Squirrel And Sparrow

Paddled over to check on Owl....home okay...and thought to set up on the Knoll for a quick pic and clip...and the YIs came trooping across Chapel Bridge...on the way to the Little Beach..oh...I thought and thought!...and headed them off..which was kindof tough!..the guide was pretty determined to troop ahead!...so I showed them the Cottonwood and Owl..and that quieted them down!...it's really quite a sight to see Owl up there!!...I got my pic and clip and picked up...after asking the guide to spread the word to be quiet thereabout...and was along the Path by the Woodpecker Tree and passed another troop..this time adults with a Ranger guide...passed and thought and thought...'our task is integrating people with the animals'...the guide was saying!...as if on cue...and I walked up and raised my hand...and told them about the Owl and the Babies...I'm not good at talkabout with strangers...so was a bit non pulsed(wrong word...its opposite!)...and more or less got a low key...'gee, an owl'...response..I shrugged and walked away!....continued to the Post Office...and the new scope came!...and so fast from adorama...I ordered it up from Amazon Monday late...I went back the way I came...passed the Ranger again minus their troop when I approached Chapel Bridge..'welcome to come along'...I offered...but got the 'gee..an owl' response again!...and just pointed to the general where abouts of the Cottonwood in answer to 'which tree?'....hmmphh...it is with much joy..and anxiety...that I visit Owl...and concern myself with the Owls well being...neither of which I seem able to impart to hardly anyone else!!...I paddled past Owl to the Two Ponderosas and set up..took the bracket off the minididgi...and...tried to fit it over the new scope eyepiece...which I discovered is too big for it!!..stuck...and I could see Owl really well in the new scope...its 'glass' is the best so far!....so I just handheld the 3x and took a few pics...the one above one...first pic was enhanced in Elements....picked up and headed to the Cabin...work time...and got to thinking...and remembered the Ranger from a talk in Parson's Lodge in Tuolumne....art demo by Killian...the Ranger grew up there in the little house by the Lodge!...well..maybe knowledge of the Owls whereabouts is now in good hands!...told a friend I'm of the opinion the whole Meadow thereabout should be off limits!...it was in preparation for the control burn...signs and tape...anyway anyway...Sparrow pic and clip with minididgi is from the walk near the Artist's Grove...the new scope is really really neat...and have thought to use a second tripod to mount the camera on...kinda klutzy...but maybe will do until I can order up a bracket or mount or something...in fact...I might be able to use this trick with the new camera and the short lens...that 1.8 f stop would really help in the low evening light!...actually, I'm always pleased to show critters to the tourists and 'troops'!...gave a pic of the Road Poppies to a friend at work, and they were so pleased it made me blush!...to another friend, Bobcat and Owl...pleased as well... sunny warm and blue with a breeze...wind will be a double problem with two tripods!...report tomorrow...and weather report of rain for tommorrow!.....oh...there is a lot of Owl plop under the Two Ponderosas...Owl is perching there a lot!...and I'll have to modify my approach not to startle Owl!!...Ground Squirrel clip by Lower Falls...when I was doing the Sparrow clip while on the Boardwalk..it vibrated a bit from a bicycle...or someone walking up behind me...but the vibration stopped...when the Sparrow flew off...I immediatly turned around to thank whoever had been so polite to stop and wait...and discoverd it was the Chapel Pastor on their bike...with a big smile to see my effort to film the little Sparrow!!

Today's Owl Report

A short walk, with Armand in tow, to check on Canada Goose..not home in Bobcat Meadow...and Owl...home I think...just barely visible in the back of the Bowl!...Babies there of course...Armand got one his pics posted up at Nat Geo...soon as I locate I'll link it...they had a 'peeps' contest....pic is from two days ago morning...everyone takes pics of the Old Elm...but not many can say...'look close..see the Canada Goose?'...tv working again...re carpeting scheduled for the Cabin...have to box up the dishevelment!!....sunny warm blue a few clouds...clip of young Red Headed Woodpecker calling, for food I think, almost like an Owl!...thought that for last three days, but located the Woodpecker today in Flicker Grove...link to Armand's pic...http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2009/04/peeps-photography

