FigueroaSanaYnezDec2007

IMG_8685 - 2007-12-15 at 09-11-18 \| Santa Ynez Area	IMG_8687 - 2007-12-15 at 09-14-02 \| Midland School \| Santa Ynez Area	IMG_8689 - 2007-12-15 at 09-14-12 \| Midland School \| Santa Ynez Area	IMG_8572 - 2007-12-15 at 09-16-50 \| Yellow-billed magpie Pica nuttalli is a commonly seen bird in the Santa Ynez Valley \| Santa Ynez Area, Yellow-billed magpie	IMG_8573 - 2007-12-15 at 09-17-02 \| Santa Ynez Area, Yellow-billed magpie	IMG_8696 - 2007-12-15 at 09-37-44 \| Dry browns for this time of year, significant rains have yet to come \| Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8698 - 2007-12-15 at 09-38-12 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8700 - 2007-12-15 at 09-39-28 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8705 - 2007-12-15 at 09-41-08 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8708 - 2007-12-15 at 09-42-30 \| Tunnel Road \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8575 - 2007-12-15 at 09-47-48 \| Birds eye view of part of the Santa Ynez Valley. \| Figueroa Mountain, Santa Ynez Area	IMG_8577 - 2007-12-15 at 10-00-52 \| Our first stop to check out the birds was at Pino Alto - This Mule Deer was in the area to greet us. \| Deer, Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8580 - 2007-12-15 at 10-04-58 \| Patches of snow and ice could be seen \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8581 - 2007-12-15 at 10-21-16 \| View of the back country - Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range - thanks to Kyle Braunger for help with some of the captions. \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8714 - 2007-12-15 at 10-24-26 \| Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8585 - 2007-12-15 at 10-25-00 \| There was a lot of clearing work that could be seen. Some of this was part of a fuel break associated with the Zaca fire. contingency in front of firebreak \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8717 - 2007-12-15 at 10-26-56 \| Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca \| Figueroa Mountain, Fox sparrow	IMG_8586 - 2007-12-15 at 10-37-14 \| Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8719 - 2007-12-15 at 10-39-36 \| There are some nice views of Lake Cachuma from parts of Figueroa Mountain. \| Figueroa Mountain, Santa Ynez Area	IMG_8588 - 2007-12-15 at 10-46-52 \| Pino Alto \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8589 - 2007-12-15 at 10-47-00 \| Ponderosa Pine Pinus jeffreyi at Pino Alto \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8590 - 2007-12-15 at 10-47-06 \| Pino Alto has a trail through the forest that has a blacktop trail with hardly any grade. \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8591 - 2007-12-15 at 11-03-52 \| San Rafael Wilderness, Ponderosa Pine Pinus jeffreyi (tallest one in photo) and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8722 - 2007-12-15 at 11-07-20 \| Hurricane Deck \| Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8723 - 2007-12-15 at 11-07-30 \| Hurricane Deck \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8592 - 2007-12-15 at 11-08-16 \| Kyle and Roger at a scenic spot for birding at Pino Alto near the top of Figueroa Mountain \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8734 - 2007-12-15 at 11-21-12 \| Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli The birds did not always cooperate with the cameras need for sunlight \| Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee	IMG_8736 - 2007-12-15 at 11-21-54 \| Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa \| Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee	IMG_8737 - 2007-12-15 at 11-22-04 \| Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa \| Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee	IMG_8738 - 2007-12-15 at 11-22-06 \| Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa \| Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee
IMG_8595 - 2007-12-15 at 11-36-24 \| Other generations have put some care into this place but now some of the intersting signs cases need some loving care. I like this illlustration it make me feel like a kid. \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8596 - 2007-12-15 at 11-36-42 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8597 - 2007-12-15 at 11-36-50 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8744 - 2007-12-15 at 11-47-32 \| Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea \| Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch	IMG_8747 - 2007-12-15 at 11-47-52 \| Pygmy Nuthatch in a Ponderosa Pine Pinus jeffreyi \| Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch	IMG_8756 - 2007-12-15 at 11-56-44 \| Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch
IMG_8757 - 2007-12-15 at 11-56-46 \| Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch	IMG_8763 - 2007-12-15 at 12-00-50 \| Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea \| Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch	IMG_8765 - 2007-12-15 at 12-18-10 \| San Rafael Wilderness with Mt. Pinos in the distance \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8768 - 2007-12-15 at 12-19-24 \| San Rafael Mtn. \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8770 - 2007-12-15 at 12-20-34 \| View to the west towards Vandenberg and Pt. Sal Ridge \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8773 - 2007-12-15 at 12-21-52 \| Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range \| Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8774 - 2007-12-15 at 12-22-22 \| Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8776 - 2007-12-15 at 12-25-08 \| This old plaque is at the top of Figueroa and is in need of some attention and updating. However I enjoyed reading it and learning some of the history of the area. \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8777 - 2007-12-15 at 12-25-32 \| Interesting description of Wilderness Areas - "Wilderness differs from other areas of National Forest System lands where man and his own works may dominate the landscape." \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8783 - 2007-12-15 at 12-38-06 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8787 - 2007-12-15 at 12-42-16 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8788 - 2007-12-15 at 12-50-16 \| Cumbre Picnic Area \| Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8790 - 2007-12-15 at 13-49-42 \| Cumbre Picnic Area \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8791 - 2007-12-15 at 14-05-46 \| Acorn Woodpecker granary at Pino Alto \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8792 - 2007-12-15 at 14-06-02 \| Acorn Woodpecker granary at Pino Alto \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8799 - 2007-12-15 at 14-43-10 \| Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma at Figueroa Campground in a Ponderosa Pine tree \| Figueroa Mountain, Northern Pygmy-Owl	IMG_8805 - 2007-12-15 at 14-51-30 \| Figueroa Mountain, Northern Pygmy-Owl	IMG_8811 - 2007-12-15 at 14-51-48 \| Figueroa Mountain, Northern Pygmy-Owl
IMG_8815 - 2007-12-15 at 14-52-16 \| Figueroa Mountain, Northern Pygmy-Owl	IMG_8819 - 2007-12-15 at 14-52-32 \| Figueroa Mountain, Northern Pygmy-Owl	IMG_8601 - 2007-12-15 at 15-08-32 \| Late fall color on Blue Oaks \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8837 - 2007-12-15 at 15-11-30 \| Late fall color on Blue Oaks \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8841 - 2007-12-15 at 15-14-06 \| Figueroa Mountain	IMG_8847 - 2007-12-15 at 15-27-06 \| Figueroa Mountain

Figueroa Mountain - December 15, 2007Yellow-billed magpie Pica nuttalli, Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca, Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea, Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli, and Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma.

Figueroa Mountain - December 15, 2007
Yellow-billed magpie Pica nuttalli, Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca, Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea, Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli, and Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma.