Finally - a magpie in flight. BTW, I got this picture and the one in the prior post from www.flickr.com.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Yellow-billed Magpie
Success! Here's a picture of magpies showing their beautiful plumage. The photographer noted the birds' "graphic" quality which seems just right. She wrote that, unfortunately, she had to travel two hours to see them.
We're lucky to have them right here in the Santa Ynez Valley - especially given that they favor Long Valley Road here in Woodstock Ranch.
Being visited by yellow-billed magpies is just one of the blessings of Ridgeline Ranch, a rare property with a panoramic view of Sedgwick Reserve.
We're lucky to have them right here in the Santa Ynez Valley - especially given that they favor Long Valley Road here in Woodstock Ranch.
Being visited by yellow-billed magpies is just one of the blessings of Ridgeline Ranch, a rare property with a panoramic view of Sedgwick Reserve.
Santa Ynez Avian Fashionistas
Santa Ynez has an amazing variety of birds. I wanted to post a picture of a yellow-billed magpie in flight, but I'm unable to import one from the internet. I'm afraid I'm not speedy enough with my camera to capture one. These birds are incredibly dramatic and elegant when they spread their wings. Magpies have white, black, blue and irridescent hunter green feathers. The green appears at the edge of the tail and is almost like a pinstripe! The open wing has white in the center and black around the edges. The effect in the air is incredible. I think they resemble well-turned out divas at an awards show, so full of confidence they're almost brash. The pump and glide motion magpies use to fly is a model of energy conservation.
Lesser goldfinches are the opposite, darting about anxiously bringing brief grace notes to the symphony of serenity at Ridgeline Ranch. The range of lesser goldfinches is broad but their migratory pattern is still a bit unclear. I'm delighted to be on the pathway to their summer retreat. I think of Ridgeline Ranch as their second home, but perhaps that concerpt doesn't work for migratory birds. Yellow-billed magpies have a narrow range in central California oak woodlands. Because of their preference for woodlands, I rarely see them in Los Olivos and have never seen one in Solvang which is more developed.
Fortunately, the local band of magpies seems to like the Woodstock Ranch area of Santa Ynez. I enter the ranch at the intersection of Brinkerhoff and Long Valley Roads where my friends Sandy and Barry have a good-sized equestrian facility. Without fail, I see magpies perched on wires, fenceposts or even the ground at the intersection. Perhaps they're drawn by bits of hay or grain left by the horses. When they visit Ridgeline Ranch, they usually home in on the area where Cinch is fed.
Lesser goldfinches are the opposite, darting about anxiously bringing brief grace notes to the symphony of serenity at Ridgeline Ranch. The range of lesser goldfinches is broad but their migratory pattern is still a bit unclear. I'm delighted to be on the pathway to their summer retreat. I think of Ridgeline Ranch as their second home, but perhaps that concerpt doesn't work for migratory birds. Yellow-billed magpies have a narrow range in central California oak woodlands. Because of their preference for woodlands, I rarely see them in Los Olivos and have never seen one in Solvang which is more developed.
Fortunately, the local band of magpies seems to like the Woodstock Ranch area of Santa Ynez. I enter the ranch at the intersection of Brinkerhoff and Long Valley Roads where my friends Sandy and Barry have a good-sized equestrian facility. Without fail, I see magpies perched on wires, fenceposts or even the ground at the intersection. Perhaps they're drawn by bits of hay or grain left by the horses. When they visit Ridgeline Ranch, they usually home in on the area where Cinch is fed.
Santa Ynez Tranquility
One of my favorite times of the day is morning when I sit on my patio with a mug of coffee. The panoramic view of the Sedgwick is so serene. I feel as if I'm on a retreat.
The deep silence is broken only by the call of birds. Until I left the buzz of the city and moved here, I could barely tell one bird from another. Now I know their names as well as their migratory patterns. The arrival of the red-breasted house sparrows and bright lesser goldfinch tell me Spring has arrived. The yellow-billed magpie stays with us all year because its habitat is quite limited. I must admit that with their raucous squawk and flashing black and white wings they are my favorite.
As I watch the house sparrows build their nests out of twigs and bits of lichen, I think how right it is that this house was built according to exacting green standards. It feels organic, like part of the surroundings on this rare parcel adjacent to the Sedgwick Reserve.
Although we had thought of taking advantage of the vineyard potential of the large flat area abutting the Sedgwick, I'm glad we didn't. I love walking down the old ranch road and picking wildflowers that blanket this parcel. There is a riot of yellow violets, lupine, poppies and more that I can't name.
It's hard to believe that this tranquil retreat is only ten minutes from Santa Ynez, 15 minutes from Solvang and 30 minutes from Santa Barbara.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Santa Ynez Serenity
My dogs (Anke on the left and Fritz on the right) and I went for a walk this afternoon. Here's a view of them on a rise opposite Ridgeline Ranch with the Ranch and its major view behind them. If you click on this picture or any of the others in this blog, the photo will be enlarged to fill your screen - demonstrating in detail what handsome animals these two are!
The temperature was perfect today and we trekked around Woodstock Ranch. Santa Ynez has several residential areas. We live in Woodstock Ranch, a collection of approximately one hundred 20-acre parcels, many of which have superb equestrian facilities. Several of the owners originally purchased their ranches as second homes and now live in them full time during their retirement.
Ridgeline Ranch has a large pasture facing Live Oak Road on the western edge of the property and a large flat area on the eastern edge where it abuts Sedgwick Natural Reserve owned by UCSB. (The Live Oak pasture is shown below in the Wildflowers Galore photo.) The flat area adjacent to the Sedgwick has vineyard potential or could be the site of a barn or an arena.
Sedgwick encompasses almost 6,000 acres or more than nine square miles! Check out the Reserve at http://nrs.ucop.edu/Sedgwick.htm. Ridgeline Ranch is a rare property because few parcels abut the Sedgwick. I always feel that Ridgeline Ranch is like an oceanfront home except, in this case, it fronts pristine California foothills offering a panoramic view and ultimate tranquility and seclusion. And not many oceanfront homes are built with a similar concern for the environment. Our home on Ridgeline Ranch is a green building and received expedited permitted from Santa Barbara county because it was so eco-friendly.
Santa Ynez is California at Its Best
The Santa Ynez Valley in Central California offers the best weather in the nation. The temperature today is in the low 70's without a cloud in the sky. Ranchers have long recognized the benefits of the climate in the Santa Ynez Valley. It's been a mecca for horse breeders for years and is called by some "The Valley of the Horse."
I know my quarter horse Cinch loves roaming over 5 acres instead of being penned up in a stall at the Flintridge Riding Club. It's a treat for me to hear his answering whinny when I wander out my front door and hollar, "Where's my Cinch?"
Vinters have come to love the climate and the rolling landscape. The Valley is dotted with vineyards and tasting rooms, especially in Los Olivos. I've even gone winetasting on horseback, riding Cinch to Bridlewood Winery and Brander Vineyards. Brander has an exquisite Sauvignon Blanc for those who like white wine.
Now I'm going to take advantage of the sunshine and go for a walk with my canine companions - more about them later!
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