Owls and Canada Goose

Paddled out this morning...later than yesterday!...more on yesterday morning in a bit...this morning I went out to Bobcat Meadow...checked on Canada...same place...then checked on Owl...Owl was home...all's right!...went to the Post Office......oH!...forgot...first I went out Rocky Slope trail and Wolfie was propped against a Boulder at Camp 4 reading a paperback...we often exchange them...like mysteries..and I sat awhile in the sun there too... and we traded critter stories...eleven rattlesnakes reported once on top of North Dome...we both thought that might be an exaggeration!...but I haven't been there...yet...Mother Curry was a task master...only one day off...and if ever late..down the hill you went!...she's seen a Grey Fox in the Valley by El Cap...oh...having been all over for many years she has many reports!...I picked up to go look again at the Snow Plant...more pics..pic up is from yesterday...it's right near the Upper Falls trail head...Wolfie say the Bears will eat them, they have a kindof honey...now...wherewasI....then I went over to Canada and Owl and out to the Post Office!...picked up lunch...egg salad chips hershys and elixir...and when I got to the Backpacker Camp, I took a seat on one of the new picnic benches...no campers yet...and had lunch...a quiet walk....picked up, and a little ways along the Path saw some big wings amidst the Trees...and was able to pick out a silhouette..which proved to be Owl!...hunting in the daylight...Wolfie had just told me they do such...I shushed some bike riders...and tried to sneak up...but a Raven came along and startled Owl...looked and looked but no luck..but did get the pic and clip!...much different to sight Owl this way...and the first one I've seen this far away from where I usually see them...wonder if it was a new Owl or one that ranged from Owl Woods!...continued on over to the Pony Path and to Happy Isles...quiet...snack stand is open...had a hot dog sitting on the Boulder in the Fen... nice talk with tourists...about critters!....took the Trail from the Fen to the Parking Lot...quiet...though I saw big wings again!...caught the Shuttle and rode all the way back to Lower Falls..tired...and to the Cabin for late afternoon nap and promise to wake up for Owl...did in time!..and back out to Bobcat Meadow...clip and pic of Canada by the Indian Lily Pads...seeing this has given me an idea..a collection of Fauna with or near or on Flora...anyway...then over to check on Owl...the evening routine is to just walk by the Tree..head down and quiet..and set up by the Two Ponderosas...I got as far as the Knolls and heard a faint 'screech' ahead...in the Owl Hunting clip Owl screeched like this...so I studied the Ponderosas with the Binocs and found Owl perched...this is a cool pic and clip!...it was Mama Owl...she flew off in the middle of a still being taken..with my eyes on the camera, I didn't know which way she flew...on the Knoll already, I just turned around and sighted on the Tree..and the two Babies...clip...very cool!...picked up and back at the Meadow got another dusk clip of Canada...a kinda different day!...insomuch the only things I really took pics of were Canada and Owls!...four Owls all together!!...but the special thing was the talkabout with Wolfie...and it was special Yesterday too!...after the morning clips of Canada flying..and landing!...and the Owl pic...which I didn't know had a Baby near its tail 'till editing!...and a Shuttle ride to Curry and Breakfast...after all that in that early morning, I happened on Wolfie at Stoneman Bridge...and we were gabbing, and Tom peddled up on his bike!...so we all walkedabout talkedabout over to Le Conte...Wolfie's destination...from there I invited Tom to come along and see Owl...and we walked all that way back...all the way to CAD Beach where we could sneak around and come to the Two Ponderosas from the other far side...once there, we could see Mama Owl, but no Babies...they were hidden behind her...but it was fine morning!...to see the Critters, and walk and talk with two friends!....and I was really sleepy...but on my own, continued to Swinging Bridge to finish a Big Loop...opposite CAD Beach saw male Merganser...pic and clip...had hoped the Mergansers would be there earlier for Tom to see!...checked Creek's End...quiet..and the water has gone down a lot...and back to the Cabin..and to sleep!...woke up that afternoon...and did the Big Loop counterclockwise...which brought me back to the Two Ponderosas...and I started to set up for Owl with the big didgi...and realized I left the bracket back at the Cabin on the mini didgi!...hmmph...did a couple hand held pics...and watched Owl awhile through the Scope..Babies hidden...and decided to pickup and go see if Canada was in Bobcat Meadow...glad I did...I sat along while under the Woodpecker Tree and watched Canada...and Deer and Birds..and Tourists...and the whole evening panoply in the Meadow!...pics and clips all with the 12x....I have a lot of pics and clips from yesterday that are 'postable'...the Canada clips up just part of some really neat ones....a fine two days of walkabout and talkabouts, I'd say!...report of Bear Cub at Lower Falls this morning...and two Bears at Mirror Lake in the afternoon...it could be awhile before I see Bears again...and no Bobcat reports of late...so that could be awhile too...it's not for lack of trying, but when the tourists come they get scarcer...oh!...out in Two Top Meadow, I saw Raven chasing Hawk way up high along the Rim..this yesterday...and today I have report of Raven Chasing Hawk through the Trees thereabouts..and Hawk calling...so Hawk is about...sunny cool with puffy clouds and breezy...both days!!...oh...I had to flop on the ground to take the Snow Plant pic...and the tripod..set unsteady on the Slope..flopped!...12x lcd screen broken...the fluid in it...or howeveritworks...messed up...fortunatly the lcd view screen still works..but my mini theater that I share my clips and pics with will need to be repaired...or likely replaced..have my eye on the new 20x!!...will miss it in meantime...often it is just like the Blog in Realtime when I share the pics and clips with the 12x lcd screen!

