"This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affectations glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn."


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Encounters in The Presidio

The day was cool and cloudy...but I still ventured out to the Presidio to see what (or who) I might encounter.

First, I saw this lovely bird...  I've no idea what he is.....do you?



A little later, I heard a famaliar, raucous squawking...  it was a small *Squadron* of the famous "Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill*....who often fly away from their *hood* and visit other parts of the City.... one can always tell when they are close - because their non-stop squawking while airborne, sends out a message - "Here we come"!  The flock continued on out towards Crissy Field - but one lone Parrot decided to land on this tree....and I was able to snap a few photos.  It was a really tall tree....and even with my little zoom, this was the closest I could come....but if you look closely, you will see him and his red and green feathers!




Later, I came across the most beautiful cannon I have ever seen.  I was fascinated to notice the intricate designs on it....Fleur d' Ly's, Fish, and other symbols....all embellishing a weapon of destruction.







The cannon was a French one.....  (of course).....who else would have thought to create such an elabourate weapon.  It was captured by the Americans in Cuba in 1898....and was ultimately brought to San Francisco and installed in the Presidio.

The skies slowly began to lighten.....




Some blue began to appear..

 Time to begin my two hour hike back home....  I'm sure the Parrots made it home long before I did! A-ha-ha!

Love to all,

♥ Robin ♥
Posted by Robin at 8:05 AM
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19 comments:

  1. TeriApril 3, 2012 at 9:05 AM

    Oh, I see those birds and miss Sunshine. How cool is that having wild parrots around! You see the most interesting things and I'm so happy you share them with us. You would make a great tour guide.

    Hugs

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    1. RobinApril 5, 2012 at 8:29 AM

      Ah, Teri.....I KNOW how much you miss Sunshine.... I think of her often....

      Yes, there are many wonderful things about living in SF....the Parrots are definitely fun! One day, I hope to catch the flock in flight! (There are at least 50 or 60!)

      Love,

      ♥ Robin ♥

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  2. Cris, Artist in OregonApril 3, 2012 at 2:59 PM

    Its hard to see what that first bird is. It looks blue.. could be a blue bird but it could be a swallow of some kind as it looks big. Love the parrots. I know how loud ONE can be as my parents got a small half moon parrot when I was about four. We had Coco a long time and he was a squawker. Big time noisy as well as he talked. That canon cracks me up.. fun going for walks with you.

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    1. RobinApril 5, 2012 at 8:33 AM

      Cris....my Bird Expert - the bird is all black, grey and a little white. I know he isn't a Mockingbird, a Junco or a Magpie....and I think he is too bif to be a Swallow...

      So happy you like to *walk* with me!
      Coco sounds like a lot of fun....it would be really funny if someone taught our *Wild Parrots* a few words of English! Can you imagine!

      The Cannon was amazing....such a surprise to see it so beautifully created...

      Feel Better!!!!

      Love,

      ♥ Robin ♥

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  3. sukipoetApril 4, 2012 at 6:45 AM

    fabulous cannon and so fun to see one of the wild parrots "for real." I have seen the movie about them several times. ah yes, if only we could take wing and fly.

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    1. RobinApril 5, 2012 at 8:35 AM

      Suki....you would just love visiting the Parrots in their Telegraph Hill trees....when the weather warms up, I will hike over and get some photos for you!

      Love,

      ♥ Robin ♥

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  4. studio loloApril 4, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Hmmm, not sure what that bird is. Pretty though!

    The wild parrots really touch my heart. When I first came to RI in 1998 there were wild parrots making nests in all the telephone poles causing outages and outrage. I found it fascinating that someone let out their parrots carelessly many years ago and they ended up adapting quite well and breeding!!! The sound of them is cacophonous! Amazing.

