Reflection: When nostalgia hits......time spent in Orange county...

It often happens that things that you take for granted, makes you nostalgic when its gone...
That's how I feel now...after moving to San Diego, the memories of time spent in Orange county haunts me..

Some of them were just too precious...the pictures below depict some of my pure joyous moments...that I cherish fondly...
Tewinkle park...
A good definition of bliss...pine, sycamore, shade, lake, birds, picnic table, cool breeze, solitude...

Footbridge ....where I used to feed the mallards and squirrels...

The park pool crowded with all sorts of waterfowls.... the shadow of sycamores  and  pines, where I had found bliss...

Barbecue by the pine grove..

Upper Newport bay..
Watching sunset at ...I used to call it bowl of molten gold..

The marsh viewed from a vantage point...

Birding in the winter....such a fun...

Bike riding and discovery of a new plant or two..........as in this case, a giant swan agave...

Or a evening walk or scooter ride along the willow-fringed trails by the bay...

Newport beach ...

Not to forget the bike ride to and enjoying the burrito lunch by the street and watching people...

On the shore of the Pacific at Newport Beach....

Fairground........

And the county fair...playing games, winning toys, relishing grilled chicken and going for rides...

Tanaka farm.....

Being part of the seasonal harvest joys in the farm...

That cheerful time of pumpkin patch visit...when everything is orange...scarecrows show up..holidays beacon...

and fruits.........

Woodbridge lake..

The peaceful walk with spouse, along the lakes...

Irrespective of seasons.......

Marveling at the pretty houses...

Mile square park......
Gathering sycamore leaves ...a simple yet unparalleled joy..

Fullerton arboretum.........
Enjoying the variations that seasons used to ushered in.....

The list won't end....I better stop here, till I get driven by yearning, yet again......

Bird: Pelicans flying pattern.........

Lazing on the Pacific shore, we often gaze the pelicans flying low, in sync, almost riding the surf.....
In Newport Beach, we were treated with this fabulous sight. A small group of brown pelicans flied above us in the familiar V pattern...Check their wing movements.....

And this group in Point Loma beach.........

And in Ocean beach..........

Fauna: Rendezvous with the sea lions........

It was a sunny and moderately windy day in Newport Beach. Leaning against the fence atop the wooden pier I was enjoying the sparking, silvery, rippled waters of the Pacific. An unusual grunting and groaning noise startled me out of my spell. That is when, Surya showed me the pair of sea lions swimming below the pier, creating the grunts. I had seen a few of them in captivity, in LA and San Diego Zoo. But, getting to see them in the wild, in the Pacific Ocean was altogether a unique experience. The larger of the duo was emitting that funny sound and asking for food. It was sheer fun to watch the critter catching the food scraps thrown  at it and craving for more. Peeping the slick head with the big whiskers, it resembled a bald old man. Sharing the tremendous glee we had...........

The first glimpse of the pinniped.......

The pair discussing foraging strategies or may be sharing sweet nothings.........

I am hungry...got some food?...

The oldie face with the big moustache-like whiskers....

Close-up...

Swimming with the long foreflippers like a mermaid....

The spotting certainly made my day.....When nature decides  to entertain,  it's much more gratifying than human orchestrated amusements...

Since then,  have got to see many of them.........like this one....a couple of days before, we had been on a whale-watching trip to the Pacific. The boat was gliding past the pods of dolphins while the red floating buoy grabbed my attention. A passel of sea lions were lying on the pedestal, heaped on each other. Despite the constant ringing of the huge bell,they were in slumber, enjoying the mid-day sun...

and like this.........posing with them....of course from safe distance........