We were recently in the Central Coast of California and also took a day trip to Santa Cruz Island.  We saw many birds, though few cooperated for good photographs.  A few firsts for me included a pair of phainopeplas and many island scrub jays.  The wildlife was generally more cooperative.  Here are a few snapshots of a 1) California towhee, 2) two young male northern elephant seals sparring, 3) a young California ground squirrel, 4) sea otters napping, and 5) an island fox (with a radio collar):

The position of the flower is also interesting, coming off the stem below the main leaves.

Yesterday was another great day for birding from the deck.Eastern Wood Pewee calling most of the day.Cardinals and American Goldfinch's at the feeder with a Hummingbird buzzing around.This morning
Great Creasted Flycatcher again in the big oaksEastern Phoebe calling. Red Eyed vireo calling.
I finally was able to ID the mystery bird from last year, using "Birdnet"   a Black Throated Green Warbler calling behind the house.White Breasted Nuthatch at the feeders. RB or RH Woodpecker drumming on tree behind us, it only called once and was too brief to ID.

Napper @ the Beach

The way that I understand it, Leica and Panasonic have an arrangement, like a collaboration, whereby Leica does not make the lenses but allows Panasonic to make them strictly to Leica standards and they can thereby cash in on the Leica name.

That's my understanding also.  I assume it is close enough, otherwise Leica wouldn't agree to it.

Good luck.  I was planning to go to the Carden Alvar early tomorrow morning but I wrenched my back lifting stuff and will need to postpone that trip until maybe Friday,after the short heat wave and after Thursday's showers, if it happens at all.  It sucks.