    Thanks for sharing, LS ;)

    xoxoxo
    Lo♥♥♥

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    1. RobinApril 5, 2012 at 8:37 AM

      Hey there BS! So nice to see you here... we need to see the Parrots as an example of the tenacity of Life....to overcome obstacles and move forward... and....LOVE your using *Cacophonous*!!!!!!! A-ha-ha!

      Love,

      ♥ LS ♥

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  5. MimApril 5, 2012 at 5:30 PM

    We had wild parrots in NYC also, Brooklyn specifically and in a specific section. Never could figure out how they survived the winter. Lovely post and I like to think of you flying home with the birds.

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    1. RobinApril 6, 2012 at 7:34 AM

      Mim, I didn't know there were any Wild Parrots in Brooklyn! Were they in Prospect Park?

      I WISH I could fly home from some of my hikes....a-ha-ha! (I just keep telling myself it's *thigh therapy*!)

      Thinking of you and your DH on Passover.

      Love,

      ♥ Robin ♥

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  6. Secret Agent WomanApril 5, 2012 at 6:00 PM

    Okay Robin, because I am an utter geek I had to go in search. Check this link and tell me if it you think it might have been a Black Phoebe:

    http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/birds/passeriformes/Sayornis%20nigricans/index.htm

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    1. RobinApril 6, 2012 at 7:39 AM

      Oooo Dear CS... you are the most wonderful *Geek* I know! I checked out the website - and you are right! Of course, I have never heard of *Black Phoebes* before....wonderful name - and really lovely bird! THANK YOU!

      Hugs,

      ♥ Robin ♥

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    2. Secret Agent WomanApril 9, 2012 at 10:00 PM

      I never had either, but I like the name, too. And you're so welcome. ♥

      Delete
  7. ~BabsApril 5, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    Love everything you've shown here. And enjoyed reading about it too.
    Parrot??? How strange.I'd not known about them. Fascinating!
    I actually saw a bald eagle here not long ago.
    Of course my camera was at home.Sigh,,,

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    1. RobinApril 6, 2012 at 7:43 AM

      Babs....it's so much fun being blog friends with you! San Francisco has had a lage community of Wild Parrots for many years.....in fact, there is an incredible film about them..and the man who befriended the original colony.

      There's nothing so powerfully beautiful as a Bald Eagle....once, several years ago, I saw one while hiking in Taos.... I will never forget the sight.... it was really breathtaking...especially when he spread his wings and soared from one side of the Taos Gorge to the other..... and......of course, I didn't have a camera with me either!

      Love,

      ♥ Robin ♥

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  8. SnowbrushApril 6, 2012 at 12:16 AM

    Ornately carved handguns aren't intended for battle, but to be taken excellent care of if they are fired at all, so I wonder if the same might be true of your cannon. I also wonder if the Americans really captured it or simply stole it. After all, armies don't usually take captured cannon home with them. I have loved guns for as long as I can remember, although I deplore nearly all of the ways they are used, and have no interest in firing them. Being from Mississippi, I didn't have far to go to see Civil War guns of all sizes, and I miss that here in Oregon, a state that, to me, seems outstanding primarily for how boring its history is.

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    1. RobinApril 6, 2012 at 7:48 AM

      Hi Snow! I've missed your visits!
      Fascinating info regarding that cannon...I should have remembered that you would know about such things! As I photograped it, I did wonder how such an ornate cannon could have been fired in a war....it didn't seem functional....but it is really lovely.

      Hmm...who knows if it was stolen or captured.....I only know what was inscribed on it.... nonetheless, it was a cool *discovery* to see it!

      Big Hugs!!!!

      Love,

      ♥ Robin ♥

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  9. marianneApril 7, 2012 at 10:26 PM

    Happy Easter Dear!!!!
    Wonderful pictures of your walk here! Love that canon with all those symbols :)
    ♥M

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  10. soulbrushApril 8, 2012 at 3:28 AM

    I bet your legs were stiff after that long walk, but good for the soul.(says she who mainly sits at her computer!). Happy Easter dear one.

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