Dawn And Dusk Canada Goose

Oh!...Too much to report...and too sleepy!!...report for sometime...tomorrow!!

Owl's Noon

A short walk....checked on Goose, and Goose was home in Bobcat Meadow...same exact spot as yesterday...pic...checked on Owl from the near shore...and could just see tail feathers...thought and thought...that meant I might see the Babies from the Ponderorsas...so I crossed the Bridge and walked by the Cottonwood quiet as I could be...the water has gone done...so the Beach is bigger and I can swing out further...set up between the Pines to try and block the wind...and got the pic and clip of the two looking out...it was a temptation to set up on the nearer knoll!...and I could have gotten this clip from closer range...but I feel better further back...used the mini didgi too, where the bigdidgi would have served better...was going to do it all quick...but saw that noon sunlight was falling on the Bowl again...so stuck around for the rest of the walkabout time taking pics and clips...some more clips of little birds...a collection growing for sometime soon!....sunny blue warm.....a few clouds of the puffy sort....

Canada Goose

Started out to the Post Office...just gorgeous weather...and thought to check on Owl...pic and clip...while on Lodgpole Point, Yellow Rumps...and a small Grey Bird...pics for sometime...had noticed Violet Green Swallows out in Bobcat Meadow..went out on the Booardwalk and tried for some inflight pics...got a couple..try for more tomorrow!...great fun...saw some Mallards in the distance...then saw one with different markings...and a very long neck...a Goose!...Canadian Goose I told a biology class on field trip later...Canada Goose the name I gathered later from the books...spent the whole walk taking pics and clips...couldn't get close...most with the minididgi...clips of Redwings singing...found the one Brewers? Blackbird making the funny background sound...pic...very neat time out around about the Meadow with Goose!...Marsh the students called it!...never did get to the Post Office...sunny blue sorta cool...ice on the Falls Wall from last night...and a little frost on the grasses and leaves...oh...Chestnut Chicadees...for sometime...a mixed flock of little bird pics of late!!... sometime!...brb...want to check on the rarity of Goose hereabouts...well...the Nature Notes have it that the first 'Honker' was sighted in the Valley on March 10, 1934 at High Noon at Mirror Lake...cool...well..it was a 'cool sunny day' then too!! link:http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/yosemite_nature_notes/13/13-8.pdf

Here's a page of 'infrequently' seen birds in the Valley..note Ravens!!
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/birds_of_yosemite/infrequent_species.html
an old book...

Sprinkles

Pic of Redwing Female Blackbird is from a couple days ago...off to side of the Boardwalk approaching the Artist's Grove....today I thought to just go to the Post Office, but a small Deer herd crossed at the Creek Bridge, and were going up the Creek's West bank...I went over by the Deer House and hoped to get a clip of them crossing the Creek...did get a distant one of them moving along the far bank, but they mosied over into the Backyard...they still might go all the way to Creek's End and cross the Merced, I thought, and I wanted to check on Owl anyway, a place where I could look across to the confluence, so I mosied over to Owl's Cottonwood...Owl glanced down as I passed the Tree...passing close unavoidable with the water high...and I set up a bit further on with the 12x...a quick pic and clip...then back the way I came, and over Chapel Bridge to Bobcat Meadow...had time to make a circut of the Meadow...clip...water is almost as high as the highest I've see...two or three more feet, and the whole Meadow might be covered...and a photog's dream pic of Halfdome Reflected in Bobcat Meadow becomes possible...I had one...in fact I think I've posted it...and thought to come back the next day for a sunrise one...but the water went right back down...high high water just lasts like a few hours...a curious thing is that the water pooled now in Bobcat Meadow is higher than the lever of the Merced...and yet there is no stream or channel of it going into the Merced...to the right of the Boardwalk...see pic..the Merced is like twenty yards away...but that water doesn't stream into it...except maybe underground...anyway...it sprinkled and was cool...and felt much better to walk about...and not many tourists about...the Cottonwood Beach...which has gotten very small!...was unoccupied....much of the walk I was getting wet from the rain...which was cool after the heat of Monday and Teusday...yesterday, as one tourist said, was a perfect weather day...a wonder I've had, is if anyone after the 1997 'flood', took note of the critters during that long period when the park was closed...brb....well...here's a bit on the hydrology...and frazzle IS spelled frazil...but I think I'll stick with frazzle...link:http://digital-desert.com/yosemite/water.html

