What a hog

Groundhog, that is. While rambling around today I spotted this guy...

So I stopped to take some pics and spotted several more.

Perfect for Groundhog Day.

I get around

I should get out more now that I have wheels to get around. I haven't been doing that much photography mostly because I'm dissatisfied with the quality of my images. I really like the camera (a Canon S5IS) but it has some serious shortcomings. Notably, the inability to take pictures in RAW mode.  I really want an Olympus E-3! It has the longest exposures I've found on a DSLR. But, the winter birds are here so I'll just use what I have until I can afford an E-3

 The common Merganser (and who cuts their hair?)

 Canada goose

 

Snow goose

A Red-tailed hawk getting a lesson about trespassing

It was a blast!

I don't remember just when or where I first heard that a nuclear test had taken place in northern Nevada, (I thought that all the underground nuclear testing in the U.S. had occurred in southern Nevada) but a little research turned up the name Project Shoal. On October 26th, 1963 a 12 kiloton nuclear device was set off about 27 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. (about 80 miles ESE of Reno)

The event was announced in the Reno newspaper the day before!

Standing on the site of a nuclear test seemed like a good idea at the time so off I went. This is the site of Project Shoal today.

 

Looking southwest across the site.

A test well at Project Shoal. In the 

background is a large crater. 

(Ground Zero?)

 

Test well

Under locked steel covers are wells so that water can be tested for any leakage of radiation.

 

Looking north towards Fallon from the Project Shoal site.

If you want to visit a nuclear test site, this one is easy to get to. From Fallon, drive east on Highway 50 for about 32 miles to State Road 839. Turn right (South) on SR 839. Pay no attention to the occasional loud bang. The playa on your left is a USN bombing range and sonic booms are common around this area. About 5 miles south of Highway 50 is a gravel road on the right (going west). Follow this road for about 4-5 miles. This road is gravel but is as smooth as a paved road The site is is on your right. (North)

Among other things.

Besides chasing birds around Rancho San Rafael park, there were air races to attend. This year the featured performers were the Canadian Snowbirds. They put on a terrific show and for formation flying these guys are among the best.

It looks like chaos but it ain't!

Besides the Snowbirds, there were other aerobatics.

David Martin goes low

Michael Goulian flew his ethanol powered plane.

Kent Pietsch wanted to do a carrier landing but aircraft carriers are rare in the desert. Sooooooo...

And the Smoke-N-Thunder jet car raced (and beat) an airplane in a drag race.

Of course there were fly-bys

Since it is the National Championship Air Races there's racing!

 

Who's a coot?!?!

I've been chasing this coot for a while. I spotted him at the local park but was never able to get close.

He'd swim around for a while, dive,

  
surface with a mouthful of  food,

Then swim away to a tree overhanging the bank

So I crawled through the brush and the mud and the duck sh whatever until I was close.

The miserable bird watched for a few minutes, the preened

and then nodded off on me.

After a few seconds, he woke up and had the nerve to yawn at me!

Twice!!!

Then he tucked his head under his wing and went to sleep.

So I crawled up real close and woke him with the camera flash.

 

American Coot 

Fulica americana