![A small birds tilts its head to its left, in rocky surroundings. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/w2qp3NfHzr9N/cfjdUiVaiv9eDTsC4Vrc7eJkDKkUx8yW7M2XFvaw.jpg)
This lil' one watched us eat lunch for a while. Definitely no ulterior motives!
Looking west from the High Peaks in Pinnacles Nat'l Park.
![Behind rocky outcroppings, a valley and distant mountains. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/UjWtMOvDQ3Xd/ByJyitwsbv9C1lhMrqMub117mpQoFbk933sNtdBs.jpg)
The sun creeping in! The whole Central Valley has been under an unrelenting tule fog for like three weeks now. We'd taken a trip up to the Sierra foothills just to get some sun. The trail we'd picked was right where the fog ended, so we got to appreciate it getting burned off :)
![Low winter sun shines through trees amidst light fog. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/0NUNxj4cHLWj/JYOsumW8d21Aeo6JWBn6nPFLTx7WtXB2BCMBRoIb.jpg)
Misty morning.
![The sun rises behind trees shrouded in heavy mist. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/wHkvt5rtE2cU/bLup6pLX9NhzUgNVHBJMvwRBJbcGwIMJb5W3JvkV.jpg)
Just a lil' happy bee.
![A big bee on a yellow flower. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/nrB1TYnUAk1e/nZkjj0HfJym9pDWwh7b69XScA5u2r40EGv9CRN4l.jpg)
We were lucky enough to see a family of raccoons shove themselves a hollow tree.
![A raccoon rests its head on the mouth of a tree's hollow. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/VbME8W3IOAEG/tXrq6zfTPCuFysZCA8wMAlgX3VMp8Ynt6AH3ZvlD.jpg)
Book Rated: Station Eternity, by Mur Lafferty
> SCANNING: Station Eternity> AUTHOR_SIG: Mur Lafferty> SENTIMENT_Q: 20.0% POSITIVE> THEMATIC_VECTORS: NARRATIVE_STRUCTURE, LEXICAL_ANALYSIS, CHARACTER_ARC> LEXICAL_DENSITY: 54.52> MEMETIC_HAZARD: HIGH
Bear Gulch Reservoir was quite pretty -- made better as all these tiny little birds were swarming (presumably hopeful for lost food, as I think a lot of hikers pause there for a snack).
![A large body of water reflects blue skies above, and orange rocks to either side. [Fuji X-T5 / Fuji 10-24 WR]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/onVU1DvIEuW0/N2fInGrWDQpZBiByEuus5LS6DtKQHAI6qDgQQlUd.jpg)
Somehow Pinnacles maintains the ability to inspire borderline heatstroke despite the December cool. I can't imagine what it's like in July. I did enjoy this big rock that looked like some sort of giant landing craft, though.
![A large rock sits behind a treeline, illuminated by the sun. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/AgFDQ68VafsC/0NQ6CS7Deo7I5c2BdbLEZ0M4zawu7FbX41x48vsS.jpg)
We'd run into this gang of otters on the Drake's Head trail. They just swam up and started having a nice time. Lovely!
![An otter looks up at the camera. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]](https://pxscdn.com/public/m/_v2/7669/c19ce1b25-2f8843/m4Ko9o7KOWnj/9Z3A1dV3iv4jwkiKM0Q8lIWskpRNJGJ1G8jHQeYA.jpg)