I know from other web searches of someways to drill down into the web...a search like: yosemite bears 1935, might bring up stuff that just: yosemite bears, wouldn't...lemtrythatone...brb...well...in 1933 some bears from hereabout were translplanted to the San Berardino Mountains...one tale among many at this site...why anyone still hunts black bears is beyond....link: http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/black_bear_numbers.html

another trick is a very specific date...March 3, 1898 yosemite..brb

link:http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/pageviewer?frames=1&coll=moa&view=50&root=%2Fmoa%2Fscmo%2Fscmo0015%2F&tif=00559.TIF&cite=http%3A%2F%2Fcdl.library.cornell.edu%2Fcgi-bin%2Fmoa%2Fmoa-cgi%3Fnotisid%3DABP7664-0015-90

from this link:http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/browse.author/m.230.html

Those are some of Muir's magazine articles...snagged the Ouzel pic!!

A Meadow Mallards

Pic and clip from Monday...today, paddled over to the Deer House...heard a raspy call in Flicker Grove...but couldn't locate...recorded it...oh...Ground Squirrels 'up on the roof' at the Deer House Garage...was going to post that up...for sometime...maybe get some more clips...found a good place on Lodgepole Point at the Merced's bank to set up the bigdidgi...and sighted in on Owl...clips and pics...many kids and tourists at the 'beach' enjoying the sunshine and water...Owls eyes open and close now and then...friend consoled me that Owls know what they are doing...when choosing such a site...I suppose!...old friend showed up, the Lady of Tuolumne...asked if I'd gotten a pic of Ring Tail yet...'No...but I have some Baby Owls...'....and she told me about a friend who kept close observation of Owl when the nest was in the Oak Grove, but they hadn't seen Owl for two years...I thought to enquire more about this, but she was off, and I was stuck at work...an ephemeral spirit!...neat that the changing seasons bring the critters around...and friends I've made too...oh...back to the walk...picked up from Owl, and went back to Flicker Grove...still hearing the sound...think it might be a baby bird...but no luck...did get a clip of two Acorn Woodpeckers...sunny blue hot but not so hot...

Pony Path Mergansers

Took the Path over to Two Top Pine Meadow...two male Mergansers at Ozone Beach...clip...almost clip of them flying when kayakers came by...and friend in raft too, who shouted out hello!...shouted back...'I want to borrow that raft!'....do need to get a floatable!....sat awhile at the Cement Blocks just before Swinging Bridge....think they were foundation for old bridge...and thought tonight to lookabout for a pic of Swinging Bridge!....on the way back, sighted Merganser pair across from Ozone...pic and clip...kinda neat the way they were napping on a log...for sometime...now..tonight's pics and clips were from the walkabout the day before yesterday...a brief recollection: to the Post Office...picked up lunch..vegi sandwich, hershy, gator aid...out to the A Rooms and the trail there below the Arches...been meaning to find the 'Devil's Punch Bowl'...so up I went at the stream coming down from the Arches...quickly discovered I was going the right way...folk coming down...it's kinda neat, but not what I expected...I thought there was a kinda swimming hole...had lunch, took some scenics..for sometime...going down, a group of like fifteen were going up, with a friendly dog..clip...felt sympathy for the lone sunbather back at the Bowl!...continued out to Indian Caves...and cut across and back to the Pony Path...second lunch by the Moraine....was almost to Happy Isles, and glimpsed the Mergansers...it has been great luck to see them twice in this stretch of the Merced!...and they swam by close twice, up and back, up and back, so I was able to get a pic and a clip!...very neat...they flew off back down the Merced..I keep just missing getting clip of their flight!!...and I followed...continue along the Merced through the Camps...and back along the A Meadow I got a good clip and pic of Mallards...for sometime...water pooled now in all the Meadows....went to Bobcat Meadow...and Chapel Meadow for the Owl pics and clips...then in the Dusk on the Path by Two Top, a small herd of Deer were about, and I got a good clip with a charming narration...for sometime!...it was a hot day, but got some good clips and pics, and of course the Baby Owls....it wasn't quite so hot today...and I'm catching up on my sleep!...though I feel a bit remiss snoozing in the morning when the sun is up!....there are some other incidental pics and clips from both days...a female Redwing...I think...which is very pretty...lots of Squirrels...and scenics...for sometimesometime!!....oh!!...here's a link to a photog's site that has the 2007 Owls....if I have it right, the Baby from 2007 is the Owl I heard screeching...clips...in that Fall...and the Parents I think are the Owls that live in Owl Woods...and the current Baby Owls are from these Parents...the 2007 Owls had a horrific experience...the Oak they were in broke off right at the Bowl they had their nest in...I dont know the whole story...and there are many, as this Oak is right in the Oak Grove by Lower Falls...some of it is at this photog's site...I've tried to email to get pics...but no response...Tom and Theresa have a pic of one of the 2007 Owls too...I was wondering when the Baby Owls will begin flying...likely, by comparison, next month this time...oh...that's a long time to avoid ruckus makers by the Merced!!
link: http://www.magicallightphotography.com/gallery/v/Wildlife/
Photog has a pic of Coop, mislabeled, and Appletree Bobcat, too!...Bobcat pic is very fine!!
no luck finding pic of old Swinging Bridge...

