Wildlife – Page 19 – Earthwatcher

A Predator and Some Prey

April 9, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in American River Parkway, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wildlife

Coyote (Canis latrans);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; FEB 2019

Here are images of a some animals that I’ve taken over the last few weeks; the Coyote, the Black-tailed Jackrabbit and the California Ground Squirrel.

Take notice of the coyote. His eyes face front. That is a trait of predators. The ground squirrel and the jackrabbit need to keep their eyes open for predators while they forage, so their eyes are on the side. Remember the adage: “Eyes in the front, the animal hunts. Eyes on the side, the animal hides.”

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; FEB 2019

California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; APR 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Some North American Deer

February 8, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in American River, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wildlife

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing in the Snow,
Along Rt 30 near Everett, PA; FEB 2019

Here are some images of deer I recently photographed.

The White-tailed deer were spotted in rural southwestern Pennsylvania (US) grazing through some new fallen snow.

The Black-tailed Mule Deer was taken at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center here in Sacramento. I suppose he was taking a break after the rut. He’ll soon drop his antlers and begin growing them anew.

By the way, if you are ever in the Sacramento area, you should pay a visit to the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. You are almost guaranteed to see deer, wild turkeys and many birds. I occasionally see a jack rabbit and coyotes also.

Black-tailed Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Buck In Winter,
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; JAN 2019

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

These and otehr images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Some Small and Pretty Birds

January 28, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in American River, American River Parkway, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wildlife

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audobon Group (Dendroica Coronata)
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; NOV 2018;

Here are a few pretty, small birds we see around the Sacramento area.

Note: Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis),
Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, CA; JAN 2019

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus);
Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, CA; JAN 2019

Female Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
Sailor Bar, Fair Oaks, CA; JAN 2019

These and other images are available for purchase on my website, www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Birds Around A Local Pond

November 14, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wildlife

I regularly take long walks at different sections of the American River Parkway between Folsom and Fair Oaks. At one spot, along Lake Notomas, there is a small pond tucked back but alongside the bike trail. I never know what I am going to find. Last week, I was treated to what is a rare site to me – some hooded mergansers. Their cousins, the common mergansers, stick around all year. I often see belted kingfishers and acorn woodpeckers in that area also.

Acorn Woodpeckers are ubiquitous in this area. For those of you who aren’t familiar with them, their behavior is different from most other woodpeckers. They find acorns and pound them into holes in dead trees. When they can’t find a hole, they make one. Later, they come back and eat them – if the squirrels and other wildlife don’t get them first.

Regards,

Larry

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution

Male Belted Kingfisher — Belted Kingfisher

Note: These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

Sandhill Cranes Are Back

November 3, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Pacific Flyway, Photography, Wildlife

Sandhill Cranes populate much of the North America. But here, around Sacramento, we live along the Pacific Flyway; one of the primary migratory paths for birds heading to their wintering spot. One of the treats is that we attract large numbers of Sandhill Cranes who spend their nights in flooded rice fields and their days foraging in fields of cut grasses and grains.

Note: Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution.

Juvenile Sandhill Crame in Flight — Juvenile Sandhill Cranes in Flight

Note: These and other images are available to purchase on my website, www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

Some Wildlife from Recent Trips

October 28, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Death Valley, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, raptor, Wildlife, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park

Here is a few shots of some wildlife we saw travelling through various places. The locations are listed with each image.

We hadn’t seen any bears in the wild for several years. Then, on one trip, we saw 2. Unfortunately, the one that got away, was a cinnamon colored one. Maybe someday I’ll be able to photograph one of those.

The tufa in Mono Lake are beautiful themselves but we got a rare treat – an osprey on its nest on top of a tufa.

Note: Click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Tuolumne Grove Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park, CA; SEP 2018 — Western Gray Squirrel, Yosemite National Park

Least Chipmunk, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, CA

American Red Squirrel, Grand Tetons National Park

Turkey Vultures in the Desert, Death Valley National Park

Note: These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us

Yellowstone Wildlife

September 28, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wildlife, Yellowstone National Park

Scene from Swan Lake Flats, Yellowstone National Park; SEP 2018

Yellowstone is known as much for its wildlife as its great geologic features. North America’s apex predators, the wolf, grizzly bear and the mountain lion all roam Yellowstone’s wild lands along side the bison, elk, moose, deer and other prey species. Sadly, many of the species we had hoped to see didn’t show and a few were too far away to get a good picture. But we did see some and what we saw was amazing.

In this post, you’ll see the pica, a relative of the rabbit that lives in higher altitude rock fields. You’ll see the pronghorn which is related to but is not an antelope and the mountain goat which is not a goat but, an antelope. Finally, the American Dipper; the only North American song bird that feeds underwater in stream beds.

The Swainson’s hawks we taken not far outside of Idaho Falls, ID on the last leg of our journey to Yellowstone.

I hope you enjoy these images.

Regards,

Larry

Note: Please click on caption to see higher resolution image.

Yellowstone National Park, West Entrance Road; SEP 2018 — Bison Fording a Stream

Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park; SEP 2018 — Pronghorn Buck

Trumpeter Swan's at Sunrise — Trumpeter Swans at Sunrise

Note: These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

The Turkey Vulture

July 18, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Photography, Wildlife

20180711-Effie-Yeaw-032-Web — Turkey Vulture

Almost every day I see a kettle of Turkey Vultures soaring in search of food. One spot, where I walk up a half mile, 5% grade, there are always a few perched on a tower at the top. I hope you enjoy the images of these stately creatures with their odd looking heads.

Regards

Larry

Note: Click on captions to see images in larger size and higher resolution.

These and other images are available for purchase at www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

Cooper’s Hawk

June 22, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, raptor, Wildlife

We have an active backyard. Several species of birds frequent our feeder and the ground beneath. My wife is always chasing squirrels from the feeder. This afternoon, we had an unexpected visitor – a Cooper’s Hawk. He was very gracious. He hung around for about 15 minutes and allowed me to photograph him. Interesting though, no birds came to the feeder, no squirrels came around. Not a tweet could be heard; not even from the baby starling that has been crying all week. It took about an hour after the hawk left for backyard life to resume.

Regards,

Larry

Note: Click on caption to see larger, higher resolution image.

Note: This and other images are available to purchase at my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us

Some Interesting Wildlife Sightings

June 14, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Photography, Reptile, Snake, Wildlife

Grey Catbird Defending Nest Against Northern Black Racer Snake — Gray Catbird Attacking a Northern Black Racer Snake

Last week, we made a visit to Cowans Gap State Park in central Pennsylvania. We were fortunate to get two rare and interesting wildlife sightings.

The first sighting was a grey catbird dancing around at the base of a tree. We watched for a few minutes, perplexed by what it was doing. When I got my camera and tripod set-up, I noticed a northern black racer snake curled up in the bush near the bird. As we watched, we learned that the catbird’s elaborate dance, coupled with pecking the snake’s head was really an attempt to chase the snake away. Though we didn’t see the bird’s nest, we surmised it was nearby. It was really fun to watch this activity live rather than a scene in a TV documentary.

The second sighting was of a very large porcupine. It was the first time I have seen a porcupine in the wild.

I hope you enjoy these images.

Regards,

Larry

Note: To see images in larger size and higher resolution, click on the caption.

Cowan Gap State Park, PA; JUN 2018 — Porcupine

Note: These and other images are available to purchase by visiting my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

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