Fine food, friends and photography - what could be better? Maybe experiencing and capturing Buck Brannaman, aka "the Horse Whisperer" work his magic with a group of colts. Absolutely fascinating! WGM

Read and see more about this amazing man at:

http://brannaman.com/

Time seems to fly when you are, for lack of a better word, in between. Our attention has been on more pressing matters and as all is now well. Once again our thoughts have gone to our avian friends. Egrets and night herons have returned to their roosts and nest building activities and mornings are filled with bird songs. It seems that these events started later this year than last year, perhaps due to different weather patterns or farming activities in the region.

During this break we did manage a trip to Morro Bay for a Photo Expo and managed a few great shots. WGM

On a beautiful Monday morning after placing my daughter on a plane back to Santa Monica, I was sitting on my patio enjoying blue skies, and plum and apple blossoms when I heard the familiar call of flying Sandhill Cranes. I ran around the yard trying to find an opening to see where they were.  Flying north-northeast at 11:10 AM, they were obviously heading to their summer breeding grounds in the Modoc area. For a guy who has been regularly photographing them, it was both a fine good bye for the season and an invitation to visit them this summer. WGM

fruit start Footnote. A lesson of course, is always have your camera ready, with the right lens and appropriate settings. While I missed the shot of the departing Sandhills, here is a plum blossom.