Golden Gate Park (09/24/2021)

today i went Naturing a little earlier so i could meet up with Brian to watch a live concert at the bandshell later that afternoon. checked in at the owl nursery, and Junior and Ma Owl were there, entirely asleep that early in the day. and on the nest tree path, i got to see California Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos and White-crowned Sparrows and California Scrub-Jays and a Warbling Vireo and a Black-throated Gray Warbler, all hanging out in blackberry bushes / eating blackberries. on the way to the Lily Pond, i saw easily THE LARGEST Cross Orbweaver among the ivy. that thing was as long as my thumb! and my thumb is long!! visited the Lily Pond, which is still sadly covered in algae. but, the Great Blue Heron of the Lily Pond was there again, along with a Double-crested Cormorant. wandered back through the Secret Garden, by way of the Rhododendron Dell, and i found a BLOOMING DALLY PINE!!! think i’ve seen it there before but didn’t make a mental note of it, since i knew of two others. and, yes. the flowers smelled of OTTER POPS. OMG, SO GOOD. made it to the bandshell, where Brian and i had our happy hour while watching Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers play two sets. there were many swing dancing couples. and, it was just fantastic. to listen to live jazz and see people dancing so carelessly. it was a good friday, folks.