Owl Hunting

After Breakfast back at the Cabin...sat on the bunk and thought a minute...and curled up for a nap....it's hot...it's crowded...short nap!...heavy metal soon came through the walls!...so geared up and took the Bobcat Meadow route to the Post Office...by Chapel Bridge an artist was diligently painting the scene across the Merced...one I've done myself...didn't have an umbrella though...and wondered if he'd seen Owl, as Owl's Cottonwood is in the scene...I went up the near shore aways and used the binocs to see if Owl was home...looked to be...and the YIs were all gathered about the Cottonwood...apparently the guides all know now where Owl is....hmmph...after their lookseee, they all went to the River's edge to get their feet wet...and raise an all mighty ruckus!...this was too much, and I paddled over to tell them all to quiet down...with the artist's approval!..."Owls are sensitive to sounds!'....dont know but of late I've become more sensitive to sounds my ownself!...they were courteous and moved up stream....but I feel a sense of dread for Owl...the Tree is in such a public place...and the high water has moved the place folks sit and walk by the river much too near the Tree!...anyway, already by the Tree, I went over to the Ponderosas and used the minididgi for some pics...Owl was back inside the Bowl..couldn't see the babies...picked up and went to the Post Office...had a hot dog at the Grill...and shuttled back to the Cabin for another nap...it's hot...and crowded...woke up to the noisy talky puzzlement of the neighbors trying to figure out what's gone wrong with the TV cable connect...much bangity bang door opening and closing...geared up...this time with the Barska scope along...and went back to the Ponderosas and set up....Barska scope works a little better...and much better to just view through it!...the Owls are very cool...watched a long while...until light left Half Dome...heard probably Papa Owl over in Owl Woods hoo hooing...but Mama Owl was quiet... with light almost gone. Owl flew towards me and perched in a Cottonwood...flew again to the Ponderosas...which I didn't know, until I had picked up and was headed to Swinging Bridge...and more wet feet!...and Owl swooped out of the Pines and landed in a darkly seen Cottonwood ahead...I approached that one with hope of a pic...and Owl obliged and flew right to the Burned Snag Tree...Zeke's Perch!...see clip...all handheld as I was afraid to miss Owl's flight exchanging the 12x with the scope on the tripod...Owl flew right down to Owl Beach!...and walked about..would have liked to have gone over closer...but too much growth between...I went back to Chapel Bridge...being quiet as I could...from seeing them in the scope, I knew the Baby Owls were up there watching and listening...one of my favorite Cottonwoods has fallen over, the one I have clip of Coop perched in on Xmas Eve...like the Black Oaks, the Cottonwoods dont seem to be regenerating...meaning to search that out for a post!...sunny blue with puff clouds and haze and hot...it cooled off in the evening...thanks, Nick, for visiting!

Mama Owl

Long walk today....too late to post up the other clips and pics....for sometime, like tomorrow!....towards dusk on the walk, I checked to see if Owl was Home....and saw just Owl's tail poking out the Perch...had the didgiscope along...so went out aways...far enough for it to be far enough!...which put me under the Ponderosas....and I set up...sitting on the ground...and first thing I see in the lcd screen is Mama Owl's back...and one of the little Owls looking out over Mama...too far away to see with the binocs....and I feel a bit chagrined that on one of my most exciting sightings, I could only really see it on a miniature TV screen!....which is appropriate I suppose, insomuch I've been watching TV all my life...and Wildlife shows a favorite..anyway...there's more clips of the little Owls...all of them unfortunately blurry...low light... and equipment not up to really sharp pic and clips...but sometime I'll post them up..the Little Owls aren't so little!...over the past weeks, Mama Owl hid them real well sitting in the doorway!....lucky tonight to see them...sunny hot blue with puffy clouds in the late afternoon...first day with just a T-shirt!...got a clip of Grey Squirrel stretched out on a branch, trying to be cool...oh...for tomorrow today's report!...TV on the fritz....watching dvd...Finding Nemo...a favorite!!

