

There are several places i need to investigate after the rain we had.  I want to check lake or creek levels and since Lindo Lake was successful, i wanted to check Bernardo Bay today and i was pleased with what mother nature had delivered:
                                     This was just a month ago.

 And here's today!  The photo above was taken in almost the same spot as the picture taken today, but it was taken looking North, while the photo below is taken looking West.  But the area is the same.  And what was near dry and just an inch or so is now full to the shore

  this picture is taken from the rock i always perch on to watch the birds.  The birds were making due with what they had....

But now, it's full!  The shoreline and tree stumps are now submerged.  This was a beautiful sight to see!!

While sitting on my perch today i enjoyed myself watching the Western Grebes.  I love these little birds!  I refer to Bernardo Bay as "the Grebe Factory"  there are hundreds of them there and truth is they are all you can hear when walking around the lake (thankfully, i love their sweet little voices)  I was very fortunate to witness a beautiful scene today.

these two Grebes were engaged in a courting ritual right in from of me.  Prior to this photo (my camera was off and i was so mesmerized, i was afraid to move)  they swam side by side and began to almost peck at one another and then they bowed their heads and did the Rushing Ceremony.  I have witnessed the Rushing Ceremony so many times i lost count.  But they are usually so far away. these two Grebes were right in front of me AND i didn't get a picture, i could kick myself!

After the Rushing Ceremony, they began bowing to one another and then they did this, they were rubbing their beaks together (this is a bad photo, but they had moved further away)

Another bad photo, but the male dove down under water and came back up with what appeared to be weeds/grass, he presented it to his lady and she accepted. I'm pretty sure these two are now mates.  To be a witness to this was a great honor

 these photos were taken several weeks ago, i was able to photograph the Rushing Ceremony, but they were across the lake, hence the bad photos, but I'm glad i got something

this appears to be two males trying to impress that little lady in the water.

i managed to get a decent photo of this Yellow Rumped Warbler.

today was a great birding day.  I also saw two Red Tailed Hawks and a Northern Harrier  try to swoop down and try to grab a duck or coot, but it was a bad day for the raptors, the little waterfowl managed to thwart their attempts. It's amazing all the things you can see and experience....if you just pay attention.