March 28 2010 - Coyote Creek Trail

After many aborted efforts, I finally grabbed an ok shot of the wood ducks on the creek. They are positively outrageous.

Have seen tails, heads, or bodies in all 4 hawk nests through the weekend. One of the red shouldered hawks took a break for some quick afternoon mating.  Is this an insurance bet, in case the first brood of eggs fails?
She immediately returned to the nest and settled back in snugly.  She is a very red and pretty looking bird.

We also saw a coyote head peeking out over the grasses in the meadow.  Large head, very wolf-like.

And speaking of wolf-like, crazy beautiful patches of lupin this year.  The mountains were lovely with color flying back from Chicago on Friday.   Patches of neon green fuzz on the usually very pale brown hills around Pacheco Pass.