Ground Squirrel Boulder

Paddled back to the Creek...Fig Tree is blooming...and another...Peach?...water level up in the Creek...went out to Creek's End to check...walked it's length to the Road...and checked the root of the Ponderosa that fell...the hole is full of water...a Fir fell too...but that hole was dry...the holes where they were standing, I mean!...the Pines haven't very deep roots systems...crossed the Road and walked about the Delta...then over to the Rocky Slope...it was hot...and not much energy in my footsteps!....went as far as the Tree and Boulder...which I'll call henceforth: Ground Squirrel Boulder!....resorted to interesting trick to get pic and clip...didn't take the tripod...just the 12x...so clip and pic are handheld...and I wanted to get closer after the first bit...and snuck over to the Boulder and approached from behind the Tree...Ground Squirrel was still there when I peaked, but looked startled...so I stayed out of sight..and just poked the camera out and use the lcd screen folded out...and that worked really well!...good trick!...it was sunny and hot...report of Bobcat chasing Rabbits...at Merced College!...pics and clips of Two Does by the Cement Block in the Backyard...shooed away a bicycler off the pavement...they rode right up to the Deer...rude!!...tried for some pics of little birds...but all blurry...Blue Jay too...should have geared up with the tripod!...but it was hot!!

Creek Merganser Pair

Rocky Slope was too crowded...so went over to the Creek Delta...pic...it's like the Frazzle was a little ice tsunami!...branches needles mud debris everywhere...and still some SnowIce left....tough to walk through!...glimpsed male Merganser in the main channel....and went back and forth between the two Footbridges trying to keep up with the Merganser Pair in the Creek..pics and clips...lost them...and worktime came too...pic of Grey Squirrel...crossed the Road and went back along the Creek..a tall medium size Ponderosa has fallen right across the Creek... pic..it wasn't rooted near the Bank...but pretty far 'inland'....sunny warmer and blue....

Azalea Squirrel

Paddled over to the Post Office...back through Bobcat Meadow...pic and clip of Azalea Squirrel from the Boardwalk...male Mallard out in Merced...paddling about!...clip...had a little time...and went across Chapel Bridge...Owl was home...perched on the porch....pics and clips...took some time to wait for the light to work it's way up from just shining on Owl's tail feathers...let the 12x do a long clip of the light...Grosbeak pic and clip on way to work...water in the Lily Pad Pond is like just a couple feet below the Boardwalk...so warm weather is melting the snow...record high temps ahead, weather report said...

Deer Nap

Photog friend showed up at Breakfast...all geared up (primary camera a Mamiya film medium format)...they wanted to go over to the Creek...and get some pics of the Frazzle...but I persuaded them to tag along on my walk out the Rocky Slope...I knew they'd like the Boulders...and somewhere amongst them we got separated...so I continued out to the Beaver Trees...pic and clip of the napping Deer...and two other silhouetted Deer between two Ponderosas framing..almost...the Falls...a scene I'd like to pursue with the paint brush..that way I can rotate and move the Falls between the Trees!!...the Aspen that had been almost gnawed through, fell over..and I had hopes Beaver did it...but on close inspection, I think it was the wind...continued along the Merced and startled up Sandpiper...I was seeing Sandpipers and other birds this time last year...missing Black Headed Grosbeaks...said a week or so back that I heard one before Dawn, but now I think it was Robin...Robin makes almost the same song at Dawn and Dusk...almost got a clip of one singing...there's been a lot of almosts!...sunny blue blue warm...too nice a day to be inside!!...many Bear reports...and another friend reported seeing the gnawed Aspens 'years ago'...I was lamenting, 'Sometimes I think I'm out and about where no one has been, and I look at the ground, and there's like footprints...all over...from just yesterday!'

Cedar Grey Squirrel

Late Breakfast..late walk!...paddled over to the Creek Footbridge to see the Frazzle...it must come down all at once, as the whole Creek was full....pic and clips...for the Frazzle collection!...clip and pic of Grey Squirrel after the larva in the Cedar Branches....over at Rocky Slope, heard Blue Jays scolding, but couldn't see any critter about to cause them concern...clip...posted up Mirror Slide pic from out in Two Top Pine Meadow...right behind me where I was standing is the little slough where the Beaver felled trees are...put clip up I took the other day of the trees...report from resident of Midpines that they've seen Golden Beavers in the lower Merced...but only rarely...they dont make dams and mounds of branches out in the water necessarily...living sometimes in burrows in the banks...wish I could see the one that did the trees!...cold sunny blue morning and later hazy clouds...

