Place: 'Our silences' statues by the San Diego Bay...........

"Our silences" statues by artist Rivelino installed on San Diego bay edge....
Ten bronze figures symbolize the importance of  'freedom of expression'.

Observation: Nests of all shapes and sizes.........

We know that birds can build there nests anywhere.......tree branches, dead tree hollows, well walls, roofs, underneath the overbridge, fields....just anywhere...

The other day I spotted these well-camouflaged nests on the baby sun rose-draped slopes near my house... these pretty green abodes belong to song sparrows!!

A beautiful nest built by an Anna's hummingbird..lodged on valley oak..embellished with spider webs and lichens..

Few days back, I was riding bike along the Peters Canyon trail in the Back Bay area. As I paused under the Freeway underpass for shaking off the fatigue, my attention was drawn towards the rings of mud structures formed atop almost every column. Thrilled at the discovery, I clicked a slew of photographs. Recollecting from the vague information, I knew these nests belong to the swallows. Back home, I delved into bird architecture which confirmed that the nests were built by cliff swallows. Some dwellings were broken, with only the vestige of mud seen, perhaps those were the nests from the previous year. I could not help marvel at the architectural skill of these birds. Check the amazing pictures...

A nest seen by the virgin river in Zion National park.........

A robin nest by a waterfall in Glacier National park............

Few days back, I was delighted with this scene. A pair of goldfinch was collecting fine strands from the silky, feathery pampas plumes...most likely for nest building for their future chicks..:)

Some days back, I got to know that the tree squirrels too live in nests like the birds, which are called 'dreys'. I had often seen this lump made of leaves and straws balanced delicately on  the branch of a colossal tree just outside our apartment building. Little did I knew this is a house of one of the squirrel among the many scampering around the trees.  It's the night, rain and storm shelter and place to raise the young ones. Noah's project furnished this nugget of precious information, for which I am very thankful.

Observation: Rainbow sightings..........

The other day, on my afternoon walk, I was treated with this stunning rainbow.
What made it more interesting is its one end merged just behind my University, SDSU campus.

During our recent road trip, we got to see as many as three different rainbows. That's amazing, isn't it? Have a look.....

Fountain rainbow.....