Outdoor Adventures of the Pierce Outlaws

California Tree Frog

survivormen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 03:10:05 +0000

Another backyard friend – California Tree Frog

Nocturnal. Takes shelter in shaded rock crevices or small depressions on boulders near water during the day. Eats insects, spiders, centipedes and other invertebrates. Typically found around canyon streams and rocky washes with permanent quiet pools. Found in desert streams and palm oases, coastal streams, and up into the mountain pine belt. Call is a quick low-pitched duck-like quacking that ends abruptly and is given repeatedly. Tadpoles metamorphose 40 – 75 days after hatching.

Coast Horned Lizard

survivormen — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:19:51 +0000

A backyard friend – Coast Horned Lizard

5” Body Flat; brown, gray, or sandy; crown of heavy spines on nape;

rows of thick spines on back and sides; tail short, spiny. Eats ants.

If captured, will inflate itself, bite, hiss, and spray blood from eye corners.

Lizard King

survivormen — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:57:49 +0000

Southern Alligator Lizard

Last weekend we took a hike into the Los Padres National Forest for the night. Along the way we ran into this guy on the path. Pretty scary.

Southern Alligator Lizard: 14”, eyes yellow, seizes small animals under objects and in bushes, can hold onto branch with tail

Matilija Dam

survivormen — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:22:08 +0000

Some Recent Creativity Showed up on the Dam

The Matilija Dam is a local dam that has been largely obsolete and useless. It is a man-made barrier for the now endangered Southern Steelhead Trout that would naturally migrate up the stream from the Pacific. The construction of this dam and its impact on the environment should cause us to pause and consider the influence and responsibility that we have on the environment. The recent “graffiti” that appeared on the dam is a creative example of public pressure to remove the dam and assist with environmental restoration.

http://www.matilija-coalition.org/history.htm

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=8355083

Save Our Steelhead – S.O.S

survivormen — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:09:33 +0000

As I have ventured out to local waters I have come across these now familiar signs. Fly-fishing in California’s coastal streams are off-limits in attempts to assist the Steelhead with recovery. As population increases in Southern California many of the once vibrant coastal fisheries are depleting and absent of trout.

http://caltrout.org/regions/southern-california-region/

http://caltrout.org/pdf/SoS-Californias-Native-Fish-Crisis.pdf

California Quail

survivormen — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 17:52:03 +0000

So I looked out the front porch and saw about a dozen of these California Quail. It has been great becoming more familiar with new birds, plants, and animals that I have never seen before.

Male and Female California Quail

: Female California Quail

Brown Pelican

survivormen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 02:27:42 +0000

Pelican

Pelican on the Wharf

Wait for it...Wait for it...

Look out fish!

zoom...

BAMB!

Gibraltar Road – Santa Barbara, CA

survivormen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:46:27 +0000

A view from the bottom.

In my attempts to adjust to a new location, I have explored local bike routes. I usually don’t descend down to wharf, but rather start at Westmont College and climb a short distance up to Mountain Drive and then up El Cielito to Gibraltar. But this last time I wanted the whole experience from sea to summit!

Start with this: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/47478718

Be sure to use the Flyover feature. Its a blast. Stop the flyover at any point and have a look around.

A view from the wharf

Along the way to Gibraltar

The Mission

Time to start climbing...

A nice sign, watch out.

Some new home construction since the fire.

What's behind the fence?

The beginning of an amazing view

Still climbing.

Tight turn.

Even tighter.

Don't fall into them.

or this...

No shooting. A good idea.

Not very welcoming?

Gibraltar Rocks

A rock climbing route.

On the way up.

Vegetation.

Deteriorating road...

A view to the east, Los Padres National Forest.

Gibraltar Reservoir

End - La Cumbre Peak

A long way down.

The Channel Islands, high in the sky.

A view to the north.

Can you find the wharf?

If you don’t have this fly…………

survivormen — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:34:34 +0000

A few years back I was in Gander Mountain buying some tying materials, I stopped to look at some of the pre-made fly’s they had. while I was looking a guy walked up to pick out some fly’s, he asked me where I fished, I told him that I mostly fished the oatka. He said “you need this fly” and he picked out a red midge with a little muskrat fur on the back. I decided to try one. and my life has never been the same since. OK. that may be a slight exaggeration but not much. if you ask Justin and Andy they would say that some days that is the only fly I will use the whole time I fish. It has been a very productive fly for me. My theory is, if it works use it.

Some other midges I have tied lately.

ADK’s in March

survivormen — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:08:07 +0000

Bacon

Perseverance

Nutrition

Victory

Focus

Tribulation