First Sunday

Jan 24, 2010 by Naomi.

What a day this has been. Ashton had a class assignment to observe an area of her choice of beach for fifteen minutes. I wanted to see the ocean to watch the breakers come rolling in. Off we went to Ventura beach. Gulls squawked over the anchored sailboats. Small flocks of starlings swirled around the buildings. Crows grabbed tidbits left at restaurant tables. English sparrows chattered in the bushes. Ashton watched for crabs and other things in her fifteen minute required assignment. The variety observed was quite interesting. Yes, there were crabs. I saw two and have pictures to prove it. On the rocks I saw a green backed heron. Squat little bird, but a fisher. That’s what they eat.

A cormorant popped up from under the pier – a black bird easy to identify from its silhouette but the species not the same as those that fish and sun on McNary Pond. Later I watched a cormorant walk across, yes, walk, across the road like a stiff person in a morning coat and manage to pull itself over a wooden fence and the sand dunes toward the ocean. As we walked over the dunes brown pelicans skimmed the breakers. In search of food? Looked more like they were enjoying the salt water spray. There were several sail boats way out on the water. Oil platforms were visible in the distance. As were the channel islands.

Then it was time for shopping. I wanted tank tops, shorts and sandals. The day ended with me getting two pair of shorts, four thin strapped tops and two pair of cute sandals. I downloaded my chip of pictures of the Oxnard area and downsized some for the www. Dan and I shared a pound of shrimp for dinner and then a highball. All in all, quite an accomplishment for one day.

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