Two parks -- one national and one state -- connect behind Newbury Park California, adjacent to Thousand Oaks.

January 31, 2007. A day of dramatic weather.

A coyotes hunts rodents in late afternoon.

Redwing blackbirds at the pond

April flowers frame this view of Boney Mountain

Coyotes are common near dusk when they come out to hunt. This guy was keeping tabs on me very closely.

The poppy is the California state flower

A coyote couple out rustling up dinner.

A creek runs through it. I'm still working on getting good shots of that part of the park.

A wildflower called a shooting star.

Grass at dusk

Horse and rider framed by grass plumes.

Redwing blackbirds flushed.

Follow this canyon and you reach Malibu -- about nine miles.

Winter rains bring a short green season.

Canyon to Malibu

A live oak just getting its new growth