Thursday, March 29, 2018

Some Random Photos

Just a quick post this week. My granddaughter is on spring break, so I have limited time!

Sorry for the poor photo quality. This is actually a photo captured from video. My cousin took this video from the end of my driveway in 29 Palms, and I was totally amazed!! He's visiting from Chicago and had been here only one day when he spotted about a dozen desert bighorn sheep!! A little background might be helpful. Desert bighorns are very rare. I know people who have hiked the Joshua Tree area for many years and never seen one. In all my hikes, I've only seen a single desert bighorn. To see a group of 12 come down around houses is incredible. I even reported it to the Park Service in case they track numbers and locations. The ranger said it's complicated, because there is a population of bighorns that is small but stable and classified as non-threatened in my area. There's another population in the Cottonwood Springs area of Joshua Tree National Park that IS classified as threatened due to declining numbers, and they are tracked and monitored. I told my cousin to buy a lottery ticket! Talk about lucky!!

Looking over my backyard fence in Orange County a couple weeks ago. Beautiful sunset and moon!!
Pretty sunrise taken a couple days ago (Twin Tanks Desert Homestead Cabins, 29 Palms, CA)

Very weird (and beautiful) clouds over the Joshua Tree area. I've never seen anything like these "rainbow clouds" before! This photo was taken about an hour after sunset just a few nights ago.

Taken during the last full (or nearly full) moon.
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world.
Thanks for stopping buy!!
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42 comments:

  1. Bill March 29, 2018 at 11:11 PM

    Love the rainbow clouds---- You caught them beautifully!!

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  2. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"March 29, 2018 at 11:40 PM

    Those clouds are amazing, as is your cousin's luck. The rarest bird to visit my local bird reserve for many years was spotted by a twelve year old with some borrowed binoculars.

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  3. SarahMarch 29, 2018 at 11:48 PM

    Beautiful pictures!

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  4. Billy Blue EyesMarch 30, 2018 at 3:10 AM

    Always the way that some one else comes along an on the offchance gets that prize. Stunning sky shots this week especially that rainbow cloud

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  5. ChristineMarch 30, 2018 at 4:00 AM

    Amazing to see so many Bighorns on your doorstep! Those were unusual but spectacular night skies! Great photos!

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  6. eileeninmdMarch 30, 2018 at 4:12 AM

    Hello, I love the Bighorn Sheep. That is cool they were seen so close to home. Your sunset and moon captures are beautiful. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend. Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  7. Jan K. alias AfanjaMarch 30, 2018 at 4:25 AM

    The photo of the sunrise is beautfiul, but the shot of those rare rainbow colored clouds is very special. They are no NLC's, but I have never seen something like that.
    Happy Easter and enjoy your weekend.

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  8. AlanaMarch 30, 2018 at 5:32 AM

    The last two, especially, were stunning. I would love to see more of your "quick random photos" one day soon.

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  9. Ruth HiebertMarch 30, 2018 at 7:28 AM

    Wonderful photos. The rainbow cloud is a spectacular sight.

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  10. UnknownMarch 30, 2018 at 7:35 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing some of your wonderful sights and wonderous experiences. I always enjoy my quick flit to here. I've never seen 'rainbow clouds' like those over the mountain. Thank goodness your camera is capable of capturing their finery! (I loved the opening photo and method too, by the way). Happy holidays to you and yours and all, hopefully. Cheers.

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  11. Photo CacheMarch 30, 2018 at 7:46 AM

    Hah! And we only get to see the occasional raccoon in our backyard :(

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  12. Kay L. DaviesMarch 30, 2018 at 8:51 AM

    Wonderful moon and sky shots, and the sheep made me smile!
    Kay
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  13. CloudiaMarch 30, 2018 at 9:02 AM

    Amazing bighorn conclave! And wonderful photos!

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  14. Yogi♪♪♪March 30, 2018 at 9:31 AM

    Your cousin is a lucky guy alright. What a sight. Great sky shots, love the moon especially.

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  15. Carol @Comfort Spring StationMarch 30, 2018 at 9:57 AM

    Your cousins is indeed lucky. BTW your sunrise at 2 Tanks is incredible!

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  16. Photos by StanMarch 30, 2018 at 11:04 AM

    Sunrise, sunset....take your pick...your shots are grand. And that last image with the cloud, moon and contrail is quite a catch.

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  17. carol l mckennaMarch 30, 2018 at 11:51 AM

    Magnificent sky shots ~ all very awesome and creative! Love the bighorns!