OhMyGosh

After Breakfast...pic of which for sometime!...Cook was pleased they didn't break the over easy eggs...so took pic to commemorate!!...after Breakfast, Shuttled over to the Post Office...and at the Habitat, spent my five year gift certificates on a wooden Bear, and Baseball cap with Bear patch...it was cold...and waiting for the Shuttle back...the Shuttle going the other way showed up...so hopped on that one and made the Valley loop...weird weather...sunny to snowy...back at the Cabin, thought to take a nap...but geared up and went to Last Chance for lunch...or maybe that's the other way around!...anyway...I went back to Creek's End and looped to Ozone Beach...and then thought to go check on that White Boulder I'd seen in the Live Oaks on the way up the Upper Falls trail...found the Boulder again...but it wasn't as white as I remember..probably been there five to ten years!...it takes awhile for the lichen to cover them up...anyway...I started to get reports from hikers coming down of 'bear six' at Colombia Point...that would be 'bear nine'...Fir Bear!...so up I went...no luck...but took the clip of the Falls from OhMyGosh lookout...earlier I took the Acorn Woodpecker pic at the Cabin...seemed to be telling me something!...I got back down to Camp 4 about five and thought to go check on those gnawed down trees...I looked up Beavers in the Valley, and the only possibility I can think of is that Sierra Mountain Beavers gnawed down the trees...these critters are, it's said, like big mice with no tails about the size of Marmots, and live in burrows, and being nocturnal, rarely seen...so I looked for burrows!...there were some fresh gopher like mounds...there's a whole menagerie of critters underground that I've never seen...like the Rabbits...I know there's Rabbits, but I've only seen one, and that right out the window at Last Chance!...the chewed down trees are right across the Road at Rocky Point (which I've been mistakenly calling Stony Point!)...this is at the furthest western edge of Two Top Pine Meadow (Liedig)...right where the Merced bends and flows alongside the Road ...right across the Road from the beginning of the Three Brothers rock slide talus... Tom says there may be some more of these trees at Devil's Elbow, which I think is by El Cap...I'll have to go look there!!....the hike up the Falls Trail was great...I like weather...there was wind...and tiny snow flakes...and clouds moving over and along the Rims...after dinner at Last Chance, it began to snow little flakes steady enough to dust white the trees...cleared up...but still cold out...missed Fir Bear...but still a good walkabout!!...Mallard pair at Sentinel Beach...two male Mallards at Swinging Bridge...mixed flock of Blackbirds at Sentinel Bridge...I mean a big flock!...pic and clip for sometime...report of Bobcat over in Siberia...and lots of Juncos about...in the Valley..and up the Trail...some pics to add to the Junco collection!...oh!!...I looked about for 'beaver teeth marks'..and the marks on the trees do indeed look like the Golden Beavers'....here's link that might give credence to their making a foray into the Valley!!...http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/grinnell/mammals69.htm

