December 17 -- A Hike Along The Palos Verdes Peninsula Coastline

The good thing about the very urban port city of San Pedro, aka The Port of Los Angeles (population 75,000 or so) is -- it's near the Palos Verdes, with a lot of open space and terrific views of the ocean and Catalina Island (The 4 Preps, "26 Miles Across The Sea/Santa Catalina Is The Place For Me"). The Palos Verdes Peninsula actually used to be an island long ago, and it's related in terms of geology more to Catalina Island than the mainland. Ocean Trails, which is between Trump Golf Course and the ocean, is a premier trail of mostly sagebrush and cactus, and hardy shrubs and trees. It's also the home to the rare California Gnatcatcher, a tiny bird that is flourishing there. Ocean Trails was laid out before Donald Trump bought the golf course, and the trail system was part of the deal to have the golf course. It's very popular with joggers and runners. Along with California Gnatcatchers it's also home to Bewick's, House and Cactus Wren, Anna's and Allen's hummingbird, and an isolated population of Rufous-crowned Sparrow, so for me it's good for both the birds and the views. I started off the day by pulling out of the condo parking space and smacking (5mph or less) into the concrete pillar on the opposite side -- worth another "Oops!" Now it's a bit smooshed on one side. Well, it IS a truck, it can't look perfect forever. I park at a trailhead, and head down the trail with the 500 (wildlife) and 17-55 (landscape) lenses and get a pretty clear view of Catalina -- 

I'm greeted by a Mr. Allen's hummingbird on top of a bush --

The cactus leaves are backlit by the morning sun --

Here's looking up the Palos Verdes shoreline --

In that last long arm of the peninsula is Terranea, a resort built on the site of the old Marineland. It also has houses that are pretty pricey (starting at about 1,200,000 dollars; this area has some of the most expensive real estate in the entire country) . I use the 500 f/4 lens to get a closeup of Terranea --

Referring earlier to the birds found at Ocean Trails, here's a House Wren --

And another House Wren, both taken with the 500mm lens --

So exactly how big is The Big Boy, as I like to call the 500? I carry it in the blue mountaineering strap, held very securely by it lens' big tripod collar. I carry it somewhat similar to a sword, without the sheath. I do NOT carry it around, holding it like this; I just wanted to show it lengthwise --

I actually have it in the blue strap, but it's in this position on my right side; here I'm holding it by the tripod collar -- 

I bought it from Amazon in 2009, when it cost a chunk of change. It's a prime lens, meaning it doesn't have an expandable range like, say, my 100-400. It's at 500mm-- and that's it.  The minimum focusing distance is 15 feet, meaning you have to be at least 15 feet away from your subject or else it can't focus. But as you can see by the quality of the Wren photos, it's head and shoulders above at regular lens, and is why I don't mind carrying it around. It weighs a little less than 10 pounds. Here's another photo of the landscape lens, which is a good one though not the highest quality "L" lens --

And The Big Boy, zooming in on a fishing trawler. Wasn't "Don Ciccio" the name of a character in "The Godfather"? Italians and Yugoslavians came from Europe, mainly Ischia in Italy and Dugi Otok in Yugoslavia, both islands, and settled mainly in San Pedro as it reminded them of "home". Partly because of this ethnic heritage, San Pedro used to have some pretty good Yugoslavian and Italian restaurants, and still does, though many have closed.

So -- a short background of "Pedro", and the Palos Verdes Peninsula...