    Happy Days,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  18. RantenMarch 30, 2018 at 12:00 PM

    Lovely pictures! Happy easter!

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  19. AmyMarch 30, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    Amazing skies and cute sheep, we only have the common woolly variety here in NZ.

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  20. cocoyaMarch 30, 2018 at 6:01 PM

    Hah! And we only get to see the occasional raccoon in our backyard :(
    Royal1688
    Gclub

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  21. magiceyeMarch 30, 2018 at 6:12 PM

    Beautiful captures!

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  22. Pat TillettMarch 30, 2018 at 6:35 PM

    Hey Pete! I am one of those people who rarely see bighorn sheep. Except for the dead one you and I found while hiking. I haven't seen another in the last 10 years (live or dead!).
    Beautiful photos! I'm wondering if the "rainbow" was left over from a missile launch from Vandenberg?

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    Replies
    1. Spare Parts and PicsApril 2, 2018 at 11:21 AM

      You are exactly right, Pat! The other day I noticed a photo posted by someone that looked nearly identical to my "rainbow" cloud shot. It was also taken in the high desert somewhere, although not near JTree (Lancaster?). He explained that it was due to a launch of some sort.

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    2. Pat TillettApril 2, 2018 at 11:26 AM

      It's really amazing that we can see these things, because they are from launches all the way up above Lompoc!

      Delete
  23. AngieMarch 30, 2018 at 8:00 PM

    Only you could do a 'quick, random post' and show us such interesting and spectacular pictures! Enjoy the rest of your Spring Break, and happy Easter to you as well!

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  24. DawnMarch 30, 2018 at 9:45 PM

    Photo 4 of 5 is my favorite!

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  25. rupam sarmaMarch 31, 2018 at 1:29 AM

    Amazing pics. 2 and 5 my favorite.
    Have a nice weekend.

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  26. LoisMarch 31, 2018 at 7:27 AM

    Love those rainbow clouds! My granddaughter spent her spring break with me last week.

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  27. AlMarch 31, 2018 at 7:48 AM

    Pretty shots - despite the quality, that bighorn sheep photo was definitely worth posting as it's quite the unusual sight!

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  28. Author R. Mac WheelerMarch 31, 2018 at 8:05 AM

    bighorns aside...ahhh for the sky watch shots

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  29. Sallie (FullTime-Life)March 31, 2018 at 9:26 AM

    As always every picture is stunning and a couple of amazing firsts ... the bighorns, wow! (Talk abut beginner'luck!) And that amazing rainbow cloud formation is heart-stopping.

    Enjoy "your" Spring break -- hope you have good weather for visiting the Park with your sweet explorer-in-training.

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  30. BillMarch 31, 2018 at 9:31 AM

    The rainbow clouds are awesome. I never seen one before. Nice bighorn sheep, a lovely sight and rarely seen.

    Happy Easter to you and your family.

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  31. AnonymousMarch 31, 2018 at 11:41 AM

    Those rainbow clouds almost look like Northern lights! I had that happen where visitor spotted animals I have never seen! To have a complete sunset with horizon and all is impossible in Orange county! Have a great Easter weekend with your family!

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  32. Su-sieee! MacMarch 31, 2018 at 4:52 PM

    Awesome photos. The rainbow clouds had me wondering if they were escapees from the aurora borealis.

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  33. s.cApril 1, 2018 at 2:35 AM

    Wow but your clear desert light must do also a lot here and the sheep, yes buy that lot quick.

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  34. NatureFootstepApril 1, 2018 at 3:21 AM

    such a gorgeous backyard. :) And so different from your walks in Yoshua Tree.

    I have seen similar clouds. But this is strong. They are reflecting sunlight in a "rainbowfashion" through crystals in the cloud.

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  35. Klara SApril 1, 2018 at 2:13 PM

    Beautiful skies. Have a good time with your granddaughter.

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  36. Klara SApril 1, 2018 at 2:14 PM

    Beautiful skies. Have a good time with your granddaughter.

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  37. Brian KingApril 2, 2018 at 9:18 AM

    Love the bighorns! The sunrise is gorgeous and that's a great moon photo!

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  38. Joe ToddApril 4, 2018 at 6:09 PM

    Great skies

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  39. thomasApril 5, 2018 at 7:36 AM

    A beautiful sunrise captured

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  40. Admin FApril 16, 2018 at 5:59 AM

    Love the photo. Great composition and sky, Rubber Olmec Balls

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