Brian Smith's Photos

Another Visit to UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens

Back to the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens at the end of October, the 70-300mm on the X-T5 and no particular plan beyond a slow wander round. A bit of everything as it turned out — flowers still going, a few birds, and some smaller things I nearly walked straight past.

Flowers, and the Usual Hummingbirds

A maple leaf to start with, catching the light.

A red maple leaf with a long stem lies on a gray concrete surface, surrounded by a few smaller, brown, dried leaves.
Maple Leaf

Turk’s Cap, or Sleeping Hibiscus, Malvaviscus arboreus — the flowers never quite open, which is rather the point of them.

A closed red Turk's Cap hibiscus bud with its long stamen extended upward, surrounded by large green leaves.
Turk’s Cap, Sleeping Hibiscus, Malvaviscus arboreus
A red Turk's Cap hibiscus bud with its stamen protruding, resting on green leaves against a dark background.
Turk’s Cap, Sleeping Hibiscus, Malvaviscus arboreus

There’s almost always an Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna, working these beds, and today was no exception.

An Anna's Hummingbird hovers with wings blurred, its beak touching a pink flower among green leaves.
Anna’s Hummingbird,Calypte anna
An Anna's Hummingbird hovers in mid-air with its wings blurred from rapid motion, its head tilted upward toward a green stem.
Anna’s Hummingbird,Calypte anna

Begonia formosana, a Vivid Dancer damselfly, Argia vivida, holding still just long enough, and a Lacecap Hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla.

A pink Begonia formosana flower with a bright yellow center is in sharp focus against a blurred green background.
Begonia formosana
Two vivid dancer damselflies perch on a dry leaf in a sunlit tangle of foliage.
Vivid dancer damselfly, Argia vivida
A lacecap hydrangea with white outer petals and purple stamens in the center, set against a dark, blurred background.
Lacecap Hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla

A Squirrel and a View

Then the find of the afternoon — a squirrel sat up working its way through a lump of fungi, entirely unbothered by me.

A squirrel with grey and tan fur holds a piece of fungus in its paws, nibbling it with its mouth open.
Squirrel feeding on fungi

And the reason this garden is worth the climb: the view west, right out to the Golden Gate Bridge.

A distant view of the Golden Gate Bridge over the water, framed by a large tree trunk and lush green foliage on a clear day.
Golden Gate Bridge

Birds

An Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus, then a Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus, keeping low in the undergrowth, and a Common Raven, Corvus corax, looking down on the lot of us.

An Acorn Woodpecker with a red crown and black and white plumage perches on a lichen-covered tree branch.
Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
A Hermit Thrush perches on a leafy branch, its spotted chest and brown back visible against a soft blue and green bokeh background.
Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
A wet Common Raven perches on a twisted metal cable, its feathers ruffled and one wing partially extended against a soft green background.
Common Raven, Corvus corax

Down at the Water

Common Water Striders, Aquarius remigis, skating about on the surface. ISO 12800 in the shade to freeze them, but they’re worth it.

A black and white close-up of a water strider resting on the surface of a pond, its long legs creating small dimples in the water.
A water strider insect with long legs rests on a pond surface near a brown leaf and small green floating plants.

Last of the Light

Grape leaves — Roger’s Red — doing exactly what it’s famous for at this time of year.

A close-up of grape leaves on a vine, one vivid red and one green with red edges, set against a blurred background of foliage.
Grape Leaves, Roger’s Red

A good couple of hours, and proof that late October is a better time here than you’d think.

Brian Smith

Leave a comment