Tomales Bay CA
moon rising behind a feeding cow – almost full tonight
The last few nights, and once about a week ago, I saw a small flying creature flit about well after sunset up in the hills. At first i thought it was a large bat, then considered that perhaps it was a small owl – but neither option seemed to fit the behavior or size. The exposed area and hunting style didn’t match any nocturnal owls that I know of in the area.
Tonight I got my answer – in nearly the same spot as one of my other sightings, again well after sunset, it appeared. Actually, first, I heard it. It emits almost non-stop little squeaks, similar to a small little dog toy being squeezed over and over again. Very faint, but when the bird flies close-by, which it does, it was audible. Tonight I got out my small LED flashlight when I realized the bird had landed on the trail ahead of me – a common poorwill!
The last one that I saw was east of San Jose in the mountains back in the Spring, and I was able to get a much better picture of it at that time (see here). Very cool little creatures! I hope it (or they) survive(s) this area – it’s not easy considering all the great-horned owls who would be more than happy to make a meal out of this little one.
flock of cedar waxwings stopped to watch the sunset, kindly with a backdrop of the waxing moon behind them. hmmm.
“cedar wax-ing-moon-wings?”
some of the winter migrants have settled in, good to hear these birds’ high-pitched calling again.
got some good shots of this lady as she waited for her mate, who was dozing a bit longer in his palm tree refuge by which she had taken a sit after leaving her day perch. he has a much deeper hoot and a more elongated hoot sequence than her, sometimes beginning with a few subtle, almost grunt-sounding hoots that preface the “typical” great-horned owl hoot sequence. these owls that I have observed the last year have a lot more vocalizations that i have heard in addition to what is typically documented or described in the scientific literature. i suspect they have a larger vocabulary than humans realize, some of it very subtle.
thought I was going to get a nice shot of a pellet barf on this one! false alarm.
rousing and shaking off the sleepy day
some serious tools …. incredible crushing force in these feet in addition to sharp talons.
north american river Otter
western Coyote
Bobcat
Oh to be a raven, even for a moment. Flying, playing, floating, diving, and somersaulting in the air, seeming to defy gravity – or at least be in a satisfying truce with it.
Yesterday they were playing on the updrafts in the strong off-shore winds over the hills by the dunes at Point Reyes National Seashore, and it’s almost as fun to watch as I imagine it is to do. One raven had some sort of stick or bone in its beak, and was teasing and playing “keep away” from the others for a long time. The games and players change and evolve, sometimes it’s just two ravens, sometimes as many as 12 got in on the fun.
feralzach 