Yellow-billed magpie Pica nuttalli is a commonly seen bird in the Santa Ynez Valley
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Santa Ynez Area, Yellow-billed magpie
IMG_8573 - 2007-12-15 at 09-17-02
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Santa Ynez Area, Yellow-billed magpie
IMG_8696 - 2007-12-15 at 09-37-44
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Dry browns for this time of year, significant rains have yet to come
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8698 - 2007-12-15 at 09-38-12
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8700 - 2007-12-15 at 09-39-28
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8705 - 2007-12-15 at 09-41-08
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8708 - 2007-12-15 at 09-42-30
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Tunnel Road
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8575 - 2007-12-15 at 09-47-48
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Birds eye view of part of the Santa Ynez Valley.
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Figueroa Mountain, Santa Ynez Area
IMG_8577 - 2007-12-15 at 10-00-52
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Our first stop to check out the birds was at Pino Alto - This Mule Deer was in the area to greet us.
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Deer, Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8580 - 2007-12-15 at 10-04-58
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Patches of snow and ice could be seen
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8581 - 2007-12-15 at 10-21-16
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View of the back country - Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range - thanks to Kyle Braunger for help with some of the captions.
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8714 - 2007-12-15 at 10-24-26
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Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8585 - 2007-12-15 at 10-25-00
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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
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8717 - 2007-12-15 at 10-26-56
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Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca
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Figueroa Mountain, Fox sparrow
IMG_8586 - 2007-12-15 at 10-37-14
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8719 - 2007-12-15 at 10-39-36
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There are some nice views of Lake Cachuma from parts of Figueroa Mountain.
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Figueroa Mountain, Santa Ynez Area
IMG_8588 - 2007-12-15 at 10-46-52
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Pino Alto
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8589 - 2007-12-15 at 10-47-00
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Ponderosa Pine Pinus jeffreyi at Pino Alto
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8590 - 2007-12-15 at 10-47-06
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Pino Alto has a trail through the forest that has a blacktop trail with hardly any grade.
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8591 - 2007-12-15 at 11-03-52
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San Rafael Wilderness, Ponderosa Pine Pinus jeffreyi (tallest one in photo) and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8722 - 2007-12-15 at 11-07-20
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Hurricane Deck
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8723 - 2007-12-15 at 11-07-30
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Hurricane Deck
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8592 - 2007-12-15 at 11-08-16
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Kyle and Roger at a scenic spot for birding at Pino Alto near the top of Figueroa Mountain
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8734 - 2007-12-15 at 11-21-12
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Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli The birds did not always cooperate with the cameras need for sunlight
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Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee
IMG_8736 - 2007-12-15 at 11-21-54
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Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa
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Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee
IMG_8737 - 2007-12-15 at 11-22-04
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Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa
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Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee
IMG_8738 - 2007-12-15 at 11-22-06
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Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli and Big-cone Spruce Pseudotsuga macrocarpa
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Figueroa Mountain, Mountain chickadee
IMG_8595 - 2007-12-15 at 11-36-24
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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.
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8596 - 2007-12-15 at 11-36-42
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8597 - 2007-12-15 at 11-36-50
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8744 - 2007-12-15 at 11-47-32
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Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea
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Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch
IMG_8747 - 2007-12-15 at 11-47-52
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Pygmy Nuthatch in a Ponderosa Pine Pinus jeffreyi
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Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch
IMG_8756 - 2007-12-15 at 11-56-44
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Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch
IMG_8757 - 2007-12-15 at 11-56-46
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Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch
IMG_8763 - 2007-12-15 at 12-00-50
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Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea
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Figueroa Mountain, Pygmy Nuthatch
IMG_8765 - 2007-12-15 at 12-18-10
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San Rafael Wilderness with Mt. Pinos in the distance
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8768 - 2007-12-15 at 12-19-24
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San Rafael Mtn.
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8770 - 2007-12-15 at 12-20-34
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View to the west towards Vandenberg and Pt. Sal Ridge
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8773 - 2007-12-15 at 12-21-52
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Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8774 - 2007-12-15 at 12-22-22
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Bald Mtn. and the Sierra Madre Range
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8776 - 2007-12-15 at 12-25-08
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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.
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8777 - 2007-12-15 at 12-25-32
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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."
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8783 - 2007-12-15 at 12-38-06
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8787 - 2007-12-15 at 12-42-16
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8788 - 2007-12-15 at 12-50-16
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Cumbre Picnic Area
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8790 - 2007-12-15 at 13-49-42
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Cumbre Picnic Area
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8791 - 2007-12-15 at 14-05-46
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Acorn Woodpecker granary at Pino Alto
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8792 - 2007-12-15 at 14-06-02
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Acorn Woodpecker granary at Pino Alto
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Figueroa Mountain
IMG_8799 - 2007-12-15 at 14-43-10
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Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma at Figueroa Campground in a Ponderosa Pine tree