Condors at 5:00

Pinnacles National Monument, California, 1 April 2012 (no foolin’!)

Condors above the moon, Pinnacles National Monument, (c) Daniel N. Robin

Condors above the moon, Pinnacles National Monument, (c) Daniel N. Robin

Since I have numerous business blogs, I thought I’d use this space to share recent photos and close-up video of condors, once extremely endangered, but now beginning to flourish again, seen in early April 2012 at Pinnacles National Monument, in California.  The time was 5pm, at the top of High Peaks Trail, and I turn to my wife,

Condor near the moon, 1 April 2012, Pinnacles National Monument, CA

Condor in front of the moon; (c) Daniel N. Robin, all rights reserved

kidding around as I usually do, “This is when they flew by last time [2010], so they should be arriving any moment …” and literally at that moment, with their signature whosh! sound preceeding their arrival, two consenting adults passed just over  our heads, leaving us breathless, but inspiring this 28-second video (hosted by PaintTheParks.com) and then these pictures as they circled above.

I shared my excitement about the serindipity with a fellow hiker, who observed “Musta been quittin’ time at the ol’ Scavenger Cafe,” in his mock southern drawl. 

Later, that same hike … the wildflowers jumped out at us, despite the lack of rain, signifying that Spring is indeed coming again this year, as promised in the brochure.Karin Leonard Robin with trailside flowersPinnacles National Monument; (c) Daniel N. Robin; all rights reserved

Pinnacles National Monument; (c) Daniel N. Robin, all rights reserved

Wildflower - Chinese Houses

Scene at Pinnacles National Monument; (c) Daniel N. Robin, all rights reservedScene at Pinnacles National Monument; (c) Daniel N. Robin, all rights reserved

3 thoughts on “Condors at 5:00

  1. What an awesome rendezvous it was, at the “Condor Cafe”, surrounded by wildflowers. Only wish my paint brush could have captured it!:-)