Evidence Of Beavers

After Breakfast, figured out my taxes...wish they'd model the tax booklet and forms after the way Biologists key out plants and animals!...hmmph...brain felt so dreary that I hurried back to the Cabin from the mailing at the Post Office... geared up...and got out!...went over to the Rocky Slope...Flicker pic...at Stony Point, wasn't sure where to go, but crossed the Road to Two Top Meadow...and stood in shock, thinking some vandals, pranksters!, had whittled away at an Aspen...got my boots muddy paddling over for a closer look...and looks to have been a vandal with teeth!...note in the pic of the two fallen trees, the third fallen tree in the middle...there is some story to this that I'll have to research!!...I sat and had lunch by the River, contemplating the possibilities of Beavers in the Valley, and Running Deer came along walking a pet dog...tried to explain best I could the import of the Trees...with camera and binocs...she cant hear, and speaks with her hands and expressions...but I think she understood...I'll have to show her the pics!...picked up, and continued downstream, looking for anything remotely resembling a Beaver home...continued all the way to El Cap!....happened on the little Wren...think it's a Wren...haven't looked it up yet...and it's the little bird that makes the nasal hank hank hank call...I didn't think I'd ever see this bird...though I hear it often!...it was on a large dead standing tree, and I startled it...them, actually, there were two...but they just went around to the other side, and I was able to sneak around for the pics...near El Cap I got the pics and clips of the Sparrow with the white and black stripes, and the Pileated Woodpecker...heard the Woodpecker while filming the Sparrow...but thought the sound came from inside the Log!...bad luck, as if I had just looked up, I could have gotten some knockdown pics and clips of Pileated...glad for the ones I got though!...and really like the Chubby Sparrow!!...thought to loop around...thought to go all the way to Fern Spring!...but went back the way I came...Oh...saw Mallard pair on the way out....on the way back...back at the Beaver Trees...a little group of Deer...pic...can really see the Mirror Slide from Two Top!...continued over to Swinging Bridge...Bear plop...no Bear though...was racing the fading light...wanted to get to Owl's Cottonwood before the light faded off Half Dome...made the turn from the Road on the Boardwalk to CAD Beach...and the Mergansers were there!...three Males!!...and one Female...who seemed to have their attention!...see clip...I was too slow..and trying to fiddle with the didgi scope..or I would have a great clip of all of them...still kinda neat...went through Chapel Meadow to Owl's Cottonwood..but no luck...disappointed and crossing Chapel Bridge, I saw either Hawk or Owl swoop up from Bobcat Meadow and cross the Merced and over to perch in the Cottonwood!...began pursuit, and what I thought then was Hawk, flew over to another Cottonwood...see pic...it was Owl!!...and while pursuing this Owl..another landed in the Ponderosas...oh!...I put the 12x on the Ponderosa Owl...and tried to approach the first Owl, but it left sometime during the sneak up...dont know how I missed it!...anyway...I went back to the Ponderosa Owl..which flew just a bit right over to the Burned Snag...Zeke's Perch...clip and pic for sometime...I want to put it together with the other clips and pics I have of Owl and Hawk on this old Snag Tree!!...almost dark, I picked up and went back over to Chapel Bridge and around to Lower Falls and to the Cabin...a long walkabout!!...hazy clouds warm...sometimes a clear moment...took some scenics...Sentinel Falls is on the sometime list...to go right up to it on the Talus...oh...Mallard pair was at CAD Beach too...and they flew off before I could get pic or clip...too!!

Easter Bobcat

Paddled out the Rocky Slope as far as Stony Point...saw a Doe there with ears perked...but thought the concern was just some Boulderers amongst the Trees...this right on and by the Road...still closed and quiet...Doe pronged out into Two Top Meadow...pic and clip...and I headed back...Blue Jay pic with very good light!....at the Climbing Wall, a climber asked if I had seen the Bobcat 'that just pranced by'....oh!...no, I said, but thanks!...and perked up my own self...having not seen much in like an hour...a little further on I saw Ground Squirrel perched on a Boulder...another clip for that collection!....and while filming, I thought, Ground Squirrel looks to have the same concern as the Doe earlier!...and sure enough, I caught a glimpse of Bobcat's tail wagging...tried to get clip then of Bobcat...but it wasn't until I abandoned the tripod, and waved to some tourists to stop and look, and hurried ahead of Bobcat's path, that I was able to see Bobcat...what happened, is Bobcat went down in the little stream bed...Bobcat was moving pretty quick, with me in tow...and towed behind me one of the tourists!...who looked to have a good long lens, and likely has duplicate pics of mine!....I tried very hard to get that hoped for clip of Bobcat moving through the Rocky Slope...but there are so many problems!...the light, the focus, the boulders and trees...and just Bobcat's sneakiness!...did the best I could...the last of the clip...the close up of Bobcat...was really close!...I sat in wait with the log in front of me, waiting for Bobcat to come over the log...and behind me was the other photog...and behind us the tourists on the path to Lower Falls!......I wanted to use the new camera for stills...and wanted too to have clip without the interruption of taking a still with the 12x...opted for the clip...oh...but the pose would have been a great still!...anyway, the other photog picked up, and I followed as far as a large boulder that diverted Bobcat way up the slope...maybe should have gone up ahead to Lower Falls...I suspect Bobcat would have gone there, and the Tourists on the View Bridge would have gotten to see...I've seen a clip of Bobcat on the boulders thereabout on youtub...anyway anyway, I was concerned about the tripod!...I'd left it at the Grinding Stone...so I left off and went back to retrieve it....I was out and about for almost two hours...and would have been terribly disappointed!...so thanks to the Rock Climber...and the Ground Squirrel...Bobcat!...a sunny blue blue warm day with some overcast in the late afternoon...Happy Easter!!....Doe with Two Fawns from yesterday by Church Bowl...oh!...there was one moment when I hopped up and stood balanced on a fallen log...wobbling all over...and Bobcat came into view over behind another log!..a real test of auto focus!!...which I'm afraid the new camera wasn't up to!...see blurry pic!..which would have been knockdown...can still make a painting!!